Eisenhower team for France named by Golf NZ

Golf New Zealand has named the New Zealand team to contest at the 32nd World Amateur Teams’ Championship in France at the end of next month.

The three-person team is Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora, North Canterbury), James Hydes (Gulf Harbour, Auckland) and Sam Jones (Manaia, Taranaki).

The tournament, also known as the Eisenhower Trophy, will be played at the Le Golf National and Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Brèteche from August 31-September 3.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s Eisenhower Trophy triumph when Michael Campbell, Phil Tataurangi, Stephen Scahill, and Grant Moorhead won by three strokes over the United States in 1992. 

The event was last played in 2018, with New Zealand finishing fourth. The 2020 event was cancelled due to covid-19.

Kobori, Hydes and Jones earned their places in the side courtesy of outstanding form over the past two years.

Kobori has risen to 47th in the world amateur rankings following a string of incredible results this year. He won the Muriwai Open, his maiden Charles Tour event in April, the 2021 New Zealand Strokeplay, the 2021 South Island Strokeplay and three district titles.

He also recently finished in a tie for sixth at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup on the Japan Tour. His world ranking has also earned him an automatic spot in the United States Amateur in August.

Hydes has been one of the most consistent performers in recent years. In 2020 he won the Muriwai Open and the New Zealand Amateur Championship.

Hydes’ success has extended internationally, winning the 2021 Welsh Open Strokeplay, finishing third at the 2021 Brabazon Trophy, and finishing second at the 2022 Australian Amateur Championship.

Jones earned his place in the side following his outstanding form of late. In 2020 he won the New Zealand Amateur Championship and the North Island Strokeplay. This year, he’s won the New Zealand Strokeplay and three district titles.

The Eisenhower will be contested over 72-holes of strokeplay, with the best two of three individual scores counting toward the team score.

New Zealand has also recorded two runners-up finishes in the Eisenhower. They were in 1970 and 1990 and a third place finish in 1960.