Yorkshire’s Benjamin Schmidt knocked out Brandon Dietzel winning 3&2 in the second round of the 2020 Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale. Picture by THE R&A

YORKSHIRE’S Benjamin Schmidt comfortably advanced in his quest to win The 125th Amateur Championship.

Taking on Germany’s Brandon Dietzel, Schmidt – the highest ranked player in the field at No. 35 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking – recorded a 3&2 victory across the famed Royal Birkdale links.

The 18-year-old, from Rotherham GC, will meet Royal Lytham’s fellow England junior international Callan Barrow in Friday’s third round.

The Lancastrian, who finished runner-up in the English Amateur Championship, defeated Scotland’s Lewis Irvine 2&1.

Schmidt created history last summer by winning the Carris and Brabazon in the same season at the age of just 16, breaking Sandy Lyle’s record from 1975 in the process.

He said: “I feel like the first match is pretty tough. Everyone is wanting to just get through that first stage, so I am very happy.

“I played pretty solid. I had a couple of holes in the middle of the match where I probably went a little flat. But I finished with two birdies which was very nice.

“If you are bad off the tee around here it’s going to be pretty tough. But off the tee I have been pretty good.

“I also hit some good shots into the greens to give myself birdie chances,” said Schmidt, who also won the New South Wales Amateur in February.

There will be disappointment for another Scot Ruben Lindsay, the leading qualifier.

The 16-year-old was knocked out after losing 2&1 to Finland’s Ilari Saulo, who had disposed of Hallamshire’s in-form Sam Bairstow in the morning first round by 3&1.

The Finnish Amateur Champion will now go head-to-head with Denmark’s Victor Sidal Svendsen, who won by 1 hole to end the hopes of Welshman Ben Chamberlain.

Somerset’s Tom Plumb beat Robert Moran 4&3 to move int the last 32 at The British Amtaeur at Royal Birkdale on Thursday. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

Plumb happy to be in the last-32

SOMERSET’S Thomas Plumb, a member of the 2019 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, moved into the last-32 thanks to a 4&3 victory over Ireland’s Robert Moran.

Plumb got off to a fast start and was six-up through the turn, but found the going much tougher on Birkdale’s challenging back nine.

“I started really well and was six-up through the turn,” said Plumb.

“I started to stick the brakes on a little bit and got a little bit lazy and lackadaisical. But I was happy to get the job done in the end.

“The back nine is just so difficult once you get past 12. You start going back out towards the sea.

“It’s hard to gauge the wind and the course gets longer. It’s obviously late in the round as well so it definitely plays so much harder than the front nine.

“I’m playing some good golf and I’m confident with how I played in the strokeplay in the bad weather on the first day – and then yesterday,” added Plumb, who qualified in a share of 30th place.

Qualifying was reduced to just one round on Wednesday, after Tuesday’s first round was abandoned because of high winds.

“I just want to stay confident each day and play each match as well as I have today and I should do okay.”

The England international will now face team-mate Callum Farr, from Northamptonshire County, in the third round.

Farr, who reached the semi-finals of the English Amateur in 2018 and 2019, beat Italian Davide Buchi by one hole.

France’s Brabazon Trophy winner David Ravetto has a chance to match the unique feat of Sir Michael Bonallack, who completed the English Strokeplay and Amateur double twice.
Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Ravetto can match Bonallack’s unique feat

HAVING qualified for the matchplay stage by a single stroke, Frenchman David Ravetto, went head-to-head with Gloucestershire’s English Amateur champion Jack Cope, from The Players Club.

Opening with a birdie, Ravetto – who won the Brabazon Trophy last week – went one-up after the first before comfortably winning the match 5&4.

He will now play Marc Hammer on Friday after the German beat Finland’s Rasmus Karlsson 2&1.

Ravetto said: “It was a tough day yesterday because I knew it was just one round of qualifying.

“I didn’t play a great round. I was maybe a little scared that I would mess it up. But I had plenty of confidence in my game this morning.

“I played pretty solid golf, nothing too crazy, added Ravetto, who has a chance to equal the achievement of Sir Michael Bonallack by becoming just the second player to win the Brabazon and The Amateur Championship in the same season.

Ravetto reflected: “I birdied the first hole to go one-up. I birdied six as well and managed a chip in bogey on seven and birdied 10. I shot two-under through 14 holes – so a solid round of golf.

“Jack played a really good round. He is a really good player. We had a great match. He didn’t make many putts and that was the difference between us.”

Power inspired by Harrington’s heroics in 2008 Open

DRAWING inspiration from Padraig Harrington – who won the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale – Ireland’s Mark Power won his match against Jannik de Bruyn of Germany thanks to a 2&1 victory.

He advanced to play England’s Jack Dyer in the last-32.

Power said: “At the start of the week we were all watching that video of Harrington hitting that five-wood on 17.

“I was standing on the 17th tee two-up. It was a big moment, as I was considering if I should take it on or not.

“It’s just cool to be playing these type of golf courses that all the greats have played on.

“It’s a magnificent golf course, the back nine is so tough, pars are great scores out there.

“I have played Jannik before and I knew how good he was and that it would be a tough game.

“We both probably didn’t have our best stuff today. But it was a good battle. To know that even when I’m not playing my best, I can win gives me a lot of confidence.”

The famous Art Deco clubhouse at Royal Birkdale – one of the best courses on the R&A’s Open Championship rota – and where Jordan Spieth claimed the Claret Jug in 2017

Birkdale hosting The Amateur for fourth time in 74 years

ROYAL Birkdale is staging The Amateur Championship for just the fourth time in 74 years, having hosted it in 1946, 1989 and 2005.

The matchplay stage continues on Friday with the last-16 and last-eight ties before the quarter and semi-finals on Saturday.

Also through to the third round are Wiltshire’s Scottish Strokeplay Amateur Champion Jake Bolton, Tillman Trophy winner Matty Lamb, from Hexham, former Carris Trophy winner Barclay Brown, from Hallamshire, and Gloucestershire’s England international Joe Long.

They are in the draw alongside Northampton County’s Ben Jones, a semi-finalist last year, who also reached the last four in this year’s Australian Amateur.

