Singapore: Rishi Narain and Liz McKinnon have been named as non-playing captains of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) teams for this year’s Bonallack Trophy and Patsy Hankins Trophy.

After a five-year hiatus, the Ryder Cup-style match play team events that pit the leading amateurs from APGC member nations against their counterparts from the European Golf Association (EGA) will resume at Spain’s La Manga Club from August 3-5.

At the helm for the APGC will be Indian Narain (Bonallack Trophy) and New Zealander McKinnon (Patsy Hankins Trophy).

Both Narain and McKinnon are ex-professional golfers who have been prominent administrators in the region over an extended period of time.

Taiman Hassan Amin, Chairman of the APGC, said: “We’re delighted that Rishi and Liz have accepted our invitations for them to act as non-playing captains for our teams at the 2023 Bonallack Trophy and Patsy Hankins Trophy.

“We are fortunate to be able to call on the experience and expertise of these two outstanding individuals who have contributed so much to golf during their careers.”

McKinnon has been involved in golf almost her entire life, starting playing at the age of six and going on to district and national representative honours.

After playing professionally for 4½ years on the Ladies European Tour, she retired as a touring pro, settling in Auckland and starting a family.

For the past 14 years, McKinnon has been a stalwart at Golf New Zealand where her roles have all been across the young people’s space, travelling extensively with development squads and women’s representative teams, including the Queen Sirikit Cup, World Amateur Team Championships, Toyota Junior Worlds and the APGC Junior Championships.

McKinnon said: “I love the challenge of bringing a group of young people together and working collectively, with high standards, to achieve individual and team goals.

“I’m honoured to be named as Captain of the APGC’s Patsy Hankins Trophy team for 2023. We have so many talented players in our region and it will be a privilege to be involved with them as we seek to retain the trophy.”

Father-of-two Narain was a member of the gold medal-winning Indian team at the 1982 Asian Games, where he finished fourth individually, and is one of only two Indian golfers to have won national amateur titles at three levels – Junior (1979), Men’s (1984) and Senior (2018 and 2022). 

After four years playing college team golf at NCAA Division A top-ranked Brigham Young University, Narain turned pro, playing on the Asian Tour as well as domestic circuits in India and Malaysia between 1988 and 1992.

Narain was subsequently a leading coach in India for many years and, more recently, he’s been a mentor to some of India’s leading professionals and amateurs, including Avani Prashanth, individual winner at this year’s Queen Sirikit Cup.

Narain is well versed with the history of the Bonallack Trophy having managed two editions in Bangalore, in 2010 and 2014. He also attended the 2012 event in Portugal.

“Many of the great Asia-Pacific and European players now enjoying outstanding professional careers have participated in the Bonallack Trophy. I’m excited to be part of the 2023 event during which I’m sure we’ll see numerous future Major champions on both teams,” said Narain.

John Hopkins, Chairman of the APGC’s Championship Committee, added: “We were recently reflecting on some of the players that have played in the Bonallack Trophy. We’ve had Shane Lowry and Jon Rahm on one side and Hideki Matsuyama and Cam Smith on the other.

“When I first got involved in the Bonallack Trophy in 1998, Justin Rose was part of the European team and Geoff Ogilvy was part of the Asia-Pacific team. So, it’s got a very rich tradition, even though it was only established in 1998.”

The Patsy Hankins Trophy was inaugurated in 2016 with the Asia-Pacific triumphant on the two occasions it’s been held. Major champions Yuka Saso and Patty Tavatanakit along with Atthaya Thitikul, winner of the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific who rose to number one in the Rolex Women’s World Ranking last year, were all part of the 2018 team.

Amin said: “The APGC Board members are excited to renew the action between players from the Asia-Pacific and Europe. Match play is such an exciting format which brings out nail-biting contests.

“We’re all looking forward to renewing our association with the EGA. For the players, in particular, it will be a memorable experience and they’ll develop friendships that will last throughout their careers.”