Julianne Alvarez pick of the Kiwis on day three at the 26th Espirito Santo Worlds

Espirito Santo World Amateur Teams Championship: Kiwis slip again in Japan 

New Zealand has continued its tumultuous week at the 26^th Espirito Santo Worlds Team Championship in Japan.

The Kiwis, who bounced back in round two with a six-under par team total at the Oshitate Course of the Karuizawa Golf Club to climb into 27^th place, faded again today with a five-over par team total.

They slipped back to a nine-over par total team after three rounds and into 33^rd place on the leaderboard of 51 teams, with 42 nations still to complete their third rounds. 

Wellington No.1 Julianne Alvarez was the pick of the Kiwis on day three as she carded a one-over par 73 at the Oshitate Course.

Alvarez was supported by Auckland golfer Munchin Keh who signed for a four-over par 76 while Bay of Plenty rep Zoe Brake (77) again had the non-counting score in the format where the best two of the three scores tally towards the team total.

At this stage, the Kiwis will begin the final round 24 shots back from Canada who leads by two strokes from Denmark on a 15-under par total. 

Alvarez, a former NZ Amateur Champion, was pleased with her third round effort.

“It was really solid today,” said the 18-year-old from the Manor Park Golf Club.

“I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities and I was able to convert a few. I stuck to my game plan when things weren’t going so well so all in all it was a really solid day today.”

Alvarez said that as the sun came out and the conditions improved the course began to play harder and faster.

“It definitely made a difference. It has been pretty wet here this week so we had to adjust when the greens were a bit drier. You had to think about your approaches, especially from the rough, because they were rolling out a bit more.”

Alvarez said that she has a solid game plan for the final round at the Iriyama Golf Club.

“I have a plan in my book that I will be sticking to that should give me a lot of pars and a few birdie opportunities. We will be gunning for a strong finish to the championship tomorrow.”

The two-time Charles Tour winner said that her first Espirito Santo World Amateur Teams event has been a real eye opener.

“My favourite part has been being around the best amateur golfers in the world. Being amongst that calibre of player has been a lot of fun.”

New Zealand has never won the Espirito Santo World Amateur Teams Championship – they have finished runner up twice in 1982 in Switzerland and in 1990 when they were hosts at the Christchurch Golf Club.

For all scores CLICK HERE