Golf: NZ pair suspended but allowed to play in world teams champs

8.00am

WELLINGTON - Two New Zealand golfers have been suspended from international duty after an unsavoury incident involving a teammate's toothbrush, the Dominion Post reported today.

Riki Kauika (Wellington) and Brad Iles (Papamoa) were banned from representing New Zealand overseas until the end of the year following the hushed-up affair at the Malaysian amateur championship in May.

The newspaper said it understood bad blood between teenagers Kauika and Aucklander Kevin Chun boiled over when a bare-bottomed Kauika used Chun's toothbrush as a prop in a photograph allegedly snapped by Iles.

Kauika and Iles were suspended after attending a disciplinary hearing in Wellington after the team returned home from Malaysia.

However, Kauika was allowed to play alongside Chun at this week's Eisenhower Trophy in Puerto Rico under a strict curfew as the team was accompanied by a manager, Auckland's Terry Pulman.

NZ Golf high performance manager Graeme Scott confirmed the incident to the Dominion Post yesterday but denied there was any lingering tension between Kauika and Chun.

Scott said the incident was a "childish" and ill-conceived prank but rejected suggestions New Zealand's disappointing 21st placing at the world amateur teams championship had anything to do with team disharmony.

"I guess it was a prank that went wrong but it was obviously taken seriously by NZ Golf and dealt with in the appropriate manner," Scott said.

"There isn't any bad blood. There was certainly very good team harmony in Puerto Rico and the parties involved (in the disciplinary process) were happy with the outcome.

"As far as we're concerned the matter is closed," he told the newspaper.

Chun and Kauika were not available for comment as they were travelling home from Puerto Rico.

The incident has led NZ Golf to rule national teams consisting of more than two players will not travel overseas again without a manager, the newspaper reported.

Iles was allowed to tour the United States privately in June and July with NZ Golf's blessing. He cheated death four tournaments into the trip when he needed surgery to remove two blood clots from his brain after falling off the back of a golf cart in South Carolina.

Scott agreed the incident had highlighted the need for managers to accompany the younger players selected for international duty but disagreed the new breed were too young.

"You've got to toss up what you pick it on ... age or the best players? We send players away to win tournaments," Scott told the Dominion Post.

- NZPA