Golf: Sam aiming to be in Hunt for gold this time in Japan

Rotorua's Sam Hunt will be hoping it's a case of third time lucky when he leads the New Zealand team to compete in the junior World Cup tournament in Japan next month.

Hunt, the former national strokeplay champion, has been part of the New Zealand team to the tournament for the past two years, where they won silver and bronze medals.

He will be looking to go one better in his final year of eligibility.

Hunt was named yesterday along with debutants Riki Kauiki, of Wanganui, Levin's Andrew Henare and Auckland's Kevin Chun in the team for Kobe.

They will leave on June 12, with the tournament from June 17-20.

It will be a busy time for the exciting Kauika and Henare, who will also play in Queensland this month.

They will join New Zealand representatives Brad Iles, of Wellington, and Waikato's Matt Holten at the Indooroopilly Jug, Queensland's premier 72-hole amateur tournament.

Kauika and Henare were to play in the Malaysian and Saujana amateur championship events, but New Zealand golf officials withdrew the pair because of the Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus.

The Queensland tournament was considered an ideal replacement.

Iles has been in sparkling form this season, particularly across the Tasman with his 17-under tally enough for runner-up in the Riversdale Cup.

He also finished second in the Australian amateur championship.

Holten, from Te Aroha, also played well in Australia, at the Lake Macquarie amateur and NSW medal, before returning to be the best-placed New Zealander at the Clearwater Classic.

- NZPA

The teams

Indooroopilly Jug (Brisbane, May 20-23: Brad Iles (Wellington), Matthew Holten (Te Aroha). Individual entrants: Riki Kauika (Wanganui), Andrew Henare (Levin).

Junior World Cup, Kobe, Japan, June 17-20: Kauika, Henare, Sam Hunt (Rotorua), Kevin Chun (Auckland). Coach: Simon Thomas. Manager: Kerry Fenton.