Dubai-based England junior Josh Hill, the youngest amateur to win a professional event on the Mena Tour in 2019, will face Long.

Canterbury’s Joshua Bristow and Dartford’s Mason Essam, who helped Kent win the English County Championship last September, while Essex’s Jack Dyer, and Aaron Edwards-Hill – last year’s North of Ireland Open winner, are also bidding for a place in the last-16.

A total of 17 English players have made it through to the third round with Castle Park’s Stephen Gallacher Foundation Ambassador Connor Wilson – and Peebles Darren Howie – the only Scots left in the competition.

The winner of Sunday’s 36-hole final will gain exemptions into the 149th Open at Royal St George’s next July, and by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters at Augusta National – as well as an exemption to the 2021 US Open.

•For live scoring, go to www.randa.org as well as on The R&A’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

The post Ben Schmidt on the trail of The Amateur crown and place in Masters and Open appeared first on Golf North.

Walton Heath’s Enrique Dimayuga is tied at the top of the leaderboard with Denmark’s Christoffer Bring in the Brabazon Trophy. Pictures by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

ENRIQUE Dimayuga hopes a “bargain buy” three-iron can help him enjoy some long-awaited success in Friday’s final round of the Brabazon Trophy.

Surrey’s Dimayuga shot to the top of the leaderboard on day three of the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Sherwood Forest Golf Club – thanks to a brilliant five-under par round of 66.

Denmark’s Christoffer Bring joined the Walton Heath golfer at the summit. The Dane carded a best-of-the-day round of 65 to match Dimayuga on 11-under.

Yorkshire’s England squad member Sam Bairstow is just one shot further back on 10-under after shooting 67 for a second consecutive day.

France’s David Ravetto and halfway leader Jack Dyer, from Boyce Hill, are still very much in the hunt on nine-under par after 54 holes.

In total, there are 14 players within six shots of the lead teeing up what could be a dramatic final day in the fight to win one of amateur golf’s most prestigious trophies.

However, the bubbly Dimayuga will be the man to beat in the final round if a used club he bought for £50 from his local pro shop continues to behave.

“The shaft on the iron is really whippy so I just keep hitting these long looping draws,” said Dimayuga with a smile after confessing his poor form with the driver has resulted in him using it only once this week.

“The head on my regular three-iron snapped recently. So I went with this one,” said Dimayuga, who was an England junior international until joining the men’s ranks this year.

“But it’s working well. I felt like I’m having fun. I’m not even thinking about what I’m doing.

Iron play key for ex-England junior

Dimuyaga was happy with his play at the Nottinghamshire course.

“My iron play has been really solid and my swing is good,” he said. “And I’m dialled in in terms of yardages and judging the wind.

“I haven’t won anything in a long time and my form over the last calendar year has been pretty good.

“I’m just waiting for an opportunity to be in that final group and be in a position to take the win and I feel like it’s coming, hopefully, tomorrow.

“I can’t guarantee anything and I wouldn’t bet on myself just yet.”

When reminded that Tiger Woods won an Open Championship at Royal Liverpool 14 years ago hitting an iron off every tee, Dimayuga said with a smile: “I won’t go as far as saying I’m Tiger Woods – I’d hope I can play to some of that form.”

Bring’s day included an eagle at the fifth hole and a birdie on the 14^th after he holed from a greenside bunker.

“I feel confident and will go out and see what happens,” admitted the golfer from Naestved, 70 miles south of Copenhagen.

Bring added: “I got off to a slow start and then I made an eagle on the fifth and that kind of got me into the round.

“I made a lot of putts from the fifth through to the 12^th and holed a bunker shot on 14 – so that was great.”

Essex’s Jack Dyer is still in touch with the leaders at the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Sherwood Forest, trailing Dimayuga by two shots

Moving day for Carris winner Brown

IT was a classic “moving day” at the Brabazon, with the entire field of 68 players harbouring hopes of going low.

Many of them did – no fewer than 27 golfers shot rounds under-par.

Yorkshire’s Barclay Brown certainly made a move – a round of 66 taking him to seven-under for the championship and into a tie for sixth.

Yet Hallamshire GC’s former England junior international will look back on his third round with a mixture of quiet satisfaction and total disbelief.

The Stanford University student was disarmingly honest about a day that saw him eagle the fifth with a putt that was charging 10 feet past.

A fluke hole-in-one on the 131-yard seventh hole best summed up the 2018 Carris Trophy winner’s day.

Brown laughed: “I’d like to say it was a great shot but I knifed it.

“It’s my sixth hole in one, but not the prettiest. I wasn’t playing my best and had to grind it out.”

Only nine players have ever won the Carris and Brabazon Trophy – including Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt.

Twelve months ago, the England international became just the fourth to complete the double in the same year.

The winner of the 2020 New South Wales Amateur also became the youngest player to win the Brabazon, at Alwoodley, in 2019.

The 16-year-old broke Sandy Lyle’s record set in 1975 in the process.

Cope climbs leaderboard after making cut on the mark

ANOTHER player emerging from the pack to give himself a slim hope of victory is newly-crowned English Amateur champion Jack Cope.

The Gloucestershire ace made the cut right on the number thanks to a birdie on the 36^th hole. He then shot a third round of 66.

When asked to compare his last two rounds, Players Club member Cope said: “Black and white – not just golf, but in terms of attitude as well.

“I’m very pleased to shoot 65 and get up the leaderboard.”

•For live scoring in the final round of the Brabazon Trophy click here.

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Danny Willett receives the Green Jacket from Jordan Spieth with Augusta National Golf Club chairman Billy Payne (right) after the Yorkshireman won th 2016 Masters.

DANNY Willett’s Green Jacket will always take pride of place in his locker, but an England team blazer remains dear to his heart.

In fact, the 2016 Masters champion rates playing as an amateur in the Home Internationals for England as his favourite team golf experience.

But given his experiences as a member of Darren Clarke’s team at the 2016 Ryder Cup, when he was at the centre of a media storm created by a magazine interview given by his brother, that might not be such a surprise.

