Golf: NZ's top amateurs ready for Trans-Tasman Cup

Ben Campbell. Photo / Getty images

The top New Zealand and Australian amateur golfers have arrived in Melbourne to prepare for the biennial Trans-Tasman Cup held at Peninsula Country Golf Club in Melbourne which begins tomorrow.

Both countries bring four strong teams to the tournament that is staged from March 7-9 - a men's team, women's team, boys' team and girls' team (both under-19).

The Australian men's team includes Australian amateur medallist Cameron Smith, recent Riversdale Cup champion and World No 11 Jake Higginbottom, Master of the Amateurs champion Nathan Holman and national squad member Ryan McCarthy.

They face a New Zealand team including two-time Australian amateur runner-up, Ben Campbell, SBS individual medallist Blair Riordan, Southland No 1 Vaughan McCall and the current New Zealand amateur champion Mathew Perry.

The New Zealand women's team is led by Emily Perry, who finished third last week at the Victorian stroke play, Chantelle Cassidy, Sarah Bradley and Julianne Alvarez.

Australia brings a team which includes NSW amateur champion Grace Lennon, 2011 Australian amateur champion Ashlee Dewhurst, Australian No 1 Breanna Elliott and former Dunes Medal winner Adriana Brent.

The Australian boys' team includes 2010 junior champion and national squad member Anthony Murdaca, Victorian junior champion Lucas Herbert, national squad member Oliver Goss and Australian amateur semifinalist Ruben Sondjaja.

They will face a Kiwi team including Ryan Chisnall, Sam An, Tyler Hodge and rising star Compton Pikari who makes his international debut in Melbourne after winning the South Island Stroke Play Championship last week on the back of three junior title victories.

The Australian girls' team is well represented by national squad members Su Hyun Oh, Jaimee Dougan, Queensland junior champion Lauren Mason and WA junior champion Hannah Green.

Played every two years, it is made up of four categories of four players each. The boys' category contest the Clare Higson Trophy, the girls' category contest the Junior Tasman Cup, the open men's category contests the Sloan Morpeth Trophy, and the open women's category contests the Tasman Cup.

Each play foursomes and singles scratch match play over two rounds.

The last time the trophy was contested in 2010 the Australian team successfully defended their title winning by 31-17.

New Zealand teams to contest the Trans-Tasman Trophy:

Men / Boys:

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

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

Women / Girls:

Women: Emily Perry (Lochiel), Chantelle Cassidy (Tokoroa), Sarah Bradley (Cambridge), Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park).

Under 19`s: Catherine Bell (Ashburton), Laura Hoskin (Arrowtown), Wenyung Keh (Pakuranga), Fai Tongdethsri (Hamilton).