Glenelg’s Head Coach on national stage

Compiled by Glenelg Head Teaching Professional, Gareth Jones

As some of you would know I have recently returned from National Coaching duties at the 2014 World Amateur Team Championships in Japan. My role was coach of the Australian Men’s team competing for the Eisenhower Trophy at Karazaiwa 72 in the Nagano district near Tokyo.

The three man team was all Victorian so they obviously needed a South Australian to try and get them over the line! The team of Geoff Drakeford, Ryan Ruffels and Lucas Herbert were the 74th, 75th and 76th players to have represented Australia, our own Head Professional Shane Robinson and course architect Neil Crafter have both represented Australia at the highest level at the Eisenhower Trophy just a few years ago! For me it was a great opportunity once again to see the best young players in the world and hopefully bring back some information and enthusiasm to help drive our young amateurs and member’s alike to achieve their goals.

I joined the lads in Sydney and then flew to Tokyo to catch up with the rest of the support team that were already there supporting the Australian Women’s team. After a delay at check in we got to the course to see Minjee Lee hole her final putt as an amateur and win the Espirito Santo Trophy for Australia. Minjee shot 15 under par for the final two rounds and broke the hearts of the Canadian team that had lead from day 1. (Canada would go on to finish 2nd again in the men’s and were even more devastated to lose to America in the Eisenhower!)

 The Eisenhower was played on two courses over 72 holes with the best two of three scores counting each day. There were 67 countries playing form all over the world and of varying abilities! The Robert Trent Jones courses were set amongst the mountains and volcanoes of the Nagano district , seems we were a bit lucky to get out before the current eruptions happening in Nagano.

One of the features of the Oshitate course was the 787 yard  par 6 18th. It seemed like a massive proposition but in round one 16 year old Ruffels knocked it on in 3 with a pitching wedge from 165 metres for a chance at an eagle 4. (I must be getting old!)

The guys played great as a team, Lucas Herbert finished at 20 under par and in a tie for 2nd in the individual standings. The boys combined to finish 6th at 32 under and 6 shots behind the USA, it was the best result since 2008 where they finished 6th in Adelaide.

The next World Amateur Team Championships will be held in Mexico in 2016 so hopefully with Ruffels and Herbert still around and some good talent coming through the men will be looking to emulate the women’s team and get on the podium!

My next trip is Royal Melbourne at the end of October for the Asia Pacific Amateur Championships. This tournament is underwritten by the R&A and The Masters Tournament and the winner gains a start in The Masters in 2015 and also the Dubai Desert Creek Challenge. I will be over there trying to help SA’s Anthony Murdaca take the next step in his career.

I’ll keep you up to date via Facebook and Twitter during the tournament.

I look forward to seeing you on the practice tee in the next few weeks!

Cheers

Gareth Jones
Head Coach – Glenelg Golf Club
National Coach – Golf Australia