But there were several more surprises in a wide-ranging, open and honest online Q&A session, which Willett conducted with England Golf coaches and players.

Willett was the toast of world golf four years ago when he came from three shots back.

He carded a brilliant final round 67 to win the Masters by three shots from defending champion Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood.

To date, it remains the greatest achievement of the Yorkshireman’s career although his first victory on home soil – in last year’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – was another major milestone.

And it was a hot topic for discussion during another lively webchat hosted by England performance director Nigel Edwards.

Willett, Lowry, McIlroy, Wood and Edwards featured in elite contests

BOTH Willett and Edwards share more than an England Golf connection.

In 2007, they were part of the GB&I Walker Cup squad – also featuring Rory McIlroy – which narrowly lost out to a star-studded American side including Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson, at Royal County Down.

The pair were also in the same European team that won the Michael Bonnallack Trophy in 2008, beating Asia- Pacific at Valderrama, alongside Gloucestershire’s future Ryder Cup player Chris Wood, and last year’s Open Champion Shane Lowry.

Willett – currently based in Florida’s Isleworth, as he waits for the tours to start on both sides of the pond – talked through his amazing work ethic, his attention to detail and the processes he has followed all his career.

And he recalled with fondness an amateur career during which he won the Australian Strokeplay, the Spanish Amateur and English Amateur en route to becoming No. 1 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Willett said: “I loved everything about team golf with England when you had a group of guys taking on Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

“You maybe had 40-50 of the best players from the UK there and you were trying to impress for Walker Cup places and Jacques Leglise teams.

“You wanted to beat everyone, you certainly didn’t want to lose to a rival country. But there was still a great camaraderie.

“Yorkshire normally had quite a good bunch and we were well represented.

“But you caught up with people you hadn’t seen since the last event and I was good pals with Oliver Fisher and Tom Sherrard among others and it was great to get everyone together.”

Danny Willett (back row right) in the European team that won the 2008 Michael Bonallack Trophy, playing alongside Shane Lowry, Nigel Edwards and Chris Wood.

Danny has not been back to Royal St George since English Amateur victory in 2007

WILLETT, who was a junior at Rotherham GC, has won seven times on Tour and, at 32 years of age, has arguably yet to reach his prime.

As a youth, Willett was always earmarked for a great career – and his English Amateur win at Royal St George’s in 2007 remains a landmark moment.

“It was a great week,” recalled Willett who beat Matt Cryer 3&2 to lift the silverware.

“I played a lot of good players that week and then beat Matt in the final.

“It was the end of a pretty exceptional summer and the culmination of lot of good golf that I played at that time.

“To win any event is brilliant – to win on home soil in front of England officials and organisers it was a really special one to get it under your belt.

“It was a great golf course to win on too – and I’ll now need to wait until next year to go back with this year’s Open postponed.

“Oddly enough I haven’t played there since I won the English Amateur.

“I was looking forward to going back – but it’s more just looking forward to The Open as an event.

“For an Englishman, The Open in England is truly special just as it is for a Scotsman in Scotland or the Irish boys last year at Portrush.

“You take Opens wherever they are – they are always phenomenal, but it’s great to get a home crowd.

“I have fond memories of that place and it’s been a helluva long time since I played it. To go back as professional with a different golf game would have been a lot of fun.”

Willett has seven victories on the European Tour to his name – he also claimed the biggest cash prize in 2018 by winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Danny Willett during the Q&A session with England’s national squads

Rotherham still producing top teenage talents

AS a Yorkshireman, Willett remain fiercely proud of his home county and still keeps one eye on the amateur game.

The rise of Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt in the last year has caught his attention.

Willett added:”I still chat to Graham Walker about the lads coming up through Yorkshire and different bits and bobs.

“There are a couple of players in Yorkshire – Ben being one – and I keep track even though life is busy.

“I’ve tried to help him out for a few things here and there. He’s young, but he has to keep working hard and see where he gets.

“It’s good and well winning, but the scores he was posting were the thing to look out for. That’s the impressive part.

“He’s also won in Australia and if you have a game that travels, then that’s a good thing.”

Fellow Rotherham GC member Ben Schmidt, the youngest-ever winner of the Brabazon Trophy, has been given advice by Danny Willet. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

•Next in line for the England squads is a Q&A with Ryder Cup player and European Tour winner Chris Wood.

Matt Wallace, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Meghan MacLaren and Bronte Law have all hosted similar sessions.

The post Willett says England Home Internationals win in 2009 was his best team experience appeared first on Golf North.

Rotherham GC’s Ben Schmidt took the New South Wales Amateur Championship, beating England team-mate Callum Farr 7&5 in the final – his fifth national title in less than a year

BEN Schmidt made it an Aussie double for England when he won the New South Wales Amateur Championship after Charlotte Heath’s brilliant weekend victory in the Australian Women’s Amateur.

The 17-year-old Rotherham GC member turned in a dominant performance against Northamptonshire’s Callum Farr in the all-England final, at St Michael’s Golf Club, near Sydney.

The 7&5 victory was highly impressive and another landmark moment in the career of one of world golf’s most promising amateur talents.

Last year, Schmidt completed the Brabazon and Carris double – breaking Sandy Lyle’s 42-year-old record in the process, the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, and the Justin Rose Daily Telegraph Junior Championship at Quinta do Lago, in November.

The Yorkshire teenager, who became the youngest-ever winner of the Brabazon Trophy at the 2019 English Men’s Amateur Strokeplay at just 16, helped England’s men to Home International success.

Schmidt’s success comes hot on the heels of Heath’s stunning win in the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Heath – who also hails from Yorkshire – claimed the biggest win of her career with a 7&6 triumph over Indonesia’s Mela Putri, at Royal Queensland.

Heath’s victory helped create the feelgood factor among the seven England internationals who travelled to Australia for four top amateur events, as she became just the fifth Brit since 1894 to win the ladies crown, in what is the 10th oldest championship in world golf.

And Schmidt was happy to ride the crest of the wave just five days later.

“It’s great to get a win and the first trophy for the season,” said the player who is a member at the same Yorkshire club as Masters winner Danny Willett.

