Golf: NZ golfers star in Asia Pacific victory

12.15pm

New Zealand golfers Bradley Iles and Mathew Holten played a strong role in the Asia Pacific team's victory against Europe in the Bonallack Trophy in Rome today.

Iles and Holten grabbed a win and a half respectively in the exciting final day to help Asia Pacific to a 16.5 to 15.5 final win after the teams were locked 10-all going into the final day at the Circolo Golf Roma course.

The Kiwi pair were included in the 12-strong Rest of the World side from Australia, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Thailand and Philippines for the biennial match that is played on the same format as the Ryder Cup.

Asia Pacific have now won the trophy twice after Europe took out the first two encounters in 1998 and 2000.

Iles (Wellington) and Holten (Waikato) had a successful event, losing only two of seven matches in the three-day match.

Ironically they lost their first match when paired together on the opening day but bounced back with three wins on the second day with the teams level on 10-10 going into the singles matches on the final day today.

The New Zealanders were paired with Australians James Nitties and Nick Flanagan, the US Amateur champion, for the second day four-ball and foursomes.

Iles fought back brilliantly to halve his match with Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano while Holten overcame Ireland's Noel Fox 1-up for a crucial win.

It was an impressive performance from Holten, who played with borrowed clubs after his car was stolen along with his clubs when playing in the North Island Amateur at Hamilton two weeks ago.

New Zealand results, Bonallack Trophy, Circolo Golf Roma GC, Asia Pacific 16.5 Europe 15.5:

Day 1: M Holten-B Iles lost to G Fernandez-Castano and Pablo Martin (Spain) 3 and 2.

Day 2: Holten and J Nitties (Aus) bt Castano-Martin 3 and 2, Iles and Flanagan bt JW Van Hoof (Netherlands)-H Santois (Portugal) 7 and 6, Holten-Nitties lost to N Fox (Ireland) and S Wilson (Scotland) 1 down, Iles-Flanagan bt G Wolstenholme (England) and J Heath (England) 1up.

Day 3: Iles and Castano all square, Holten bt Fox 1up.

- NZPA