New Zealand Inspired At World Amateur Teams Championship | Scoop News – Scoop

Wednesday, 31 August 2022, 12:15 pmPress Release: Golf New Zealand

On the 30th anniversary of New Zealands EisenhowerTrophy triumph, the New Zealand side has arrived in France,ready to replicate our 1992 World Amateur Teams Championship(WATC) success.

Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora), James Hydes(Gulf Harbour), and Sam Jones (Manaia) have only been toldabout New Zealands successful Eisenhower campaign from 30years ago, as none of them was born before 1992. NewZealands best result since the three nationalrepresentatives have been alive is fourth in2018.

Like the womens Espirito Santo Trophy, themen will play across Le Golf National and Golf deSaint-Nom-La-Brteche in Paris. Jones will lead the teamoff at 6pm tonight.

Kobori is the highest ranked NewZealander, currently ranked 67th in the World Amateur GolfRankings. The 19-year-old has been as high as 42nd andautomatically made the US Amateur field for being inside theworlds top 50. He narrowly missed out on the match playby a shot.

The 2019 New Zealand PGA champion has beenone of New Zealands top amateurs for a couple of years.Last year, he won the New Zealand Stroke Play Championshipat Paraparaumu Beach and more recently became a JennianHomes Charles Tour winner at the Autex Muriwai Open in Aprilthis year.

The aspiring professional says its beena goal of his to make this New Zealand team and is excitedto fly the New Zealand flag on one of amateur golfsbiggest stages.

Its a fantastic opportunity totest my game, even more so as the event is held across twogreat golf courses.

Its a privilege to play forNew Zealand. It gives me an indication that I am on theright track, and I hope to achieve similar success to our1992 team and others that have played beforeme.

The main goal is to win. Thatsit.

Hydes has also had a couple of years toremember.

Making the team has been a goal of23-year-olds for a long time. Victories at the 2020 NewZealand Amateur, 2020 Autex Muriwai Open, 2021 Welsh OpenStroke Play, and a runner-up at the 2022 Australian MensAmateur helped him play his way into the three-manside.

The aspiring DP World Tour player is lookingforward to testing himself on a couple of Europes finestgolf courses.

Its been one of my goals for along time. Its really exciting to wear the fern andrepresent my country, its a special feeling and issomething Ill forever be proud of.

I reallythink we can win. Weve got a great team and if its ourweek, we can do it.

I cant wait to play Le GolfNational. Being able to play a Ryder Cup course will beawesome. Im also excited to tee it up alongside some ofthe worlds best amateurs.

The final team memberJones is also elated to make the national side.

The2019 New Zealand Amateur and North Island Stroke Playchampion has played well in 2022, earning his place in theteam after winning the New Zealand Stroke Play and threedistrict titles.

He has a simple goal thisweek.

I want to win.

Michael Campbell,Phil Tataurangi, Stephen Scahill, and Grant Moorhead beatthe US by three 30-years-ago.

New Zealand gets their2022 Eisenhower Trophy campaign underway tonight, with SamJones teeing off at 6, James Hydes at 6.11, and KazumaKobori at 6.22pm NZT.

Team leaderboard: https://www.igfgolf.org/watc/watc-2022-france/eisenhower-team-leaderboard

Individualleaderboard: https://www.igfgolf.org/watc/watc-2022-france/eisenhower-individual-leaderboard

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New Zealand Inspired At World Amateur Teams Championship | Scoop News - Scoop