Play is into the fifth and final round of the team events in the 2019 Yamaha FootGolf Asia Cup being played out in Salamander Bay this week and Australia is performing well on home turf having beaten China, Taipei, Malaysia and Korea.
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Taking on Japan will be Australia's biggest challenge.
A highlight of play from the Australian team since the Asia Cup kicked off at Horizons Golf Resort on Monday was when Australian ranked number one player Deryn Knott finished on 5 under par.
The most heated challenge was China versus Japan which escalated into a debate over a penalty ruling. World champion and tournament director Matias Perrone was there to manage the controversy and apply the ruling.
Fifty students from Tomaree High School were on Thursday morning treated to an exclusive coaching clinic at Horizons with Perrone.
After taking part in the clinic, the years 7 and 8 sporting students will watch the individual final event of the Yamaha FootGolf Asia Cup.
Perrone said he is passionate about encouraging young people to get involved in FootGolf and is looking forward to sharing his love of the game with Australians.
"Many of the pro players, like Matias, have transitioned across from soccer or football and what attracts them to FootGolf is the balance of strength and technical skill that's needed" FootGolf Australia president Leonardo Fernandez.
"Who better to give these kids a taste of what's so good about the game, than the reigning world champion."
Knott believes the Tomaree High School students will gain a lot from their time with Perrone, including a love of the game.
"There's some technique to reading the undulation of the fairways and greens," he said. "I played football all my life, including the National Premier League but my first back nine holes were enough to get me hooked on FootGolf."
Because FootGolf is still a growing sport in Australia, there is opportunity for young players to move into the pro circuit. In just four years, former soccer player Joe Scibilia has risen to captain the elite Australian FootGolf team.
"It's always been my dream to play for Australia," he said. "FootGolf has taken it to a whole new level. I knew from day one this was the game for me."
The FootGolf Asia Cup occurs every two years. Horizons Golf Resort has won the bid for Australia to host the 2019 and 2021 tournaments.
"Port Stephens Council is very proud to host the FootGolf Asia Cup for 2019 and to welcome the best players to our beautiful region. This is a great event for Port Stephens which has a strong economic benefit and promotes our region to a large international audience." Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer said.
The 2019 FootGolf Asia Cup has competitors from 10 countries and is played on 36 hole championship course.
Each hole comes with an element of surprise, from waterways, bunkers and undulating fairways to native wildlife and bushland. It's an opportunity for Australian players to shine, on their home turf.
The Yamaha FootGolf Asia Cup is a free spectator event. Competition runs until 6pm on each day. The Asia Cup will wrap up with the team final starting from 8am on Friday.
The FootGolf excitement will continue into the weekend (November 23-24) with Horizons also hosting the FIFG 250 World Tour.
Players from around the world will compete on Saturday. Team Rest of World will verse Team Asia FootGolf in a challenge on Sunday.