Trio & # 039; s #TeamAus makes its debut in the making for years

Kyle Michel, Jack Thompson and Nathan Barbieri during a practice round at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship 2019. (Photo Golf Australia / Justin Falconer)

This week in China is more than just a chance to win a place at the 2020 Masters and The 149th Open for Jack Thompson, Kyle Michel and Nathan Barbieri.

The Asia-Pacific amateur championship 2019 is where the Aussie trio will represent their country for the first time after earning automatic selection as three of our top six ranked players in the world.

Teammates Dave Micheluzzi, today's world No. 4, and Blake Windred, sitting at No. 11, tore it off at the AAC in Singapore 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, rising star Karl Vilips took home the gold medal that represented the Aussie flag at the Olympic Youth Olympia 2018 in Rio.

Hear from Jack, Kyle and Nathan for their Australian debut

But for Thompson, Michel and Barbieri, the 11th meeting of the best male talents in Asia marks an important point in their amateur career and young life.

World No.94 Thompson admits he barely played golf in 2016 and & # 39; 17, but a change in attitude and a regained passion for the game has seen him change his amateur career in the past 18 months.

"I had a good 2018 and really wanted to make something that I could represent Australia," said South Australian Thompson.

"I am really proud to represent the colors."

It was nervous waiting for Victorian Michel, the current World No.108 who played in the United States when the good news came through.

"I was pretty excited, looking at the world ranking for a while, not knowing what stage they would choose [the team]," Michel said.

"When the news came through … I was pretty happy."

World No.110 Barbieri put its name in the light at home last summer, on the back of a blistering run at the Australian Amateur Championship that culminated in a 37th hole defeat in the final.

But the Monash GC member supported it the following week by once again gaining second place at the NSW Amateur, which was fourteen days of golf that led him to his first start in green and gold.

"It was really good, quite surreal to be honest," Barbieri said of his hot run in January.

“It was a good few weeks. I couldn't get the job done, but all we can do is hopefully get better this week.

“I didn't know that the team was selected that early, so I was a bit worried. Me and Blakey [Collyer] went back and forth there.

"It is an absolute honor to represent my country, so I cannot wait to get the week going."

Reading: It's winning or going home for Micheluzzi, Windred on AAC

Thompson is the first Australian on course on Thursday morning, the 21-year-old exit at 6:45 AM local time (8:45 AM AEST) of the 10th tee.

Micheluzzi is behind the group, alongside AAC champion Lin Yuxin and Indian star Rayhan Thomas.

Karl Vilips of WA follows Micheluzzi at 7:05 local time, accompanied by the Japanese sensation Keita Nakajima.

The Barbieri AAC campaign also starts on the 10th, 15 minutes after Vilips.

Newcastle & # 39; s World No.11 Windred is in the must-see group of the day, starting from the 1st at 11:10 am local time alongside World No.2 Takumi Kanaya and No.9 Chun An You of Taiwan.

Michel is the last of the six Australians on course on Thursday and starts at 11:30 AM local time on the 1st.