Golf: NZ name strong teams for Trans Tasman Cup

Ben Campbell. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand No 1 Ben Campbell headlines four strong teams looking for redemption, when the Trans-Tasman Cup gets underway at Melbourne's Peninsula Country Golf Club in March.

This will be the fifth staging of the event since it began in 2007, with New Zealand looking to have their name engraved on the silverware for the first time. The last time the trophy was contested, in 2010, the Australian team won by a 31-17 total margin.

Campbell is the most experienced player in the men's squad and he will be joined by New Zealand amateur champion Mathew Perry, Vaughan McCall and Blair Riordan.

Promising 17-year-old Auckland golfer Sam An will spearhead the junior boys challenge, joined by Ryan Chisnall, Tyler Hodge and the recent winner of the North Island Under 19 title Compton Pikari.

In the women's squad, world No 1 amateur Lydia Ko will lead the way and is joined by Emily Perry and Chantelle Cassidy, while Waikato rep Sarah Bradley makes a return to international duty.

Wellington No 1 Julianne Alvarez will lead the junior women's team with teammates Catherine Bell, Laura Hoskin and Wenyung Keh, who won the North Island Under 19 title and also went undefeated at last year's Toro women's interprovincial.

The Trans-Tasman Cup is a combination of the previous Australia-New Zealand match play contests. Once an annual event, the cup is now played bi-annually and is made up of four categories of four players each.

New Zealand teams to contest the Trans-Tasman Trophy:

Men: Ben Campbell (Masterton), Mathew Perry (Hamilton), Vaughan McCall (Gore), Blair Riordan (Takaka)

Under 19: Sam An (Titirangi), Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres), Tyler Hodge (Levin), Compton Pikari (Te Awamutu)

Women: Lydia Ko (North Shore), Emily Perry (Lochiel), Chantelle Cassidy (Tokoroa), Sarah Bradley (Cambridge)

Under 19: Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park), Catherine Bell (Ashburton), Laura Hoskin (Arrowtown), Wenyung Keh (Pakuranga)