Golf: In-form NSW the team to watch at U-23 champs

In-form New South Wales will be favoured to continue their domination of the New Zealand under-23 teams championship at Taupo next week.

Australian teams have won eight of the previous nine titles.

This year's championship will be decided over 72-hole team strokeplay on Monday and Tuesday.

The tournament has drawn five-person teams from the 15 New Zealand provinces, plus New South Wales and Queensland.

The Australian domination was broken in 2002 when Waikato took out the title for the first time, led by New Zealand representative Brad Shilton.

Although Shilton has moved on, Waikato will call on fellow New Zealand representative Mathew Holten and New Zealand Academy players Mark Boe and Mark Purser.

Holten was the leading individual at the recent Argentina international team competition.

But it will be the New South Wales combination that everyone will chase. They are led by the in-form James Nitties, the leading amateur at the recent Australian Open. He also finished eighth at the Australian Masters, after working his way into the lead with five holes remaining.

Two other members of the Australian side, Andrew McKenzie and Mitchell Brown, made the cut at the Australian Open.

Bay of Plenty will be looking to continue their successful summer, following their defence of the interprovincial title in November.

Three of that team will play next week, including the outstanding Jae An, Terry Hong and Jason McIntosh, who is on his home course.

They will be bolstered by the return of national representative Sam Hunt, back from the US.

Manawatu-Wanganui have Riki Kauika (Wanganui) and Andrew Henare (Levin) in their line-up, while Wellington also have a strong chance with New Zealand representative Bradley Iles.

Most players, including the Australians, will also take part in the New Zealand under-23 championships in Hawkes Bay from next Thursday to Saturday.

The recently-named Eisenhower squad, to prepare for campaigns this year and in 2006, will gather in Taupo to go over their programme for the next four months.

The programme is designed to put the players through their paces and produce a three-man side capable of threatening the world's best when they meet in October in Puerto Rico

Seven of the eight-man squad will be playing in the under-23 tournament.

- NZPA