25 Sep 2016

NZ golf team finishes sixth at Eisenhower

2:43 pm on 25 September 2016

The New Zealand Men's Golf Team has finished in a tie for sixth place at the World Amateur Teams Championship in Mexico.

New Zealand golfer Luke Toomey.

New Zealand golfer Luke Toomey. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

With winners Australia effectively having the title wrapped up after the third round the kiwis were eyeing a medal finish today, which in the end only eluded them by three shots with England claiming second spot and Austria and Ireland sharing the bronze.

The kiwis shared sixth place with golfing powerhouse the United States, highlighting how tough this competition is, and what a great week it has been for the young New Zealand team.

Australia streaked away from the competition today with Cameron Davis firing a three under par round to finish on 17 under par as the leading individual. Team mate Curtis Luck was close behind on 15 under and in second place individually, underlining Australia's dominance of the event.

Playing a few groups in front of the leaders Luke Toomey again sparked the kiwi team and their quest for a medal early in his round with four birdies on the front nine lifting the New Zealanders momentarily into a podium position. Unfortunately for Toomey he couldn't continue his fine form dropping three shots on the back nine, however he still signed for a one under par 71.

After having a quiet week it was Ryan Chisnall who lead the way for the kiwis today leaving his best till last. Turning at even par and watching Toomey dropping a few shots on the back nine, Chisnall found crucial birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to ensure a well deserved top ten finish for the team.

Nick Voke had the non-counting score in the final round with a one over par 72, his first over par round of the week.

Chisnall was pleased to contribute today.

"That was pretty huge really to get the monkey off the back, this afternoon was good for me. I would have been gutted to come away and not have a score contributing to the week. The boys were pretty fizzed with how we went. Tied sixth is a great result and finishing tied with the USA is a good achievement."

Toomey who finished the leading kiwi individually left if all out on the golf course today.

"I'm proud of how I held it together on the back nine, I was pretty much out of steam, but proud of how I stuck it out, because it could have snuck away on me so I was pleased with how I held it together for the team.

"All of us can be proud of how we carried ourselves this week and to finish sixth is a super achievement," said a proud Toomey.

Final member of the team Voke, enjoyed his week in Mexico.

"This has been the most enjoyable and memorable golfing week of my career."

Voke who had been a rock for the kiwis all week often having to fight back after dropping early shots showed plenty of guts in his first Eisenhower.

"That's who we are and what we do so nothing out of the ordinary, just got out of it what I had and proud of how the boys fought it out and the result we got."

All three will now head to the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Korea in two weeks' time, content with a great finish and achievement in Mexico.

Conducted by the International Golf Federation, which comprises the national governing bodies of golf in more than 125 countries, the World Amateur Team Championships are a biennial international amateur golf competition rotated among three geographic zones of the world: Asia-Pacific, American and European-African.