New Zealand golf teams sitting in top ten

16th August

Media Release

New Zealand golf teams sitting in top ten at World University Games

The extreme heat and humidity at the Watermill Gardens course at the World University Games in Bangkok has not stopped the New Zealand men's and women's golf teams from securing spots in the top ten as they head into the fourth and final round tomorrow.

The men's team comprising Ben Wallace, Rodney Yee, Gary-John Hill and James Cusdin shot a one over par team score today to total 672 after three rounds, 25 shots behind the leading team from Japan.

The women's team of three - Cathryn Bristow, Amy Smith and Gemma Mathieson - are on 470, putting them 23 shots behind the leaders from Ireland.

In the men's individual, James Cusdin had the best result today hitting a one under par 71, the fourth best round of the day. Overall, Ben Wallace is the highest placed kiwi male coming 23rd out of a field of 85.

Cathryn Bristow, the highest placed New Zealand woman, shot a four over par 76 today but still managed to climb the leader board to 11th, 15 shots behind Irish leader Danielle McVeigh.

New Zealand has also competed in basketball, football and judo over the last two days.

The New Zealand Emerging Tall Blacks played Ukraine their second to last game. Despite Everard Bartlett scoring 39 and New Zealand only being down by nine at half time, the final score was 104-86 to Ukraine. Their final game is tomorrow against China for 15th place.

A sluggish first half for the New Zealand women's football team cost them any chance they had of a win against football powerhouse Germany in their second to last match of the Games. The women's football team were defeated 5-0 with all goals being scored in the first half. Their final game is tomorrow against home country Thailand for 15th place.

New Zealand's only judo competitor Sean Choi competed in the Under 73 kg category but did not get through to the next round after a tight bout against Kazakhstan opponent Marat Danaibayev.

With over 10,300 competitors and officials from 170 nations competing in 17 sports, the World University Games are the second largest global multi-sports event after the Summer Olympics.

University Sport New Zealand receives funding from government agency SPARC and NZCT towards the costs of sending the New Zealand team to the World University Games. The team is also sponsored by Crocs.

ENDS

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