Schmidt said: “I have played really well all week and felt comfortable out on the course, and was able to continue that feeling into the final.

“To be honest, I played pretty flawlessly and against a player of Callum’s standard that had to be the case.

“My main goal before I started was to treat the 36-hole final as two separate matches. It helped to narrow it down and focus on a shorter target.

“I was able to win the first hole of the day hitting two good shots into the green and from there I just grew in confidence.

“Over the last few weeks everyone in the England team has been able to find a bit of form, and it’s great that I could follow up Charlotte’s win with this success.”

Schmidt was two-up after four holes of the morning round, but was pegged back when Farr managed a brilliant birdie two at the fifth.

But a strong back nine saw him take a five-hole cushion into the afternoon round.

When Schmidt won the fifth hole of the afternoon round with a par to move six clear, it was clear he had one hand on the trophy.

“Me and my caddie Sean had a great game plan and we stuck to it all week.

“I hit some great golf shots and didn’t make many mistakes, and the result shows what happened out there.

“You’ve got to hit it in the right places out here,” Ben added.

“I did all right last year. It’s good to get my first win for this season under my belt. It’s a massive confidence boost.”

Northamptonshire County’s Callum Farr
Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

And Schmidt was full of praise for Farr, and admitted it was tricky taking on a team-mate and friend in such an important final.

“Callum’s a great mate and we get on really well,” said Schmidt.

“There were no hard feelings – we both knew we had to compete and someone had to win. Callum’s had a great week too and it’s great for English golf.”

It also meant an Englishman had won the New South Wales Amateur for the third time in four years.

Hampshire’s 2016 Amateur Champion Scott Gregroy beat Marco Penge, from Goodwood, in another all-English final, in 2017, while Staffordshire’s Gian Marco-Petrozzi won 12 months later.

Schmidt and the other six players representing England on the trip to Australia now have a day off, before a practice round on Sunday ahead of the Avondale Amateur, which starts on Tuesday.

Ben added: “The whole experience of being in Australia and coping with travel, time differences and style of golf courses has been amazing.

“I’ve played four courses now and they all have different features, different types of grass and that’s all part of learning the game.

“Hopefully, all the England players can show up well again in the Avondale.”

Heath returns to fray at Avondale

Charlotte Heath became just the fifth British player to win the Australlian Women’s Amateur Championship in 128 years at Royal Queensland GC. Picture by GOLF AUSTRALIA

HUDDERSFIELD’S Heath missed the NSW Amateur Championship as the final of the Australian Women’s Amateur finished some 12 hours before play began at St Michael’s.

But the 18-year-old will be back for the Avondale and does so with a spring in her step.

After winning on Sunday, she said: “It was a bit stressful and I was super nervous to start.

“I got off to a quick start and then in the second 18 she started playing really good and it was tense.

“I made two bogeys and she made two birdies and I dropped a few. But I kept my head and kept going.”

Heath’s win has earned her spots in two professional events next month – the Vic Open on the Bellarine Peninsula, and the Women’s Australian Open, at Royal Adelaide.

The England international is hoping her school teachers will be wiling to let her take up what should be the opportunity of a lifetime.

•GRACE KIM WINS NSW WOMEN’S AMATEUR

The post Ben Schmidt goes Farr to win New South Wales Amateur – his fifth national title in year appeared first on Golf North.

Northamptonshire County’s Callum Farr – runner-up in the English Amateur in August – is one of a seven-strong England team heading to Australia in January.
Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

SEVEN members of the England Golf’s performance squads are travelling to Australia in the New Year, to kick off their 2020 amateur golf season.

Five of the men’s squad and two from the women’s team are heading down under for four top-class tournaments in January.

Northamptonshire County’s Ben Jones and Callum Farr, Yorkshire’s Ben Schmidt, Tom Plumb, from Somerset, and Northumberland’s Matty Lamb will spearhead the men’s challenge.

Cornwall’s Emily Toy – the reigning Women’s Amateur champion – and Yorkshire’s Charlotte Heath will lead the way for the women.

Emily Toy, winner of The 2019 Women’s Amateur Championship. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

A month of competition starts with the Master of the Amateur tournament at the Victoria Golf Club near Melbourne, between January 7-10.

The England players will then travel on for the Australian Amateur, at Royal Queensland, from January 14-19.

The New South Wales Amateur follows immediately at St Michael’s Golf Club and the Coast Golf Club, in Little Bay.

The month ends with the Avondale Amateur at Avondale Golf Club, from January 28-31.

Yorkshire teenager Schmidt is the most decorated of the England Golf’s men’s party, having broken the record as the youngest-ever winner of the Brabazon and Carris Trophy double in the same season, at just 16, in July.

Jones reached the semi-final of The Amateur Championship at Portmarnock, in June, but missed out on a Walker Cup appearance at Royal Liverpool, in September.

Yeovil’s Tom Plumb did play for Great Britain and Ireland at Hoylake, where the USA regained the Walker Cup.

The 20-year-old, who won the South West Counties Amateur Championship back in June, was also crowned Cape Province Open winner in March. He has been an England international at men’s and boys level since 2015.

Hampshire Hog winner Lamb, who made his debut in the English Home Internationals alongside Schmidt, Plumb, Jones and Farr, who lost in the final of the English Amateur to Stoke Park’s Conor Gough, in August.

Corhampton’s Scott Gregory – winner of the 2017 New South Wales Amateur. Picture by ANTHONY POWTER

England’s successes Down Under – from Victorian Michael Scott to Scott Gregory

THE Australian Amateur dates back to 1894 – a year before the US Amateur was founded.

That makes it the fourth oldest national championship in the amateur world behind New Zealand (1893), South Africa (1892) and the R&A Amateur (1885).

Gloucestershire’s former Winchester College student Michael Scott, who emigrated to Australia at the start of the 20th Century, won the Australian Amateur four times between 1905 and 1911.

Scott also took the amateur honours at the inaugural Australian Open title in 1904, and won again in 1907 – beating both the professionals and the amateurs in the field by some seven shots.

The son of the Earl of Eldon also won seven Victoria Amateur state titles before returning to Europe to fight in the First World War.

