Red-hot Hannah Green will carry the Australian flag into the inaugural Patsy Hankins Trophy competition next week.
The Perth ace will be part of a 12-strong Asia Pacific women’s team to take on the might of Europe in an amateur teams’ event to be played alongside the men’s Bonallack Trophy in Portugal.
Green will be joined on the plane by her Golf Australia national squad teammates Zach Murray and Brett Coletta, whose male counterparts will try to arrest Europe’s domination of the biennial Bonallack Trophy that stretches back to 2006.
Both competitions are equivalent to the time-honoured Walker Cup, with the newly formed women’s competition named in honour of legendary New Zealand golf administrator Patsy Hankins.
Asia-Pacific men’s team captain Matt Cutler said the level of competition would be fierce.
“To be selected to represent the Asia-Pacific region is a great honour for all players,” Cutler said.
“We know Europe presents a huge challenge on home soil, but we have selected players we are confident will not only compete hard, but also gel as a team – vitally important in this format.
“There’s a growing pride in Asia-Pacific golf and to compete solidly in Portugal will further help put our region firmly on the amateur golfing map.”
Green has ridden a string of great summer results in professional events around Australia and New Zealand all the way to 246 in the Rolex Rankings system, including the world’s top professionals.
She will be joined by players from Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei in the women’s team, to be captained by New Zealand's Libby Steele.
The men’s team also features players from Singapore and India.
The competition will be held at Portugal’s Vidago Palace Golf Club over three competition days from March 16.
Both foursomes and fourball competitions, by five pairs, will be contested on days one and two, with 12 singles matches to complete the competition on day three.
For full team information, see the links below.
http://www.ega-golf.ch/content/team-asia-pacific-selections-2016-bonallack-trophy
http://www.ega-golf.ch/content/team-asia-pacific-selections-2016-patsy-hankins-trophy