New Zealand saved their best for last with an excellent win over hosts Japan to jump to second place in the Four Nations Team Golf Championship in Japan yesterday.
After trailing Japan 2-1 after the morning foursomes, the New Zealand team produced a superb singles performance, winning five of their six matches at the Nikko Country Club course.
This catapulted the Kiwis from last to second place behind the unbeaten Australian combination who beat Canada 6 to 3.
Australia finished unbeaten with three points, New Zealand second on 1.5 points, Japan 1 point and Canada a half.
New Zealand team manager John Gatley said the team had played exceptionally well and while the team's start wasn't what it wanted the overall result was pleasing.
"After our first round loss to Australia when five matches went down the last hole, it was very satisfying to fight back to finish second."
Australian Foursomes champions Brad Iles (Tauranga) and Mathew Holten (Te Aroha) provided the only foursomes win with a 2up effort over Haruo Fujishima and Tahamasa Yamamoto. The pair also featured strongly for New Zealand after Hawkes Bay's Doug Holloway was beaten 3 and 1 in the afternoon singles.
Kevin Chun edged Yuta Ikeda 1-up and Josh Geary was in great touch to beat Takayoshi Iseki 4 and 3 to start the momentum.
The top three followed with Hamilton's Mark Purser winning 1-up, Holten 3 and 2 and Iles claiming the clash of the top seeds 2 and 1 over Japan No 1 Tahomasa Yamamoto.
It was the eighth time that Australia has won the Four Nations Teams Championship, a biennial event established in 1987 between the four countries decided on a round-robin matchplay competition.
Australia beat Canada 6 to 2 in the other match.
Results:
New Zealand 6 Japan 3:
Foursomes: Doug Holloway and Mark Purser lost to Takayoshi Iseki and Tatsunori Nukaga 4 and 3, Josh Geary and Kevin Chun lost Ykui Ito and Yuta Ikeda 1down, Brad Iles and Mathew Holten beat Haruo Fujishima and Tahamasa Yamamoto 2up.
Singles: Holloway lost to Ito 3 and 1, Chun bt Ikeda 1up, Geary bt Iseki 4 and 3, Purser bt Nukaga 1up, Holten bt Fukishima 3 and 2, Iles bt Yamamoto 2 and 1.
Australia 6 Canada 2.
Final points: Australia 3 points, 18.5 games, New Zealand 2 points, 11.5 games, Japan 1 1.5 points, 13.5 games, Canada 0.5 points, 9 games.
- NZPA
Golf: NZ jump to second after victory over Japan
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.