Scott, whose sister Lady Margaret Scott who won the first three Women’s Amateur Championships, won two French Amateur titles in 1912 and 1922.

He made his Walker Cup debut in 1924, at New York’s Garden City Golf Club.

The Royal St George’s captain became the oldest player to appear in the Walker Cup when he also captained the Great Britain and Ireland team at St Andrews, in 1934, at the age of 55 – having become the oldest winner of The Amateur Championship a year earlier.

The only English winner Down Under in post-war times was Middlesex’s Warren Bennett – the Ealing man was crowned in 1994 – the Scots have a better record with Connor Syme winning in 2016, while Eric Ramsay won at Royal Melbourne, in 2005, and Jack Doherty at Mount Lawley in 2003.

But the English have fared better in the 36-hole strokeplay qualifier – at one point given the title of Australian Amateur Strokeplay Champion but now known as the Australian Amateur Medallist.

Danny Willett took that Strokeplay title in 2008 – preceded by Andrew Dodt and Jason Day (2006), while Wellingborough’s Ryan Evans took the prize in 2014 – followed a year later by Huddersfield’s Nick Marsh, six months after he beat Hampshire’s Scott Gregory in the English Amateur final at Saunton.

Australian Blake Windred claimed the Avondale in 2018 and 2019 and turned pro earlier this year. He was third Australian to win the Avondale back-to-back since its founding in 2006.

The last Englishman to claim the title in New South Wales was Evans in 2014 that marked a memorable month Down Under for Evans and England Golf.

Woburn’s Steve Lewton, who went on to play on the European Challenge and Asian Tours, was the second ever winner in 2007, followed by Coventry’s Matt Cryer a year later.

In 2017, Gregory, from Corhampton, claimed the New South Wales Amateur title as the reigning Amateur Championship beat Sussex’s Marco Penge in the final, at Terrey Hills G&CC.

The Corhampton player – who headed England Golf’s party that year – also featured in the Master of the Amateur tournament and met Open Champion legend Peter Thompson during a practice round.

The Australian, who lifted the Claret Jug three years’ running in the mid-1950s – and five times in total between 1954 and 1965 – died in June 2018.

Staffordshire’s Gian-Marco Petrozzi claimed the NSW title in 2018. Previous English winners include Formby’s Paul Howard (2015), Hexham’s Jack Senior (2011) and Gary Wolstenholme (2007).

The New South Wales dates back to 1898 – the most famous champion was New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, the winner in 1992, who went on to win the US Open in 2005 at Pinehurst.

•For more information about the amateur events England Golf’s party will play in Australia, in January, visit www.golf.org.au

The post England Golf’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ set for Australia’s oldest championship in 2020 appeared first on Golf North.

Justin Rose (right) wants to put something back into the game by sponsoring the Telegraph Junior Championship. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

HAMPSHIRE’S Justin Rose has lent his name to the competition that helped him on his way to stardom – The Telegraph Junior Championship.

And record-breaker Ben Schmidt is earning similar plaudits that followed the North Hants GC junior in the mid 1990s.

The Yorkshire teenager, who broke two big records earlier this summer by becoming the youngest player to land the English Strokeplay double, is the hot favourite for the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Championship, which gets under way at Portugal’s Quinta de Lago, today (Wednesday).

Olympic Champion Rose won the Hampshire Hog at his home club as a 14 year old, in 1995 before adding the McGregor and Carris Trophies at the English U16 and U18 Strokeplay Championships – a feat not matched since.

But Schmidt not only became the youngest-ever winner of the Brabazon Trophy at just 16 when he won the English Amateur Strokeplay at Alwoodley GC, in May, he then added the Carris a few weeks later at the English Boys Amateur Strokeplay’s spiritual home at Hertfordshire’s Moor Park.

In both instances, Schmidt broke records held since 1974 by Sandy Lyle, who won both the Brabazon and Carris as a 17-year-old.

Rotherham GC’s Ben Schmidt won the Brabazon, Carris and Sir Henry Cooper Masters in 2019

Having been named as a reserve for the Walker Cup, which Great Britain and Ireland lost to the USA at Royal Liverpool in September, Schmidt’s chance to break Fisher’s record has gone for good.

Now 17, the Rotherham GC member has been tipped for the top by Green Jacket winner Danny Willett, who hails from the same club.

Willett said of Schmidt, who also won Kent’s top Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters event at Nizels, in June, said: “This kid is destined for the big time.”

Willett’s caddy Samy Haywood was bemused by the R&A’s decision to not pick Schmidt in August, while another 16-year-old – Stoke Park’s Conor Gough – got the nod after winning the English Amateur at Hankley Common, the week before the team was picked.

Rose came through the same Hampshire junior programme that produced its first two Amateur Champions for the county in Harry Ellis and Scott Gregory in 2016 and 2017, and both players have looked up to Rose and his win at the 2013 US Open for inspiration.

Justin believes winning the Telegraph in 1997 put him firmly on the path to success in the professional game.

It was his first victory overseas and followed having become the youngest-ever Walker Cup player after his 17^th birthday that summer.

Justin Rose (right) won the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship in 1997

Rose revealed: “When I won this tournament it acted as springboard to me realising my dreams.

“This is an unofficial major in junior golf and you can see that by the quality of those who have previously won.

“In front of the TV cameras, this is their chance to put their marker down. People will take notice.”

Schmidt, who started the year some 5,000 places below his current World Amateur Golf Ranking of No. 8, has had some time to reflect on his success in 2019.

“It’s been crazy looking back on it, and, if I’m being honest, the amount of success I enjoyed this year has been unexpected.

“It all just clicked over the summer and everything changed for me in a matter of weeks.

“I just got on a roll. I came out of winter training and made a decent start to the season, despite not having played competitively for a few months.

“I won the Yorkshire Boys in May, which was a real boost and it progressed from there.

“Once I won that first event, I started every tournament thinking only about the win. I just had so much confidence,” added Schmidt, who is favourite to follow Rose by winning the Telegraph Junior Championship title this week.

