The England Schools team that drew the Boys’ game 9-9 against Scotland at Irvine GC, while the Girls managed a 51/2-31/2 victory to bring down the curtain on the 2019 season.

THE curtain has come down on the English Schools’ Golf Association’s season, which has been hailed a “roaring success” after two 14-year-olds were crowned as U19 national champions.

Dorset’s Louise Burke and Yorkshire’s Josh Berry captained their country in the international matches against Scotland and Wales after their victory in the 42^nd English Schools Championship at Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest, in July.

And after victory over the Welsh, it took a late fight back from the hosts north of the border to peg England back to a draw against Scotland in the boys’ matches, while the girls beat the Auld Enemy 51/2-31/2.

The two EGSA games against Scotland and Wales always brings an edge to proceedings with national pride at stake.

The match against Wales was played at Luffenham Heath GC in August and saw England win 111/2-61/2.

After travelling north to face Scotland on the links at Irvine GC, the match proved to be a real nail-biter.

England’s form was excellent and it looked as if they were well on their way to victory, before the Scots fought back to win the final three points available and secure a 9-9 draw.

Steve Akrill, secretary of the ESGA, said: “Scotland had five players who were in their national set-up for the Home Internationals.

“England’s team spirit for that match really shone through with the girls finishing their games and heading straight back out onto the course to lend their support to the boys.

“When the girls faced Wales they were definitely underdogs.

“Our average handicap was three compared to Wales’ one, but the girls performed superbly with three wins in the singles helping the combined team to get over the line.

“It’s been a really positive year with lots of good golf being played and the enthusiasm of the youngsters shining through.”

•To see the full scores from Irvine GC, click here.

Dorset’s Louise Burke and Yorkshire’s Josh Berry after their wins in the 42nd English Schools Championship at Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire.

Berry also represented the full England team in the U16 Home Internationals.

Doncaster’s Campsmount Academy pupil has also been named in the England Golf Boys’ squad for the 2020 season.

The Under 16s England Schools Championship was staged at West Yorkshire’s Cleckheaton and District GC, with Rachel Gourley and Finn Nelson claiming the honours from a field of 65 players.

Rachel earned a call-up to the England Golf set-up. She will be part of the girls’ team – along with Louise Burke – for a challenge match against Ireland at Hunstanton GC, on October 12-13.

Three venues for next year’s events have already been decided with the national championship taking place at Gog Magog GC, in Cambridgeshire, the U16 event going to Northamptonshire County GC and the away game against Wales set for the Rolls of Monmouth GC.

“It’s been a great season for both the boys and the girls and the events at regional and national level have shown we have a lot of strength in depth,” Akrill added.

“In particular we had a lot of younger players emerging and more than holding their own against older players in their age bracket. That’s always great to see.

“The events at regional and national level have shown we have a lot of strength in depth,” admitted Akrill.

“In particular we had a lot of younger players emerging and more than holding their own against older players in their age bracket. That’s always great to see.”

Northumberland’s Rachel Gourley and Nottinghamshire’s Finn Nelson claimed the English U16s titles at Cleckheaton and District GC, in West Yorkshire

•The English Schools’ team event was staged at the National Golf Centre HQ, at Woodhall Spa, in Lincolnshire. England Golf is a committed supporter of the ESGA.

Hartlepool’s Dyke House Academy trio of Jack Burton, Louis Westmoreland and William Skipp – who are coached by European Tour winner Graeme Storm won by three points in the Stableford competition beating 33 teams from 25 other counties.

ENGLAND v Scotland
Louise Burke (capt) – Lytchett Minster, Dorset
Rachel Gourley – Cramlington Learning Village, Northumberland
Estelle Ingram – Gordon’s School, Surrey
Zara Naughton – Ponteland Middle, Northumberland
Amelia Wan – Tuxford Academy, Nottinghamshire
Ellen Yates – Woking High, Surrey
Josh Berry – Campsmount Doncaster, Yorkshire
Nathan Ali – Prince Henry’s Grammar, Yorkshire
Josh Ashton – Tupton High, Derbyshire
Oliver Caton – Honley High, Yorkshire
Taylor Crisp – Suffolk New, Suffolk
Harry Crockett – Oxted, Surrey
Duran Gun – Thornhill, High Durham
Daniel Heaslip – Ripley Mill Hill, Derbyshire
Ben Loveard – Cardinal Newan, Bedfordshire
Jack Maxey – Holderness Academy, Yorkshire
Craig Passmore – SGS College, Avon
Sam Potter – Trent College, Derbyshire

