AAC Winner Ready for New Zealand Title Defence

Hamilton, New Zealand: Still on a high following his dramatic Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) victory, Jasper Stubbs this week bids to defend his New Zealand Amateur Championship title.

With his triumph at Royal Melbourne on Sunday, the 21-year-old Victorian booked his ticket into the field of two Major championships in 2024 – the Masters and The Open, as well as the Amateur Championship.

For now, though, his attention is focused on retaining the New Zealand Amateur Championship at Hamilton Golf Club – St Andrews Course.

In the wake of his AAC victory he said: “I’ve been thinking about going back to New Zealand and defending, and this gives me a little bit of hope that I can actually go back-to-back.

“I loved being over in New Zealand as well. It’s a great country. I really enjoyed my time there last year, and I’ve been looking forward to going back as the defending champion.”

Stubbs will tee-off in the first round of stroke play alongside Mitchell Kale, who he beat in last year’s match play final, and Jack Van Prehn, low amateur in last month’s TSB Taranaki Open.

On the women’s side of the draw, a handful of promising women are in contention to put their names on the New Zealand Women’s Amateur trophy with Tara Raj, Jessica Green, Rebekah Blackwell-Chin, and Amy Im will all be vying for the title after recent strong performances.

The top 32 men and the top 32 women after 36 holes of stroke play progress through to knockout match play.