Iles was today named in a six-strong New Zealand team to contest the Four Nations Cup in Japan next month just nine months after suffering serious head injuries following an accident on a golf cart after playing in the United States.
The 21-year-old forced his way into the team after winning the North Island Championship two weeks ago and finishing in a share of third place in the South Island Championship in Blenheim yesterday.
Two members of last year's Eisenhower Trophy world championship team, Josh Geary (Tauranga) and Kevin Chun (Auckland) are included along with Mathew Holten (Te Aroha), Mark Purser (Hamilton) and Doug Holloway (Napier).
The team will contest the 10th Four Nations Cup against Australia, Canada and Japan at the Nikko Country Club in Japan from 18-20 May.
Geary, fifth individual in the Eisenhower Trophy last year, has been in strong form after qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Australian Amateur last month while Chun was equal ninth in the North Islands and runner-up in the South Islands.
The Waikato players Holten and Purser have been the form New Zealand golfers over the summer, with Holten winning the South Island title and finishing in a share of third at the North Islands following his outstanding win in the Riversdale Cup international in Australia as well as the Australasian Foursomes title with Iles.
Purser has been a consistently outstanding finisher across the Tasman, fourth at the Lake Macquarie International and fifth at both the Tasmanian Open and New South Wales Medal, as well as making the quarterfinals of the Australian Amateur.
Holloway, 21, was second in the New Zealand Under-23 Championship and also performed competitively in Australia over the summer including fourth in the New South Wales Strokeplay.
The two players to miss selection from the eight-strong Titleist squad that competed in Australia were Eisenhower Trophy player Riki Kauika (Wanganui), who has struggled to regain his best form in recent months, and Hamilton's James Gill.
Gill has been selected along with Matamata golfer Richard Wright to represent New Zealand in the Malaysia Amateur Championship north of Kuala Lumpur from 26-29 May and the nearby Saujana Amateur International from 31 May to 2 June.
Meanwhile a strong New Zealand side take on Australia in the annual Clare Higson under-18 international across the Tasman starting tomorrow.
The team is led by Aaron Baddeley World Junior Champion Jae An (Rotorua) and last year's runner-up in the Junior British Open, Sam Shin (North Harbour).
The two-day matchplay event, including morning foursomes and afternoon singles, is staged at the Barwon Heads Golf Club near Geelong, Victoria.
The teams are:
New Zealand team for Four Nations Cup, Japan 18-20 May: Kevin Chun (Auckland), Josh Geary (Bay of Plenty), Doug Holloway (Hawkes Bay), Mathew Holten (Waikato), Bradley Iles (Bay of Plenty), Mark Purser (Waikato).
New Zealand team to compete in Malaysia and Saujana Amateur Championships: James Gill (Waikato), Richard Wright (Waikato).
New Zealand team for the Clare Higson under-18 international: Jae An (Bay of Plenty), Samuel Shin (North Harbour), Aaron Leech and Perry Hayman (both Wellinton), Kris Smith and Nick Gillespie (both Manawatu Wanganui).
Source - NZGA
Photo - Anthony Powter
