KEY POINTS:
Auckland golfer Larissa Eruera has the chance to become one of the youngest winners of the New Zealand amateur women's championship in Taupo today.
Eruera, 14, from the Aviation club, will take on fellow Aucklander Lee Dasom, 16, in the 36-hole final at Taupo Golf Club.
They are
the youngest finalists in recent memory to contest the final.
Eruera upset New Zealand stroke play champion Kim Yeon Song Kim, of Pupuke, 4 and 2 in the morning quarter-finals.
The diminutive Aucklander went on to fire an even-par 73 to beat former junior international Amy Smith, of Manawatu, 3 and 1 in the afternoon semifinal.
Lee showed her fighting spirits when she was pushed to the final green in both matches yesterday.
She edged out North Harbour's Cathryn Bristow 1-up in the quarter-final before accounting for Christchurch's Dana Kim 2-up in the semifinal.
Earlier, Kim had provided the quarter-final upset in a compelling battle to beat top qualifier Oh Ji Soo, of Westown, at the third extra hole, while Smith went to the 18th to beat Welsh visitor Lydia Hall 2-up.
Eruera made three birdies on the way to her semifinal victory.
She was 2-up at the turn, extending her advantage to 4-up after 13 following two Kim bogeys.
The young Aucklander lost the 15th and 16th before wrapping up the match with a birdie at the 17th.
She has won a number of age group honours on both sides of the Tasman but today will be undoubtedly her biggest test.
Lee and Smith locked horns in a superb semifinal battle with the Manawatu player 3-up after seven holes.
She gave up two of those to be one ahead at the turn.
Lee made her move with birdies at the 11th and 13th to hit the lead for the first time.
She made another birdie to go 2-up at the 15th before dropping one to be 1-up after 16th.
Both players made birdies at the 17th and Lee answered the call with yet another birdie on the final hole to cement the 2-up victory.
The Auckland player, now based at the St Peters golf academy near Cambridge, has also won all of her age-group honours this year and was third at the New Zealand stroke play.
She will have the edge in experience after competing against Australia in the Junior Tasman Cup.
- NZPA