The Australians are coming in force to take on the might of Europe and New Zealand’s best in next week’s Pegasus New Zealand Women’s Open in Christchurch.

While there are a group of highly talented Australians plying their trade on the US and European circuits, it’s a 21-year-old from Western Australia that may be the player to watch.

Kristie Smith, who comes from pure golfing pedigree, has recently chalked up her first professional victory on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour (ALPG).

Amid Solheim Cup players, a former world No 1 and a host of European winners, Smith may surprise them all in the $415,000 tournament at the new Pegasus Golf Club in the tournament co-sanctioned by the ALPG and Ladies European Tour.

The Australian contingent includes the ebullient Sarah Kemp, joint runner-up at Clearwater last year. The 24-year old, with seven wins already, continues to ply her trade on the LPGA where she was 93rd on the order of merit last year with a best T12 at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.

Queensland’s Sarah-Jane Smith is the current leader of the ALPG points series. She has two international wins to her credit and is another who plays on the LPGA.

Other notable Australians include Wendy Doolan, a three time winner on the LPGA, former European rookie of the year Nikki Garrett, a two-time winner on the LET while Karen Lunn and Joanne Mills are also multiple winners on the European Tour.

But many will be watching Smith after she took out the Royal Canberra Ladies Classic recently when she closed with a brilliant nine-under 64 to chalk up her first professional win.

The daughter of well-known former Australian touring professional Wayne Smith, she has enjoyed a guilt-edged amateur career. She won the Western Australian amateur at 16, the Australian amateur two years ago along with the prestigious North & South title in the USA, played at Pinehurst, winning the final 9 and 8.

Smith was also leading amateur in 2008 at the New South Wales Open, Masters and Australian Open, where she finished fifth. That proved the turning point for the teenager.

``I didn’t expect it at all. My goal was just to make the cut and play solid. It was a life-changing experience,” Smith said. ``With all the media attention, I think it was like a massive switch being flicked in my career.

“I hadn’t really performed to the top of game until then but to come and do it in one of the biggest events in Australia was pretty huge.”

Her professional debut came courtesy of an invitation from Annika Sorenstam in the 2008 Scandinavian Open in Sweden, with her father friends with Sorenstam’s husband from his playing days.

After a year on the Futures Tour in the US, Smith finished second in the final qualifying school for the LET with a 12-unde par score and will be looking for a fast start to the European season.

``I don’t really think I have a whole lot of weaknesses. My strength is probably to hit the ball a lot longer than most females. I drive it a long way and hit my irons a long way.’’

The Pegasus New Zealand Open that starts next Thursday forms the first of a three-tournament swing downunder to be followed by the ANZ Ladies Masters in Queensland and the Australian Open.