Darae Chung and Dan Hillier Selected

New Zealand Golf’s 2020 National Academy has now been named with a number of emerging, talented players gaining selection for the first time.

The incumbent members who have been re-selected include Daniel Hillier (Professional) in Phase Four, Kazuma Kobori, Carmen Lim, and Vivian Lu in Phase Three.

The newly selected Phase Three members are Tyler Wood, Jared Edwards, Sam Jones, Mako Thompson, James Hydes, Fiona Xu, and Darae Chung.

There are four phases within New Zealand Golf’s Talent Development Programme with two distinct tiers within Phase Three, the National Academy.

Tier Two is for players who have shown great potential but may still have some way to go before representing New Zealand at senior level or turning professional. They have been identified as emerging talent but still have developmental gaps that need to be addressed while they strive to improve their on-course performance’s.

A Tier One player has addressed the majority of their developmental gaps. While they are still on their skill mastery journey, they have shown deep engagement in their programme and have several competitive performances that show evidence of this growing mastery. This evidence will likely include strong international performances.

Phase Four, Rookie Pro Assistance, allows New Zealand Golf to support those that meet the criteria for this phase to make the transition into professionalism.

For a guide of the levels of performance mastery, skills, standards and behaviours required to achieve selection into the various phases of the Talent Development Programme follow this link:

https://www.golf.co.nz/uploads/Talent%20Development%20Plan..pdf.

The National Academy will be invited to attend training camps, will have access to New Zealand Golf’s national services provider network to assist with their programme development and may be provided opportunities to compete internationally.

The 2020 National Academy members are:

Phase Three - Tier Two

Carmen Lim (Windross Farm), Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland and Grange), Fiona Xu (Titirangi), Darae Chung (Shandon), Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora), Tyler Wood (Palmerston North), Jared Edwards (Royal Auckland and Grange), Sam Jones (Manaia), Mako Thompson (Maraenui), and Jimmy Hydes (Gulf Harbour).

2020 Rookie Pro Assistance:

Phase Four

Daniel Hillier (Professional).

For more information, please contact jason@nzgolf.org.nz 

About New Zealand Golf

New Zealand Golf is a not-for profit charitable trust established in 1910 as the governing body for golf in New Zealand responsible for leading, growing and supporting the game. Golf is the most played sport in New Zealand with over half a million kiwis playing each year at one of the 390 clubs throughout the country.

As a sector, golf employs over 2,000 people and contributes more than a billion dollars to the national economy each year. As a sport, golf makes a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of its participants, increases the social connectivity of communities and improves provides important education and life values outcomes for young people.

New Zealand Golf is focused on inspiring increased participation in golf through a range of initiatives, programmes and support services. The organisation also provides a wide range of services for the game including overseeing the rules of the game, running of the national handicapping system, managing the New Zealand Golf representative team programme (including the Olympic programme) and the management of over 20 elite golf tournaments.