Golf: Kiwis lose ground in Japan

New Zealand has failed to make any impression on the leaderboard on day three of the World Amateur Teams Championship in Japan.

The Kiwi golfers began today in a share of 21st place and have dropped seven places after carding a three-under par team total at the Oshitate Course of the Karuizawa Golf Club.

The New Zealand team is one of only 19 teams of the 67 sides to have completed its third round as of earlier this afternoon.

Auckland No 1 Tae Koh was the best of the Kiwis as he rallied from a double bogey on the opening hole to play his back nine in three-under par 30 and card a two-under par 69.

Manawatu golfer Joshua Munn got off to a good start but a bogey-birdie-bogey finish spoiled what could have been a great round. He signed for a one-under par 70.

Southland rep Vaughan McCall had the non-counting one-over par 72 on day three as the Kiwis lost ground in the format where the best two scores of three count each day.

Koh was pleased to show some real character after his forgettable start.

"I told myself you can play poorly or you can turn it around and have a good round and help the team and that's what I did," said the 21-year-old from the Manukau Golf Club.

"I missed a couple opportunities with the par fives but bounced back quite nicely on the back 9 which is definitely the tougher nine and shot three under coming home so pretty pleased with that."

Tomorrow, the team returns to the Iriyama course where generally the lower scores have been produced.

 

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