Golf: Aussies tough competition at under-23 team champs

Wellington are expected to provide the stiffest opposition to two Australian teams contesting the New Zealand men's under-23 amateur teams golf championships starting in Taupo today.

New South Wales have won the title for the past two years, with Queensland finishing second.

Wellington, who last won the tournament in 1996, are led by New Zealand Eisenhower representative Reon Sayer.

Waikato, with Les Miller and Brad Shilton at No 1 and No 2, should also figure prominently at the Taupo Golf Club.

Each of the 15 teams will play four rounds of competition over two days. The four best scores from the five players count towards the team total in each round.

The tournament is followed by the national under-23 championships which start in Hastings on Friday.

Teams:

Aorangi: Todd Burtenshaw, Daniel Perham, Bevan Dennison, Aaron Kenny, Forrest Goodwin.

Auckland: Bradley Heaven, Tim Thorburn, Logan Holzer, Darrin Steedman, Aaron Bartrum.

Bay of Plenty: Eddie Burgess, Matthew Jupp, Kent Skellern, Andrew McNair, Matthew Bluett.

Canterbury: Isaac Randall, Craig Choi, Eddie Lee, Nick Fry, Matthew Walkington.

Hawkes Bay: Damon Burt, Bevan Stephenson, Zane Hilton, Nicholas Paewai, Jason Mullaney.

Manawatu-Wanganui: Sheridan Vining, Tim Wilkinson, Denny Thompson, Ben Cribb, Shane Hutton.

New South Wales: Scott Gardiner, Matthew Jones, Darren MacKay, Warwick Dews, Jason King.

North Harbour: Adam Hansen, Matthew Bray, Brent Humphries, Scott Johnson, Daniel Wairepo.

Northland: Doug Batty, Stuart Beren, Michael Foster, Reuben Inglis, Dane Hawker.

Otago: Bruce Grant, Craig Palmer, Ben Gallie, Brad Stuart, Brent McEwan.

Poverty Bay-East Coast: Paul Penharrow, Vashon Karaka, Dean Twigley, Hamish Douglas, Simon Jenkins.

Queensland: Tom Arnott, Matthew Ballard, Simon Brown, Chris Downes, Travis Johns.

Southland: Glenn Hotton, Jason Hughes, Simon Rutherford, Mathew Whittington, Saymon Kim.

Taranaki: Nathan Bennett, Josh Kearns, Tom Goudie, Cameron Johns, Regan MacRae.

Tasman: Glyn Delaney, Tristan Packham, Steve Capon, Steven Richards, Jason Prendergast.

Waikato: Les Miller, Brad Shilton, Guy Penrose, Jason Walters, Glenn Millin.

Wellington: Reon Sayer, Shaun Richards, Jonathan Cane, Gareth Paddison, Paul Moles.