Golf: Brushing up on discipline

New Zealand Golf have made team building and strong management a top priority to ensure no repeat of the toothbrush incident which saw two international players suspended.

The Dominion Post said yesterday that Wellington's Riki Kauika and Mt Maunganui's Brad Iles were banned from representing New Zealand overseas until the end of the year following the hushed-up affair at the Malaysian amateur championship in May.

The newspaper understood bad blood between teenagers Kauika and Auckland's Kevin Chun boiled over when a bare-bottomed Kauika misused Chun's toothbrush as a prop in a photograph allegedly snapped by Iles.

NZ Golf confirmed in a statement that a disciplinary hearing found a "childish and ill-conceived prank" took place.

The disciplinary panel decided the offending players be counselled as to the impacts of their actions; that the players apologise to all those involved for their actions; and that the players concerned would only be considered for New Zealand representation when a full management team was in place.

That will take effect from January 1.

Kauika and Iles were suspended after attending a disciplinary hearing in Wellington after the team returned home from Malaysia.

However, Kauika was allowed to play alongside Chun at this week's Eisenhower Trophy in Puerto Rico under a strict curfew. The team was accompanied by a manager, Auckland's Terry Pulman.

The New Zealand team of Kauika, Chun and Josh Geary finished 21st at the Eisenhower tournament, but NZ Golf high-performance manager Graeme Scott insisted the incident wasn't a factor.

"There isn't any bad blood. There was certainly very good team harmony in Puerto Rico and the parties involved [in the disciplinary process] were happy with the outcome," Scott said. "The matter is closed."

Iles was allowed to tour the United States privately in June and July with NZ Golf's blessing.

He cheated death four tournaments into the trip when he needed surgery to remove two blood clots from his brain after falling from a golf cart in South Carolina.

The NZ Golf statement said the incident highlighted a need to manage teenage players representing their country overseas.

"NZ Golf is aware of the importance of team culture and as a result the players and management of the Eisenhower Trophy team took part in a preparation programme which included golf-specific training and team building.

"NZ Golf is confident that steps are in place to help our young athletes manage the demands of international travel and the dynamics of team culture."


- NZPA