News in brief

By Neville Idour

2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur in Melbourne

Seven New Zealanders have earned an invite to play in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club from October 26-29.

Kazuma Kobori: selected to play 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur in Melbourne and Eisenhower trophy. Filé

The champion will receive an invitation to compete in the 2024 United States Masters at Augusta and The 152nd Open at Royal Troon in England. The runner(s)-up will gain a place in final qualifying for The Open.

The seven players with their world rankings are Kazuma Kobori (30), Sam Jones (124), Jayden Ford (167), Joshua Bai (202), Zack Swanwick (245), Jimmy Zheng (261), Mako Thompson (426). Kobori is keen to add this title to his stable after earning starts on the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours next year.

The event will be played on the world leading composite course at Royal Melbourne. Over the 14-year history the event has delivered such world top players as Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Smith, Ryan Fox, Lucas Herbert, Si Woo Kim and Min Woo Lee.

Tough times for Amberley links course

Rising sea levels are endangering the continued existence of the 14th hole, which is parallel to the sea, at Amberley Golf Club, north of Christchurch.

With a membership of 220 and around 4000 visiting players each year, access to the course is very much threatened.

The only access is by a dusty road that runs parallel to the beach. In recent years the road has flooded regularly from high stormy tides.

The club desperately needs a new road but the options present challenges. The Hurunui District Council wants a road north of the course which would lengthen the drive to the course by 2.5km, cut off (remove use of) the 14th hole and require modification of two other holes, not a popular thought. Club president Bruce Yates said it was “totally ridiculous.”

The club would prefer a road south of the course where the fairway would not be affected. Unfortunately there is a 30-metre strip of wetland in the centre of where the road would be.

There are environment rules from 2020 in place severely restricting works in or near wetlands. The council, which has had issues with Environment Canterbury previously, believes there is virtually no chance of this happening.

However, one possibility is that a culvert may be sufficient to protect the wetland. So the club is following this up with the regional council. The alternative is not a pleasant thought -- 16 holes and how do we conjure up 18 from those 16?

Billy Horschel critical of lack of spirit

Billy Horschel’s love affair with the PGA Championship at Wentworth in England is clearly not shared by his fellow PGA Tour players.

However, he has mixed feelings about having too many Americans flooding the tournament as it would keep some Europeans from playing their own event. Still he said: “I would love to see more Americans playing here.''

Horschel won the event in 2021, the only American to do so since Arnold Palmer. This year was his fourth time playing and he said: “It feels like I have been coming to this tournament for much longer as I grew up watching it on TV and always wanted to be a part of it.

``When I finally made it in 2019 my high expectations were exceeded. Everything about it impressed me. I would be a very happy man if I could play this event 25 times a year.”

DeChambeau’s mixed emotions

Bryson DeChambeau was disappointed to miss out on a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup; File

After two impressive wins in a month and a fourth in the PGA Championship in New York, it is understandable Bryson DeChambeau was disappointed to miss out on a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup. He said it would have been nice if he and one or two other fellow LIV players (read Dustin Johnson) had at least received a call from captain Zack Johnson.

DeChambeau’s final round 63 at Chicago was reminiscent of his record breaking, almost unbelievable final round 58 the previous month in the Greenbrier. Playing some of the best golf of his career he admitted missing the Ryder Cup “stings a little bit.

``I understand, I get it, but we are no different. We are still competing and working hard, doing our best. We are still golfers.”

However Johnson dismissed his feelings saying he was too far down the points list to warrant a call. His wins simply didn’t count, even for a captain’s pick. Some players who missed out, including Keegan Bradley, did warrant a phone call.

Strangely almost, DeChambeau’s reaction after his latest win was quite refreshing and endearing. He said he was left with “a huge mix of emotions.”

Why? He said he was rooting for teammate Anirban Lahiri to make a putt so they could battle it out in a playoff. ”I was actually sad.”

Lahiri was seeking his first win in eight years.

New Zealand team for world amateur Eisenhower Trophy

Ahead of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, the 33rd world amateur Eisenhower Trophy will be held in Abu Dhabi from October 18-21. The team is Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora), Sam Jones (Manaia) and Jayden Ford (Judgeford). This team looks capable of a good showing with recent form a positive indicator.

A week later, Fiona Xu (Titirangi), Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland/Grange) and Eunsio Choi (Takapuna) will be in action from October 25-28. The team, which is backing up from 2022, will be hoping to use that experience to produce results.

Golf News in brief