Rose, who now lives in the Bahamas, knows that feeling after his first golden season in 1995 which saw him win two national championships as well as the famous Hampshire Hog.

Rose said: “This is a nod to where I’ve come from. I have done lots of charitable work in the US.

“But this is my first way of trying to give back to golf in the UK – and its really important to me.

“The championship is 35 years old and – as well as me – there have been some other winners who have gone on to big things.”

Those past champions include Sheffield Ryder Cup player Matt Fitzpatrick and Essex’s Oliver Fisher – who broke Rose’s record as the youngest Walker Cup player in 2005, in Chicago.

Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood finished second when he reached the Daily Telegraph finals.

In the women’s game, Ladies European Tour winner Carly Booth, Solheim Cup winner Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and former England Girls Champion Melissa Reid, who has played in three Solheim Cups, are past winners of the Daily Telegraph Girls’ Championship,

Yorkshire’s Rebecca Hudson, who dominated English amateur golf in the 1990s and early 2000s, claimed the trophy three times in four years.

Rose, who announced his sponsorship of the event back in March added: “The quality of those champions shows it is run incredibly well, and I wanted to get behind a well-oiled machine.

“But I would still love to help to grow it. We’ve added some players and some spots to the field this year, and my aim is to see different categories going forward – and to broaden its reach.”

Other names to watch this week in the Algarve are Worcestershire’s 2018 Reid Trophy winner Hugh Adams, from Hagley GC, and Bishop’s Stortford’s Max Hopkins, the Telegraph Champion in 2017.

The increase to 12 finalist spots for 2019 is not the only first – Somerset sisters Mimi and Patience Rhodes, who are members at Burnham and Berrow, will become the first siblings to play in the final – of either sex.

They will be watched by grandmother Susan, who has been recovering from cancer treatment, but was well enough to see them play for Europe in the Ping Junior Solheim Cup, at Gleneagles, in September.

England junior international Mimi was fifth in qualifying at the Women’s Amateur, at Royal County Down, in June, and third in qualifying for the Girls Amateur Championship at Panmure, in August.

Rhodes sisters, Banday and Scanlon all write history in girls’ event

THE increase to 12 finalist spots for 2019 is not the only first – Somerset sisters Mimi and Patience Rhodes, who are members at Burnham and Berrow, will become the first siblings to play in the final – of either sex.

They will be watched by grandmother Susan, who has been recovering from cancer treatment, but was well enough to see them play for Europe in the Ping Junior Solheim Cup, at Gleneagles, in September.

England junior international Mimi was fifth in qualifying at the Women’s Amateur, at Royal County Down, in June, and third in qualifying for the Girls Amateur Championship at Panmure, in August

Surrey’s Rafiah Banday is sure to attract the Sky TV cameras over three rounds on Quinta do Lago’s North Course, as the Wembley-raised teenager, who is a member at Royal Mid-Surrey, will play in a hijab, confirming the growing diversity of golf in the UK.

Huddersfield’s Charlotte Heath won the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters in 2018

England junior internationals Charlotte Heath, Rosie Belsham and Banday will have their eyes firmly on the prize this week, while Welsh international Darcey Harry will have similar ideas.

But it is The Buckinghamshire’s Roisin Scanlon, who makes history after becoming the youngest finalist in the Telegraph’s history at the age of just 12.

Scanlon has a reputation for enjoying competing against the older girls at county events and junior opens despite not even being a teenager.

All the players have come through a number of qualifying events across the country this summer, with the lowest 12 scores against par booking their seats on the plane to Portugal.

Finalists: BOYS – Ben Schmidt (Rotherham), Hugh Adams (Hagley), Aaron Marshall (Lisburn), Rhys Wallace (Handsworth), Cameron Adam (Royal Burgess), Miles Gray (Etching Hill), Jack Kelso (Kings Hill), Craig Passmore (Torquay), Henry Hayward (Kedleston Park), Oscar Fuentes (Bearwood Lakes), Calvin Holmes (Quinta do Lago).

GIRLS – Charlotte Heath (Huddersfield), Rosie Belsham (Whitley Bay), Rafia Banday (Royal Mid-Surrey) Evanna Hyde (Lundin Links), Carmen Hall (Aboyne), Darcey Harry (Vale Resort), Chloe Haesler (Broadstone), Lily Hirst (Woodsome Hall), Roisin Scanlon (The Buckinghamshire), Grace Rigby-Walden (Gerrards Cross).

Last year’s Telegraph Junior Championship winners Barclay Brown (Hallamshire GC) and Enville’s Sophie Johnson. Picture courtesy of DAILY TELEGRAPH

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Surrey’s Ben Partridge, from Epsom GC, claimed the English Boys’ County Champion of Champions at Frilford Heath. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

SURREY’S Ben Partridge withstood a late charge from Devon’s Matt Millar to win the English Boys’ County Champion of Champions played over the Red course at Oxfordshire’s Frilford Heath.

Partridge, a member at Epsom GC, held a two-shot lead after an opening three-under par 69.

But the teenager was in danger of being caught by Millar’s closing six-under 66 – before carding birdies on the 16th and 17th to claim a narrow one-shot victory after posting five-under.

The Surrey Junior Champion became the first player from Surrey to clinch the title since 2011 when Greg Payne tied for first place with Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick, Rutland’s Jewatt Parmer and Hampshire’s Jack Singh Brar, at Woodhall Spa.

Partridge also succeeds Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt as champion – the Yorkshire teenager became the youngest of the four players to have ever won the Brabazon and Carris Trophies in the same season back in July, earning him a call up as reserve for last weekend’s Walker Cup match against the USA at Hoylake.

Schmidt played for the winning English team at the Men’s Home Internationals at Lahinch, before flying to Frilford from Ireland on Friday night.

And like Schmidt 12 months ago, Patritidge will now receive an exemption into the 2020 Brabazon Trophy.

Millar, from Dainton Park GC, had been five shots off the pace after an opening 74.

But the West Country boy jumped six places up the leaderboard with a 66 which included a four-under inward half of 32.

