Northland professional golfer Caroline Bon has carded a two-under-par 70 to be in a share of 10th place at the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters on the ALPG Tour.
The former New Zealand rep, who is in her second year as a professional, made two birdies in a bogey-free round tobe four shots back from American Alison Washe, who leads by one.
Bon, who represented NZ at the Espirito Santo World Amateur Team Championship in 2010, has made a slow start to her professional career.
Her best result remains a tie for 16th place at the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women's Open at Pegasus in 2011.
But she is showing that she can match it with the world-class field on the Gold Coast before she returns home next week to compete in the New Zealand Women's Open at Clearwater from February 8-10.
North Harbour professional Cathryn Bristow, who qualified for the Ladies European Tour in 2012, has shot a two-over-par 74 in round one to be in a share of 59th place. Wellington pro Lynnette Brooky was well off the pace after shooting a five-over-par 77.
World No1 amateur Lydia Ko, who finished runner-up at the NSW Open last week, is having the week off before the NZ Women's Open where she is the Kiwi favourite to become the first home winner of the event.
