Leading amateur chases double at national event
It’s one title which has eluded the country’s top amateur golfer Daniel Hillier, but the rising star has a chance to put that right on familiar greens this weekend.
Hillier and defending champion Mark Hutson of North Harbour headline the men’s field for the New Zealand Strokeplay Championship on the links at Paraparaumu Beach, north of Wellington, with round one of four teeing off today.
Hillier, 19, is fresh from a quality showing in the New Zealand Open in Queenstown where he shot a third round of sevenunder 64 before finishing tied for 23rd and hoisting the Bledisloe Cup as leading amateur.
He won his second national amateur title at Russley, Christchurch, last year, but is yet to claim the 72-hole strokeplay title.
‘‘It’s always nice to be playing close to home where I have plenty of experience. I love the course here and it would be an awesome feeling to win both of the big ones,’’ said Hillier.
Joining Hillier in an exciting young group is North Island Strokeplay winner, Charlie Smail and South Island Strokeplay champion Mathew Tautari.
Hutson, the North Harbour No 1, claimed the biggest title of his career at the Hastings Golf Club last year and will have to be at his best to go back to back in a strong field.
Two-time winner in 2014 and 2016, Luke Toomey, has since turned professional as has two of last year’s leading amateurs Nick Voke and Ryan Chisnall.
Another to watch is Hiroki Miya after his victory on the Faldo Series in Vietnam earlier this month. The 17-year-old from Canterbury continues to impress.
Popping over the Rimutaka Hill from Masterton will be New Zealand academy player Kerry Mountcastle who also looks to use his local knowledge in pursuit of his first national title.
A new women’s champion will be crowned with Amelia Garvey not defending her Mellsop Cup title which she won by six shots at Hastings last year.
New Zealand Amateur champion Silvia Brunotti features in the field as she also looks to hold aloft two of the country’s biggest trophies at the same time after her remarkable victory at the Russley Golf Club earlier in the season.
It won’t be an easy task with a large number of the Women’s Amateur Asia-pacific squad members also lining up on the Kapiti Coast, including Juliana Hung, Rose Zheng, Brittney Dryland and Caryn Khoo.
In a field of fewer than 40 there will be no women’s cut, while the men will be cut to the top-60 and ties tomorrow evening.