Good news for Aussies at Eisenhower Trophy
BY Bruce Young | Amateur Golf Tour | 2004 World Amateur Team Championships | Preview | 27 Oct 2004
The Australian Eisenhower team of James Nitties, Michael Sim and Jarrod Lyle take to the fairways of the Rio Mar Resort in Puerto Rico with a good chance of being amongst the leading nations at the end of the seventy two holes. In order for them to do so they must challenge the hot favourites the United States, whose team is made up of arguably the three hottest amateurs in world golf in Ryan Moore, Spencer Levin and Lee Williams.
Amidst the news that Australia has won the right to host the 2008 World Amateur Teams events in Adelaide over the Royal Adelaide and Grange courses, the team has settled in at the Westin Innisbrook Resort in Puerto Rico.
None of the three Australian players come from bermuda green backgrounds, but given the exposure that amateur golfers at this level now have to tournament golf internationally, they should quickly adapt to the tifdwarf greens that are in play at both the River and Ocean courses at the complex. They have also spent a few days in Florida getting acclimatised, gaining valuable practice on bermuda greens and spending time with Robert Allenby.
The River Course was designed by Greg Norman and, if the scoring at last week’s Espirito Santo Trophy event over the same two courses is anything to go by, the more difficult Ocean Course designed by George and Tom Fazio.
The Australian Team has an early tee off on day one (October 28th) when they take on the River course at 7:00, 7:10 and 7:20.
New Zealand is represented by three teenagers in Josh Geary, Riki Kauika and Kevin Chun.
