The 2017/18 National Academy has now been re-selected for another 12 month term.
The incumbent members who have been re-selected include Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres), Daniel Hillier (Manor Park), Luke Brown (The Pines), Alanna Campbell (Omanu) and Amelia Garvey (Kaiapoi).
These players have been part of the national programme for varying lengths of time and are all aiming to continue the progress they have made during their time in the Academy. Chisnall, Hillier and Brown are gearing up to tackle a number of Northern Hemisphere summer events before heading home to contend for the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title in October. With both a start in The Masters and The Open Championship going to the winner, this event has become one of the highlights of the tournament calendar.
Campbell will retain her place in the Academy up until the time she departs for Iowa State College later in the year, where she will join a college with an already strong Kiwi presence.
There have been three notable players who have graduated from the National Academy programme this year and are now looking to take their golfing careers to the next level.
Luke Toomey secured his Australasian Tour Card earlier this year and has started his rookie season with a solid outing at his national championship, the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open where he finished T37. Munchin Keh has also made the transition into professionalism by securing a Ladies China Tour Card and has now begun her rookie season. Chantelle Cassidy, the current number one ranked New Zealander on the Women’s world amateur rankings, intends to join Keh in the professional game, but has her focus firmly on the Ladies European Tour Qualifier later this year.
Mark Hutson (Muriwai) and Rose Zheng (Pakuranga) are the two new faces in the high performance programme, both of whom have enjoyed a successful last 12 months of competitive play. Hutson claimed two of New Zealand’s leading amateur tournaments after winning the 2017 South Island Stroke Play by an impressive five shots, to then prove his worth on the national stage winning the 2017 New Zealand Amateur Championship at Hastings Golf Club by a solid two shots. Zheng also climbed the amateur rankings quickly with her maiden Jennian Homes Charles Tour victory at the 2016 Harewood Open followed by the 2016 New Zealand Amateur Match Play Championship at Royal Wellington a week later.
The 2017/18 National Academy members are:
Alanna Campbell (Omanu), Amelia Garvey (Kaiapoi), Rose Zheng (Pakuranga), Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres), Daniel Hillier (Manor Park), Luke Brown (The Pines) and Mark Hutson (Muriwai).
2017 National Junior Training Camps
A number of talented young players have gained much needed international experience in the first part of 2017 and they have continued to progress their games during the recent series of national events.
This list of young talent includes the likes of Henry Spring, Inia Logan, Tom Parker, Dominic Brettkelly, Shaun Campbell, Kevin Koong, Carmen Lim and Julianna Hung. These players will be joined by a number of others from throughout New Zealand’s district development programmes who will soon be invited to attend the national junior training camps.
These camps will take place during the July school holiday period.
