Four of South Africa's best amateur golfers, along with team manager Enver Hassen, set off for New Zealand at the weekend in a confident mood for the international quadrangular Southern Cross Cup team event.

Four of South Africa's best amateur golfers, along with team manager Enver Hassen, set off for New Zealand at the weekend in a confident mood for the international quadrangular Southern Cross Cup team event.

South Africa will come up against New Zealand, Australia and Argentina in the tournament that is held every second year.

Each national team is made up of four players, the South African team comprising Nicol van Wyk (captain), Dean O'Riley, Adrian Ford and Steve Ferreira.

The event is being played at the Wairakei International Golf Course over three days starting today.

Each team will play the others once. In the morning two foursomes matches will be played, followed by four singles matches. Each match counts for one point.

In 2001 the event was played at the same venue and South Africa finished last. Since then the national team has finished second in 2003, 2005 and 2007. - Sapa