ENGLAND v Wales
Ellie Farwell (capt) – St Clement Danes, Hertfordshire
Rachel Gourley – Cramlington Learning Village, Northumberland
Sarah Mardani – Gordon’s School, Surrey
Abigail Taylor – Prince Henry’s Grammar, Yorkshire
Josh Berry (capt) – Campsmount, Yorkshire
Jake Ball – Queen Elizabeth’s GS, Lincolnshire
George Fricker – Farlingaye, Suffolk
Alex Heppell – Haydon Bridge High, Northumberland
Finn Nelson – Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Ben Partridge – St Andrew’s RC, Surrey
Reis Suart – Monk’s Walk, Hertfordshire
Jack Whaley Ridgewood Yorkshire

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England’s winning European Nations Cup team at Sotogrande, who wil face Spain next weekend at Formby. Picture by LEADERBOARD

THE players who won the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande last weekend have all been selected for England’s team to face Spain, in next week’s annual international, at Formby Golf Club.

Champions Ben Jones, Tom Plumb, Tom Sloman and Bailey Gill (pictured left to right above) will be joined at the Lancashire links course by the women’s European Nations Cup bronze medallists, Georgina Blackman, Emily Toy and Bel Wardle for the mixed-team format clash.

The 10-strong team will be completed by Devon’s Jake Burnage, Ben Hutchinson and Essex’s Lily May Humphreys.The players will follow in the steps of golfing giants as they take part in the biennial match, over the weekend of April 27 and 28.

Over the years, it’s been contested by the likes of Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal.The match started in 1985 as a men’s fixture with England leading Spain 14-2 by 2013.

It became a mixed event in 2015 and England have won both matches played so far.

The teams compete for the Seve Ballesteros Trophy and this year’s match will be played in memory of Spain’s Celia Barquin Arozamena – the 2018 European Ladies’ Champion, who was tragically murdered while at college at Iowa, in the USA, last year.

Meet England’s 10-strong squad to face Spain at Formby

Georgina Blackman, 23, (Chelmsford, Essex) – English Women’s Amateur Champion was third in the 2109 Portuguese Women’s Amateur. Currently second on the English Women’s Order of Merit.

Jake Burnage, 23, (Saunton, Devon) – third in the South Beach international in Miami at the end of last year, before competing in Australia. Past winner of the Walton Heath Trophy.

Bailey Gill, 21, (Lindrick, Yorkshire) was fifth in this year’s Portuguese Amateur, having represented England on a tour of Australia in the New Year, following a successful 2018 season.

Lily May Humphreys, 17, (Stoke by Nayland, Essex) – Curtis Cup player who was crowned 2018 Scottish Women’s Open champion. Played in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur and was fifth in the 2019 Italian Open.

Ben Hutchinson, 23, (Howley Hall, Yorkshire) – Finished 10^th in last weekend’s Hampshire Salver. Quarter finalist in March’s Spanish Amateur. Reached last 16 at 2018 Amateur Championship.

Ben Jones, 19, (Northamptonshire County) – Semi-finalist in NSW Amateur in Australia in February. Reached matchplay stages of Spanish Amateur and joint runner-up in the 2018 Portuguese Amateur.

Tom Plumb, 20, (Yeovil, Somerset) – Won the Cape Province Open in March and third in January’s South American Amateur in Chile.

Tom Sloman, 22, (Taunton & Pickeridge, Somerset) – Individual winner at European Nations Cup at Sotogrande. Reached last 16 in 2019 Australian Amateur and runner-up in 2018 Welsh Open. Highest ranked Englishman at No. 32 in OWGR.

Emily Toy, 21, (Carlyon Bay, Cornwall) – Won Women’s New South Wales Strokeplay and fifth in Avondale Amateur Down Under in January. Shared fourth place in 2018 English Women’s Amateur.

Bel Wardle, 19, (Prestbury, Cheshire) – Leads English Women’s Order of Merit, after finishing fourth as defending champion in Portuguese Amateur. Quarter-finalist in the Spanish Amateur and won Comboy Scratch Trophy.

Essex’s Lily May Humphreys who was invited to play at Augusta National’s Women’s Amateur this month and will now play for England at Formby

•For full results from the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande click here.

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