His four-under total was enough to see him finish one shot ahead of Suffolk’s George Fricker (Woodbridge GC) and two in front of Derbyshire’s Sam Potter (Marriott Breadsall Priory GC) and Notinghamshire’s Samuel Allen (Hollinwell) who all closed with 71s.

Norfolk’s Ben Willis, from Swaffham GC, also fired a last round 71 to share sixth place with Cheshire’s Jake Hibbert (Delamere Forest GC) on 147.

The competition was set up in 2009 – the men’s equivalent has been running since 1962.

•For full scores click here.

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England claimed the Raymond Trophy after beating Scotland 9-6 at Lahinch GC, in Ireland.
Picture by PAT CASHMAN / CASHMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

ENGLAND have won the Home Internationals after beating Scotland 9-6 at Lahinch, on Friday, to retain the Raymond Trophy.

Hexham’s Matty Lamb won five out of six matches, losing just one over the three days as England followed up their 12-3 romp over Wales on Wednesday, with a 10-5 win over their Irish hosts, on Thursday, to maintain their 100 per cent record.

England were pegged back to a 21/2-21/2 draw in the foursomes by the Scots, who made a strong start in match three with Eric McIntosh and Darren Howie going up five up with four to play against West Cornwall’s Harry Hall and Rotheram’s teeanage record-breaker Ben Schmidt.

Somerset’s Walker Cup pairing of Tom Sloman and Tom Plumb beat Euan McIntosh and Kieran Cantley 2&1 in the top match to tie things up quickly and extend their foursomes record to three wins out of three.

After Northamptonshire County’s Ben Jones and Saunton’s Jake Burnage lost by one hole to Royal Wimbledon’s Ryan Lumsden and Matt Clark, Lamb playing with Yorkshire’s Ben Hutchinson, beat James Wilson and Connor McKinney 4&3.

The bottom match between Lindrick’s Bailey Gill and Wallasey’s Joshua McMahon ended in a half to take the teams into lunch all-square.

England made a fast start to the singles on the course which hosted the Irish Open won by Jon Rahm.

Sloman took care of Lumsden courtesy of a 3&2 win while Jones won the 18^th to beat Cantley by two.

While Plumb was held to a half by Wilson, Burnage, who was considered very unlucky to miss out on a Walker Cup place despite winning the St Andrews Links, in June, lost 2&1 to McKinney.

Hexham’s Matty Lamb was England’s top scorer losing just one of six matches as they retained the Raymond Trophy at the Home Internationals at Lahinch, with a 9-6 win over Scotland on the final day. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

Northamptonshire’s Callum Farr halved with Irvine Lewis and Hampshire Hog winner Lamb beat Howie by one on the last to make it 61/2-41/2 to England.

Clark ended his week on a high as Scotland’s leading points scorer with a 2&1 win over Hutchinson to keep Scottish hopes alive.

But Schmidt – the youngest player to win both the Carris Trophy and the Brabazon in the same season – was left to claim the winning point for England and the title thanks to a two-hole win over Eric McIntosh.

Lytham Trophy winner McMahon – another to miss out on Walker Cup selection – got a half from Euan after Lindrick’s Bailey Gill took care of Stuart Easton in the bottom match, winning 3&2.

England’s bid to retain the Home Internationals crown they won at Conwy 12 months ago, began with Wales holding them to 21/2-21/2 in the foursomes.

Jones – who, along with Ben Schmidt, was one of two reserves for the Great Britain and Ireland side that lost the Walker Cup to the USA at Royal Liverpool, on Sunday,– helped Burnage to a 4&3 win over Jake Hapgood and Jacob Davies.

But from 2-0 up Welsh pair Connor Jones and George Bryant won on the last against Hutchinson and Lamb while Matt Roberts and Kieron Harman picked off Gill and McMahon by 3&2 leaving Schmidt and Farr to share the spoils with Wales’ Gaelen Trew and Tom Froom.

But the singles were a very different proposition as the scoreboard was turned red with England winning nine out of the 10 matches, with just Farr held to a half at the death by Trew to make it 12-3.

Plumb beat Davies 7&6 in match two while Burnage collected his second point of the day with a 5&4 win over Hapgood.

Hutchinson picked up the winning point with a 5&3 win over Roberts as Gill raced to his win over Jones by the same scoreline a hole behind them.

Ireland claimed the Raymond Trophy four years in a row before England’s victory in 2018 but their hopes of regaining the crown in front of their own fans was effectively ended when they lost the foursomes 4-1.

Plumb and Sloman took care of Walker Cup team-mate Conor Purcell, playing with Keith Egan, winning 4&3 while Gill and McMahon beat another of Ireland’s four Walker Cup players – Tom KcKibbin – by two holes, playing with Colm Campbell.

Ireland’s only success came courtesy of Walker Cup player Caolan Rafferty’s 2&1 win playing with Tiarnan McLarnon against Jones and Burnage.

Ireland had to come out fighting and Purcell ended Sloman’s 100 per cent record with a 3&2 win before Rafferty got the better of Plumb by 2&1.

But wins from Farr – his first for England – Burnage, Jones and Lamb – the latter against McKibbon on the last – wrapped up the 10-5 win.

Schmidt kept his unbeaten run going with a 2&1 win over McLarnon before Gill halved the bottom match with Campbell who played in all four of Ireland’s recent Home International triumphs.

For full scores from Lahinch, click here

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The Continent of Europe team who beat Great Britain and Ireland to win the Jacques Leglise Trophy at Aldeburgh GC. Picture by THE R&A / GETTY IMAGES

THE Continent of Europe won the 2019 Jacques Léglise Trophy after defeating Great Britain and Ireland 15½-9½ at Aldeburgh Golf Club.

Leading 6½-5½ at the start of play on the second day, the Europeans consolidated their lead by winning three of the four morning foursomes matches leaving them 9½-6½ up going into this afternoon’s singles matches.

Joachim Fourquet’s side then picked up six of the nine available points in the afternoon singles to seal their first win in the boys’ international match since 2017 when they triumphed 15½-9½ at Ballybunion, in Ireland.

The visitors strengthened their grip on the contest in the morning foursomes.

