Australian Eisenhower Team looking to emulate women
IN: News | by Bruce Young | 21 Oct 2002
Following on from the brilliant success of the Australian Women's team last week the Australian men take to the fairways of the Saujana Golf Club on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur this week for the Eisenhower Trophy in an endeavour to repeat the dose.
Andrew Buckle, Adam Groom and Marcus Fraser make up a very strong Australian team. Buckle has been in very good form this year and has benefited significantly from time spent in Asia, Europe and the USA where he won the Dogwood event in Atlanta beating a field of some of the leading amateurs in the United States. He also won a major amateur event in Malaysia at Saujana so the course holds no fears for him.
Marcus Fraser has professional aspirations in mind as he has made it through to stage two qualifying for the European Tour comfortably winning at his venue in stage one. Adam Groom managed to edge Tiger Woods out of fifth place at the New Zealand Open earlier this year so on paper at least, there is no reason why the Australians should not go into the event with some degree of hope and perhaps favouritism.
Australia last won this event in 1996 in Manila when David Gleeson, Brett Patridge, Jarrod Moseley and Jamie Crow represented although the teams are now made up of just the three players.
The New Zealanders are also well represented with Eddie Lee a winner on the Asian PGA Tour this year and the winner of the Malaysian Amateur Open heading the team. Tim Wilkinson who is also through first round qualifying at the European Tour School and who has played extensively internationally this year, is the number two player and Brad Shilton, perhaps not as experienced as his peers, the number three. New Zealand's highlight came in 1992 when Michael Campbell, Phil Tataurangi, Stephen Scahill and Grant Moorhead won in Canada.
As was the case with the ladies last week the men take the leading two scores each day and combine them. They will play over the two courses, the Palm and the Bunga Raya layouts at the Saujana Golf Club.
As is often the case this event will mark the end of in some cases illustrious amateur careers and herald for many the start of a road to fame and fortune in professional golf.
