NZ team chases prestige prizes
For the first time, New Zealand has 10 of their best amateur golfers lining up in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Wellington, starting tomorrow.
As host nation for the first time in the tournament’s ninth edition, New Zealand get 10 slots as opposed to six for the other big nations Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.
It means more chances for the first New Zealand winner of the tournament which carries amateur golf’s ultimate prize: direct entry to next year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta and Open Championship at Carnoustie.
Third placing is New Zealand’s best finish in the APAC, achieved by three golfers: Peter Spearman-Burn in 2009, Ben Campbell in 2011 and Luke Toomey (since turned professional) a year ago in South Korea.
Here’s the 10 Kiwi hopefuls in the field of 119 from 39 nations who will tee off tomorrow:
NICK VOKE
Age: 23
World ranking: 44
Home club: Windross Farm (Auckland)
Favourite golfing memory: Shooting
61 to help the team [Iowa State] qualify for nationals
Career low round: 61
Year started playing: 2007
Best results: 2017 NCAA regionals,
2017 Hawkeye Invite, 2017 Herman Sani. Five US college victories 2014-17
DANIEL HILLIER
Age: 19
World ranking: 67
Home club: Manor Park (Wellington)
Favourite golfing memory: Winning the NZ Amateur in front of my parents who drove 10 hours to watch me play in the final
Career low round: 62
Year started playing: 2003
Best results: 2015 New Zealand Amateur Championship, 2015 & 2016 New Zealand U19 championship, Charles Tour Harewood Open, 2016 Australian Boys Amateur
RYAN CHISNALL
Age: 23
World ranking: 81
Home club: Greenacres (Nelson) Favourite golfing memory: My first hole in one
Career low round: 63
Year started playing: 2001
Best results: 2014 South Island Amateur, 2014 Harewood Open, 2015 SBS Invitational
LUKE BROWN
Age: 22
World ranking: 224
Home club: Muriwai (Auckland)
Favourite golfing memory: Henrik Stenson’s battle with Phil Mickelson at the 2016 Open Championship. Career low round: 63
Year started playing: 2007
Best results: 2016 & 2017 North Harbour Strokeplay
DENZEL IEREMIA
Age: 21
World ranking: 226
Home club: Hamilton Favourite golfing memory: Going low at the Cambridge Classic Career low round: 61
Year started playing: 1997 Best results: South Island Strokeplay, Pine Tree Invitational
JAMES ANSTISS
Age: 22
World ranking: 295
Home club: Queenstown Favourite golfing memory: Playing college golf in America Career low round: 63
Year started playing: 2010 Best results: 2016 Louisiana State Amateur Champion
MARK HUTSON
Age: 21
World ranking: 397
Home club: Muriwai Favourite golfing memory: Playing 2017 Irish Amateur, Royal County Down
Career low round: 64
Year started playing: 2006 Best results: 2016 Auckland Strokeplay, 2017 South Island Strokeplay, 2017 NZ Strokeplay
CHARLIE HILLIER
Age: 20
World ranking: 502
Home club: Te Puke (Bay of Plenty) Favourite golfing memory: Tiger Woods making the putt on 18 at Torrey Pines to force playoff Career low round: 64
Year started playing: 2002 Best results: Clements Memorial, New Zealand U19s
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE
Age: 22
World ranking: 509
Home club: Masterton Favourite golfing memory: Playing golf with Sir Bob Charles Career low round: 63
Year started playing: 1998 Best results: Hastings Open 2016, Wairarapa Open 2016
HENRY SPRING
Age: 19
World ranking: 543
Home club: Whakatane Favourite golfing memory: First eagle at age 10
Career low round: 64
Year started playing: 2001 Best results: 2015 NSW Junior Boys Championship, 2017 Amateur Akarana Open Pro/Am