While Yorkshire’s Ben Schmidt and Welsh Amateur Champion Archie Davies combined well to defeat the French pair of Charles Larcelet and Tom Vaillant, it was the only point won by the GB&I in the early session.

Adam Wallin and Loic Ettlin were too strong for the fancied GB&I pairing of GB&I captain Barclay Brown, from Hallamshire GC, and England’s Florida-based junior international Joe Pagdin, who lost 4&2.

Bård Bjørnevik Skogen and Matteo Cristoni were always in control of their match over Scotland’s Connor McKinney and Ireland’s Aaron Marshall winning two-up.

While Irish junior internationals Tom McKibbin and Josh Hill held the early advantage in their match against Daniel da Costa Rodrigues and David Puig the European pair fought back from being two-down after three holes.

They squared the match at the sixth hole and at the 14^th the GB&I pairing again gained an advantage that was quickly lost at the next.

With da Costa Rodrigues and Puig winning the final two holes of the match they went on to seal the Continent of Europe’s third point of the morning.

With Europe needing just three-and-a-half points from the nine singles matches in the afternoon, Larcelet was the first to strike.

He landed a big blow to the GB&I team, fighting back from three-down after five holes to defeat Brabazon and Carris Trophy double winner Schmidt, the highest ranked player in the field, 2&1

Wallin staved off a late charge from McKinney, defeating the Scott 2&1 to provide the Continent of Europe with its second point in the singles matches.

Bjørnevik-Skogen made short work of Davies, needing just 16 holes to win his match 4&2 against the Welsh international, who plays at Carlisle GC.

Now needing just half a point to win the 2019 Jacques Léglise Trophy it was Ettlin who secured the victory for the Continent of Europe – when he disposed of Ireland’s Luke O’Neill 4&3.

Puig and da Costa Rodrigues also secured points for the Continent when they won their matches against Marshall and McKibbin.

Playing in the first singles match out in the afternoon, Pagdin did his best to mount a comeback for GB&I. In control from the start, the Lake Nona member defeated Alvaro Mueller-Baumgart 3&1.

However, with the Continent of Europe claiming the next three matches, the GB&I had left their charge too late.

Brown, last year’s Daily Telegraph Junior Champion, won his match against Matteo Cristoni putting on an impressive display to fight back from three-down at the eighth hole to win two-up on the 17^th.

McGregor Trophy winner Hill claimed GB&I’s final point when he recorded a one-up victory over Vaillant.

Europe’s non-playing captain Joachim Fourquet said: “I am very, very proud of my team, they showed a lot of things this afternoon.

“First, they showed that they are not just 16, 17 or 18 years old, they are real players – they know how to manage the course.

“It was so different to yesterday afternoon, with the attitude and everything, they played really well this afternoon.

“The thing with the European team is you have 48 hours to create team spirit, it was better and better as the week went on.

“I could feel it last night, they were all talking and joking so I think today we were a real team, yesterday it was 75 per cent and two days ago it was 50 per cent. The attitude and team spirit was amazing today.”

Stuart Wilson, chairman of the Great Britain and Ireland’s Boys Selectors, put a brave face on the defeat at the Suffolk club overlooking the North Sea and River Alde, which strangely has no par fives.

Wilson said: “There were a lot of positives, I think the guys changed their approach a little bit to put the challenge up to the European guys this afternoon.

“But unfortunately they were just too strong for us. They kept the ball in play a little more than us and holed a few more putts – and in the end that makes all the difference.

“We knew they were going to be good, they definitely brought a strong team.

“But we were hopeful with the guys that we had assembled and confident coming into the match that we could repeat a result from Finland last year – but it just wasn’t to be I am afraid.

The victory marks the 13th time that the Continent of Europe has won the Jacques Léglise Trophy since the boys’ international match between the two teams was rejuvenated in 1977.

The GB&I has won the Jacques Léglise Trophy on 29 occasions, with one match tied at Royal Dornoch in 2015.

The 2020 Jacques Léglise Trophy will be played at Blairgowrie in Scotland from August 28-29.

Wilson, the Scottish winner of the 2004 Amateur Championship, added: “It will be nice to be up in Scotland at Blairgowrie.

“It’s a cracking course up there. The players will enjoy it and they have another a year to get ready for it.”

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ENGLAND Golf have announced a strong team for the defence of their title at the Men’s Home Internationals, to be played at Lahinch, in Ireland, from September 11-13.

The 11-man team includes West Cornwall’s Harry Hall, and Somerset pair Tom Sloman and Tom Plumb, who will travel to Ireland straight from playing in the Walker Cup match at Royal Liverpool the weekend before, but not schoolboy Conor Gough, the 16-year-old English Amateur Champion, from Buckinghamshire’s Stoke Park GC.

Captain Nigel Edwards has also picked Rotherham’s record-breaker Ben Schmidt and Ben Jones, from Northamptonshire County, who were listed as first and second reserves for the biennial fixture against the USA when the Walker Cup team was named on Monday.

The 2019 team also includes Jake Burnage and Bailey Gill, who were part of the 2018 English Men’s Home International team that beat this year’s hosts Ireland in the deciding match 12 months ago at Conwy GC, in Wales.

Plumb and Sloman were also part of that winning squad. Hall and Schmidt are both newcomers to the Home International team and earn their first full England caps.

Hall graduated from University of Las Vegas, in May, where he won twice in five weeks in 2018 and played under Cornwall’s Walker Cup player Philip Rowe, who was in the same team as Justin Rose, in 1997.

They are joined by Hampshire Hog winner Matty Lamb, Yorkshire’s Ben Hutchinson and Wallasey’s Joshua McMahon, who also make their debut in the contest.

The final debutant is Northamptonshire County’s second representative in the team – Callum Farr, who lost in the final of the English Amateur to Stoke Park’s Conor Gough at Hankley Common, earlier this month.

Farr, who earned his place in this year’s England A squad by winning the Selborne Salver last year and by reaching the last four of the 2018 English Amateur, was also runner-up in the Spanish Amateur, in March.

Two reserve players have also been selected – Castle Royle’s David Langley and Malton and Norton’s Yorkshire player David Hague, who both were in the team a year ago.

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