Golf: Kiwis are on the ball, says delighted team captain

Ryan Fox and the rest of the team have done plenty of preparation. Photo / APN

New Zealand team captain John Gatley is in a buoyant mood before the Eisenhower Trophy men's world amateur teams golf championship starting in Argentina tomorrow.

Gatley said he was delighted with the preparation and the ball striking of his team of Ben Campbell, Ryan Fox and Peter Spearman-Burn.

Fox, of Auckland, and Wellingtonian Spearman-Burn arrived in Buenos Aires early to complete a longer acclimatisation, with Campbell, of Masterton, later joining them from his United States base.

The team have put no pressure on themselves in terms of a finishing position and while they are a less-vaunted team than the Danny Lee-led trio in 2008 in Adelaide, they are a solid group led by Campbell, 26th on the world amateur rankings.

"We are trying to play the best golf we can, hole by hole. They have done plenty of work," Gatley said. "There's good discussion on all greens and how each of them should play each hole.

"They are all hitting the ball well - in fact, surprisingly well right now.

"It's a matter of staying relaxed and transferring that on to the course."

The United States have won the trophy 13 times, Britain four times and Australia three times. New Zealand have won once, in 1992 in Canada. They were 11th two years ago in Adelaide, after going into the final round in contention, and were 19th in South Africa in 2006 and 21st in Puerto Rico in 2004.

The 72-hole strokeplay event has attracted entries from 70 countries who will compete at Olivos Golf Club and Buenos Aires Golf Club, two courses which Gatley said differed in character.

"Both courses are in excellent condition although they have firmed up considerably since the girls played here last week [for the Espirito Santo Trophy].

"Olivos is blind with a lot of small, undulating greens. There's going to be a premium on accuracy with iron play - hitting it into the best position.

"Buenos Aires is probably the pick of the two courses. The hitting areas are a little more generous and there's little rough around," Gatley said.

"It's the old story - if we can play the par threes well and take advantage of the par fives because there's nothing super long, then that's the key."

- NZPA