NZ talent development programme members named

Golf New Zealand has selected its phase two, three, and four members of its talent development programme in wake of a stella autumn period on the domestic golf scene.

Daniel Hillier has retained his position in phase four and will be joined by Amelia Garvey who last month became a professional golfer.

James Hydes (Gulf Harbour Country Club) and Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora) have been elevated to tier one of the national academy, which is phase three of the talent development programme.

Meanwhile, Mako Thompson (Maraenui), Darae Chung (Shandon), Sam Jones (Manaia), Fiona Xu (Titirangi), Tyler Wood (Ngahinepouri), Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland and Grange), Jared Edwards (Royal Auckland and Grange) and Carmen Lim (Windross Farm) have been named at tier two for 2021.

The group will come together this month to be inducted into the new academy year and will then take on a Golf Australia squad at Gulf Harbour Country Club from June 2-4. Golf Australia has sent a selection of players from throughout their state squads, other than the locked down Victorians.

The Australian players, five men and five women, will play the North Shore Classic before taking on the Golf New Zealand national academy squad. The format will be singles matchplay with concurrently run fourball play.

Golf New Zealand high performance manager Gregg Thorpe said it was exciting to have some international competition once again.

“The three-day match with the Australian squad is a welcome return to some form of international play while we wait for New Zealand to open up.

“It’s exciting for this group of players, who have had such a disrupted 12 months or more, to get the opportunity to benchmark themselves against some of their international peers.”

With the Golf New Zealand phase three and four members in place, up to 20 young players are being invited to attend Golf New Zealand’s phase two junior training camps to be held in the July school holiday period.