Ko will lead the golf team to contest the Astor Trophy

New Zealand Golf has announced a strong team to contest the Astor Trophy amateur women’s Tournament to be held at Fairhaven Golf Club at Lytham St Annes in Lancashire from June 15.The team is led by the 14-year-old world number one Lydia Ko from the North Shore and the 16-year-old world number three Cecilia Cho from Pakuranga.The other members are Manor Park’s Julianne Alvarez, who’s 14, Lochiel’s Emily Perry and Chantelle Watson Talk About Tiger’s Swing Cassidy from Tokoroa.The Astor Trophy , formerly known as the Commonwealth Tournament, is contested every four years between Great Britain and Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.New Zealand has never won but has finished runner up four times.Ko, who became the world’s No.1 after capturing the strokeplay and matchplay titles at the NZ amateur championships last month, T

will be joined in the five-strong team by world No. 3 Cecilia Cho, Emily Perry, Chantelle Cassidy and Julianne Alvarez for the trip.Before the team contest the Astor Trophy at Fairhaven Golf Club at Lytham St Annes fron June 15-19 they will line up as individuals in the British Amateur Championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland from June 7-11The Astor Trophy, which was formerly the Commonwealth Tournament, is contested by Great Britain & Ireland, Australia, Canada and South Africa every four years and the format features two foursomes and five singles matches each day and while New Zealand have finished runners-up four time they have never won the title.Great Britain and Ireland are the defending champions and New Zealand on the back of the continued success of Ko and Cho are optimistic of their chances of lifting the trophy for a first time.Lydia and Cecilia are seasoned international competitors now so they will lead the way and it’s up to their team-mates to follow,”said New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy.