Golf: Chung in big company

Auckland's Enu Chung will become the youngest woman golfer to represent New Zealand after being named yesterday to contest the annual Queen Sirikit Cup.

Fifteen-year-old Chung was included with Rotorua teenager Penny Newbrook and New Zealand's top-ranked amateur Tina Howard, of Taupo, in the team to contest the Asia-Pacific teams event in Korea on May 14-16.

The trio are also part of a seven-strong team to play the biennial Tasman Cup against Australia in Adelaide from May 7-8.

They are joined by Wellington teenagers Kyla Welsh and Sarah Nicholson, Canterbury's Naomi Wallace and Taranaki's Olivia Hartley.

All except Howard will make their senior international debuts at the Tasman Cup, which represents an exciting development for Women's Golf New Zealand, according to convener of selectors Cherry Kingham.

"To some extent change was forced on us, with several players from last year either having turned professional or gone overseas to develop their game," Kingham said.

"However, most of this group have been part of our Titleist Academy and high-performance programme for several years, and would have pressured for inclusion in the senior team.

"Obviously we will be lacking some experience at the top level, although most of this team have enjoyed international competition as juniors in recent years, and in some recent tournaments overseas.

"I think it's an exciting time for Women's Golf New Zealand as we see the rewards of our high-performance programme starting to bear fruit."

Kingham said Howard's experience would play a key role in the development of the young team, although Howard, who finished runner-up in the national strokeplay championships last weekend, was still only 24.

Among players missing from last year are Brenda Ormsby and Wendy Hawkes, who have turned professional, Claire Dury and Anita Boon, who are playing overseas, and Hee-Jeong Chun, who was unavailable.

Chung, who turned 15 last month, is ranked No 2 behind Howard on the national player rankings.

The previous youngest player to represent New Zealand was Bay of Plenty's Julia Kraschinski, who was 16 when she took part in the Espirito Santo world teams championships in 1998.

Chung, born in Korea and daughter of Korean professional John Chung, who is her coach, played at No 1 for Auckland in last year's inter-provincial in New Plymouth.

"It is quite funny really that at 24 years, I am by far the oldest player in the Queen Sirikit team," Howard said. "But that's good.

"The selections are all well merited. They proved that at the weekend. We have the strongest team for the Tasman Cup we could have.

"That tournament will be a good lead-in to the Queen Sirikit. Because of the format of the Tasman Cup, which includes foursomes - which we rarely play - we will need to look at combinations when we have a camp at the Hutt Golf Club early next month.

"I have just come back from playing with Enu in Australia. I think she will handle the step up."

For Howard it will be her fifth Queen Sirikit, but the first time she has played in Korea.

Wallace, at 25, is the oldest player in the Tasman Cup side. A product of Westport, the Canterbury No 1 has spent time in the American college system.

Teams:

Queen Sirikit Cup: Enu Chung (Auckland), Tina Howard (Taupo), Penny Newbrook (Rotorua). Non-travelling reserve: Kyla Welsh (Wellington).

Tasman Cup: Chung, Howard, Newbrook, Olivia Hartley (Taranaki), Sarah Nicholson (Wellington), Naomi Wallace (Canterbury), Welsh. Non-travelling reserve: Stacey Tate (North Harbour).