Kendall axed from academy

Mt Maunganui amateur Brad Kendall is philosophical about being axed from New Zealand Golf's high-performance academy, saying he wouldn't have picked himself either if he'd been selecting the squad.

Kendall is the big omission from the Srixon Academy named yesterday, with promising golfers Blair Riordan (Takaka), Joshua Munn (Manawatu) and Chantelle Cassidy (Tokoroa) added for the first time.

Kendall is one of four players to miss out, although the only one still active on the New Zealand amateur circuit. Aucklanders Ryan Fox and Cecilia Cho have turned pro, and Keegan Kilpatrick is now based in the United States.

Kendall, by his own admission, hasn't been able to reach the heights of 2010 when he claimed the national strokeplay title in Hastings and finished runner-up in the matchplay, achievements that saw him added to the academy.

"Gregg [Thorpe, talent and coach development manager at NZ Golf] phoned me to talk it through. They gave me the reasons, but I already knew it was coming.

"I haven't played good enough and didn't deserve to get back in. I certainly don't feel hard done by in any way."

Kendall, an apprentice electrician, can't pinpoint the exact time of his slide but said his touch around the greens disappeared first and the rest of his game duly followed, culminating in a horror time with the flat stick as Bay of Plenty missed the semifinals at the national interprovincial at Paraparaumu in 2010.

He hasn't been awful, qualifying fourth for the national matchplay champs at his home course last month before bowing out in the first time, but hasn't had the tournament results needed to keep his place in the academy.

Despite being dropped, the 20-year-old is prepared to fight his way back and said the signs have been good in his recent sessions with coach Jay Carter.

"My touch around the greens has started to come back and I'm getting my distance back.

"Jay's helped out with a few technical things and it feels as though my swing is ironing out."

Being part of the academy has given Kendall access to national training camps, physio treatment and the best coaching knowledge, perks he'll now miss out on or have to pay for himself.

He's also travelled to Japan twice and Australia twice as part of the academy. The door isn't shut on future trips, with non-academy players looked at, but it won't be easy.

"You can still make national teams from outside the academy but you have to be playing real well to put your name out there. I still believe I've got more to offer as a golfer and will keep trying."

New Zealand's most experienced amateur, Ben Campbell, will continue to be supported outside of the Srixon Academy by New Zealand Golf while he is based in Melbourne.

Srixon Academy

Men: Vaughan McCall (Southland, Blair Riordan (Takaka), Mathew Perry (Hamilton), Sam An (Titirangi), Josh Munn (Manawatu), Fraser Wilkin (Royal Auckland).

Women: Lydia Ko (North Shore), Emily Perry (Lochiel), Chantelle Cassidy (Tokoroa).

Development squad

Men: Compton Pikari (Te Awamutu), Tyler Hodge (Levin), Trent Munn (Manawatu), Nick Voke (Manukau), Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres), Jordan Bakermans (Christchurch).

Women: Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park), Munchin Keh (Titirangi), Wenyung Keh (Titirangi), Sarah Bradley (Cambridge), Larisa Eurera (Akarana).