Masterton golfer Ben Campbell has been named in the Srixon Academy national squad for 2010-2011.
Campbell, 18, is fresh from winning the Tauranga Open golf tournament ahead of a crop of top New Zealand professionals.
This week he is competing in the Muriwai Open, the second event of the Charles Tour set of tournaments. Campbell is currently ranked the top New Zealand amateur golfer and is one of three finalists in the Wairarapa senior sports personality of the year award at the Wairarapa Times-Age sports awards tonight.
The academy features the introduction of talented teenagers Cecilia Cho and Lydia Ko, who are among five new golfers named in the squad, while four players make a return.
The academy incorporates the best amateur players in the country, who receive a wide range of support services from New Zealand Golf to develop their talent.
''These players are targeted as having the ability to become among the best amateur players in the world,'' said New Zealand Golf high performance manager, Simon Poll.
They will receive specialist coaching, attend training camps, have access to leading sports science and gain financial assistance to support an international and domestic tournament programme.
New Zealand strokeplay champion Brad Kendall (Bay of Plenty), 19, Waikato's Mathew Perry, 23, and Simon Brownlee (North Harbour), 18, are the newcomers in the 10-strong male squad, while New Zealand amateur champion Cho (Auckland), 15, and Ko (North Harbour), 13, make their first appearance in the female squad.
Four players have earned a recall to the academy _ North Island strokeplay champion Nick Gillespie (Wellington), 22, last year's top amateur on the Charles Tour, Gary-John Hill (Auckland), 21, Bay of Plenty's Andrew Stewart, 20, and 21-year-old Nelson golfer Lisa Wright._NZPA
SQUADS
Academy squad:
Male: Simon Brownlee (Gulf Harbour CC, North Harbour), Ben Campbell (Masterton GC, Wellington), Ryan Fox (Royal Auckland GC), Nick Gillespie (Royal Wellington GC), Gary-John Hill (Titirangi GC, Auckland), Brad Kendall (Mt Maunganui GC, Bay of Plenty), Mathew Perry (Hamilton GC, Waikato), Peter Spearman-Burn (Miramar GC, Wellington), Andrew Stewart (Omokoroa GC, Bay of Plenty), Ben Wallace (Royal Auckland GC).
Female: Caroline Bon (Northland GC, Northland), Zoe Brake (Whakatane GC, Bay of Plenty), Cecilia Cho (Pakuranga, Auckland), Lydia Ko (Gulf Harbour), Emily Perry (Lochiel GC, Waikato), Lisa Wright (Nelson GC, Tasman).
Development squad:
Ryan Chisnall (Greenaces GC, Tasman), Duncan Croudis (Otago GC), Tyler Hodge (Levin GC, Manawatu-Wanganui), Tim Leonard (Timaru GC, Aorangi), Keelan Kilpatrick (Russley GC, Canterbury), Vaughan McCall (Gore GC, Southland), Mark O'Malley (Russley), Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park GC, Wellington), Rebekah Brownlee (Gulf Harbour), Faye-Amy Nickson (Peninsula GC, North Harbour).
Special deal gives boost to Campbell
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