The teams for the women’s and men’s World Amateur Team Championships in Mexico have been named.
The women’s team for what is better known as the Espirito Santo Trophy is Julianne Alvarez (Wellington/Washington), Wenyung Keh (Auckland/Washington) and Chantelle Cassidy (Waikato).
The men’s side for the Eisenhower Trophy is Nick Voke (Auckland/Iowa state), Luke Toomey (Waikato) and Ryan Chisnall (Tasman).
The Espirito Santo, played from September 14-17 and the Eisenhower from September 21-24, will be shared between the Mayakoba El Camaleón Golf Club and the Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club respectively.
Alvarez and Keh will lead the charge at the Espirito Santo having just come off a successful US college campaign, helping the Washington Huskies win its first NCAA championship in history. The experience and confidence gained competing at this level will be invaluable as they look to become the first New Zealand team to take home the title.
Said Alvarez: “It’s so exciting, it’s always an honour to represent your country and to put on the New Zealand uniform, I feel very honoured.
“It’s a great platform over there in America, the tournaments we play are all strokeplay events and similar format to the worlds’ event and with our recent success it certainly helps build our confidence.
“To be able develop my game in the last year against strong competition in America was hugely beneficial. You just have to trust everything you have done and back the processes then let the rest take care of itself and hopefully we’ll all work well together.”
The pair have been part of the New Zealand High Performance programme for seven and five years respectively.
Joining them in Mexico, Cassidy who won three times on the local circuit over summer earning her the right to compete on the world stage. Cassidy’s dominance throughout the Charles Tour included two victories, coupled with a victory at the New Zealand Strokeplay Championship near the end of summer.
The men’s talented trio of Voke, Toomey and Chisnall will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Michael Campbell, Phil Tataurangi, Grant Moorhead and Stephen Scahill who won the Eisenhower Trophy in Canada in 1992.
All three players have valuable experience on the international stage. Since 2013, Voke has been playing college golf at Iowa State University in the United States where he has recorded sensational results including three victories and 15 top 10’s to make him a vital member of the side.
Chisnall is excited to be given the opportunity to represent his country and believes his recent good form at the Mexican Amateur Championship earlier this month when he finished third, will give him confidence in heading back there in September.
“It feels pretty awesome,’’ Chisnall said.
“To receive those type of phone calls never gets old but for something like this is an awesome experience. It’s something you work towards for many years so it’s great to finally be named.
“I have had some cool moments in my career, but to represent New Zealand at the highest level has always been a dream of mine so to get the big phone call was a huge buzz.”
The Espirito Santo and Eisenhower Trophy are biennial world amateur team golf championship’s organised by the International Golf Federation. They are strokeplay events where the best two scores from three players count toward the team’s score for each round.
Teams to represent New Zealand at the World Amateur Team Championships:
Espirito Santo World Team Championship 14-17 September – Mayakoba El Camaleón Golf Club and Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club, Mexico
Julianne Alvarez (Wellington), Wenyung Keh (Auckland), Chantelle Cassidy (Waikato).
Eisenhower World Amateur Team Championship: 21-24 September – Mayakoba El Camaleón Golf Club and Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club, Mexico
Nick Voke (Auckland/Iowa State), Luke Toomey (Waikato) and Ryan Chisnall (Tasman).