Golf Australia is pleased to announce today the 2007 National Squad members who will convene for the first time this week at the MFS Australian Open at Royal Sydney. The National Squad comprises the best amateur men and women golfers. Members are required to compete in major amateur events including National Selection Trials and the respective Australian Amateur Championships for men and women. Based on these results the Australian teams are selected. National Elite Development Director, Peter Knight said, I am anticipating the continued excellent performances of Australian Teams and individuals competing both locally and overseas. We will extensively support our rising stars as we look to enhance their playing and training opportunities as they move forward in their careers. These players have worked extremely hard to achieve selection in the national squad and they are to be congratulated, Knight added. The Squad is represented by eleven new members who join eleven players from the 2006 Squad . In order to support the country s rising talent, Golf Australia has implemented a new initiative naming two men and two women in the squad who are based in the United States and are currently studying at College there. Golf Australia aims to provide the national squad with support and the right nurturing to bring out the best in their performance as they grow towards the next step in turning professional and the ultimate objective of developing internationally successful golfers. As part of their development as athletes the squad is spending the week at the MFS Australian Open gaining experience from the following: Seven male members of have been granted direct entry into the tournament. The remaining five male members will attempt to join the field through the Monday qualifying. The twelve male members will also attempt to qualify on Tuesday for the following week s Mastercard Masters. On Monday the squad will spend some time with US Open Champion, Geoff Ogilvy, who will share his experiences from his golf career. On Tuesday the female members will either participate in the pro-am or support the running of the event on the practice range. On Wednesday each member of the squad will play a practice round at Royal Sydney with leading professionals such as Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby. On Thursday to Sunday the squad members who are not in the tournament will run the Golf Australia Kids Zone in the Central Tournament Area adjacent to the 18th green. The National Squad provides leading amateur golfers with a great opportunity to showcase their talents. Previous members have included Adam Scott, Brett Rumford, Aaron Baddeley, Scott Gardiner, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Greg Chalmers, Stephen Leaney, Brendan Jones, Nick Flanagan, Marcus Fraser, Mathew Goggin and Michael Sim. Golf Australia is responsible for and focuses on the development of the game at grassroots levels, working to deliver a coordinated pathway of player development from the elite junior, through elite amateur, rookie professional to internationally successful elite professional golfers. 2007 GOLF AUSTRALIA NATIONAL SQUAD Men Jamie Arnold (NSW) Ray Beaufils (QLD) (new) Rudi Bezuidenhout (NSW) (new) Rohan Blizard (NSW) (new) Stephen Dartnall (WA) Andrew Dodt (QLD) Michael Foster (WA) (new) Richie Gallichan (NSW) (new) Rick Kulacz (WA) Aaron Pike (QLD) (new) Tim Stewart (NSW) Josh Younger (VIC) (new) Bronson La Cassie ** (QLD) (new) Ben Pisani ** (QLD) Women Bree Arthur (QLD) (new) Emma Bennett (VIC) Frances Bondad (NSW) Kate Combes (VIC) Stephanie Na (SA) (new) Sarah Oh (NSW) Kristie Smith **(WA) Alison Whitaker ** (VIC)(new) ** US College based
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