'Little Lydia' keen to follow Ko

Bohyun Park, 12, plans to take on New Zealand citizenship so she can represent the country in golf. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Child golfing sensation Bohyun Park has been identified by New Zealand Golf's national selection panel as an "emerging talent" and a potential New Zealand representative.

The 12-year-old became the youngest player to have played in the New Zealand Women's Golf Open in February.

NZ Golf has written to the Korean-born Wentworth College Year 8 student, inviting her to a national junior girls' training camp in July "with a view to monitoring and assisting the development of the 'next generation' of New Zealand representatives".

New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy said emerging talent from around New Zealand had been invited to attend.

"She [Bohyun] is an exciting young talent and we are looking forward to having her at camp and seeing her develop," he said.

Mr Murphy said Kiwi golfing superstar and world No 1 Lydia Ko had attended many such camps over five years.

Bohyun's father, Ju Ha Park, says he will be applying for New Zealand citizenship for his daughter to help her realise her dream of playing for New Zealand.

"I know I have pushed her hard, sometimes too hard, but she has excelled beyond all expectations," he said.

"I feel that she has the potential to represent New Zealand and be the next Lydia Ko, so I think the time is right for us to be citizens of this country."

Mr Park left Korea for New Zealand four years ago with the sole intention of progressing Bohyun's golf.

Nicknamed "Little Lydia", Bohyun said she saw Ko as her "big sister" and "idol".

"My dream is to be like her, and I want to play for New Zealand just like her," Bohyun said.

"The New Zealand Golf competition outfits also look really cool, and I really hope I will get to wear them some day."

The Parks have been family friends with the Kos since they met at the Gulf Harbour Country Club a day after they arrived in New Zealand.

Over the years, Bohyun said she had received plenty of advice from Lydia and that most of her outfits and clubs also used to belong to her.

Bohyun, who moved to New Zealand when she was 9, said she felt more at home here than in her native South Korea.

"This is where all my friends are, and I have no problems becoming a citizen because I feel totally Kiwi," she said.

Bohyun said she keeps in touch with Lydia on Facebook and sends her congratulatory messages every time she scores well in a tournament.

She had not seen her mother since they moved to New Zealand and is motivated to do well so that she'll get to see her mother again.

Bohyun's father promised she could take a two-week trip to Korea if she performed well at national camp.

Gulf Harbour Country Club secretary manager Kim Bond said both Bohyun and Lydia shared a lot of similarities.

"The more obvious ones are the sense of humour that the two girls have," said Ms Bond.

"They are really focused in training but unlike some other competitive golfers, they know how to enjoy a good laugh once they're away from the course."

Bohyun had also trained under Lydia's old coach, Guy Wilson, and with a +4.2 handicap she's better than Lydia was at her age.