A large number of England Golf Championships in June and July have been postponed because of the coronvirus pandemic – a total of 27 events are now off

ENGLAND Golf have postponed another 14 events – including the Carris and McGregor trophies – in the summer’s amateur calendar in June and July amid the continuing coronavirus crisis.

All major championships organised by the game’s governing body in England have now been put off up until July 27.

That includes two of the three of England’s junior championships – with July’s McGregor Trophy (U16s strokeplay) and the Carris (U18s strokeplay) – both off, at least temporarily.

Another casualty is the English Mid-Amateur Championship for the over 35s, with the Logan Trophy due to have been played at Yorkshire’s Sand Moor, from July 3-5.

England Golf had already cancelled some 14 events from April until the end of the first week in June after the championship committee took the decision on March 18 – before the Government lockdown was introduced five days later forcing some 3,000 golf clubs to close in the UK and Ireland.

Organisers based at England Golf’s headquarters at Woodhall Spa, in Lincolnshire, are still hoping that some of the events can be rescheduled although junior events like the Carris and McGregor – and the England Girls Open Championship – due to be played at Hertfordshire’s Sandy Lodge GC, from July 21-23 – can only be played during the school holidays.

The Carris was due to be played at Weybridge’s St George’s Hill, in Surrey, from July 21-24, while the McGregor was heading to the North East at Heworth GC, in Gateshead, a week earlier.

England Golf’s director of championships James Crampton said: “It is with regret that we have had to extend the list of postponed England Golf events as we all adhere to the expert advice and necessary measures now in place to combat the spread of coronavirus.

“All England Golf championships have now been postponed until week commencing July 27.

“We will continue to regularly review our championship plans beyond this date.

“If possible, we aim to re-schedule some of our postponed events and will provide information as and when it is practicable to do so.

“There are a number of intricacies associated with championship golf which need to be considered well in advance of any event taking place.

“And these, as much as golf courses being open for play, are key factors in our decision-making.”

An England Golf spokesman said: “As always, England Golf’s priority when taking decisions at this time is to assist the national effort to combat the threat of the COVID-19 outbreak and ensure we protect our NHS and save lives.

“With golf courses now closed until further notice and restrictions for travel and public life in place for an indefinite period, England Golf have taken the pragmatic decision on the postponement of events beyond our original date of June 7.

The 14 events in April, May and early June which were postponed included the Brabazon Trophy at Sherwood Forest GC (May 21-24) and the two qualifiers for the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Hessle and East Sussex on May 12.

The English Women’s Amateur at Sheringham GC, in Norfolk (May 27-31) and the Senior Women’s Amateur at  Peterborough Milton GC (May 11-15) were among the earlier events called off.

The English Seniors Championship at Lincolnshire’s Burghley Park and Luffenham Heath, in Rutland (June 3-5) is also off along with the English Open Amateur for golfers with a disability at Whittlebury Park, in Northamptonshire, from June 27-28.

The English Schools’ Team Championship – which was to be held again at Woodhall Spa – is another event that will require a new slot, but could be played later in the season.

The latest England Golf championships to be postponed are:–

• English Senior Women’s Strokeplay – Abbeydale, June 16-18
• England Golf Medal – The Kendleshire – June 17
• Golf Captains – Broadway, June 17
• England Golf Medal – Drayton Park, June 21
• England Golf Medal – Brancepeth Castle, June 25
• English Open Disabled Amateur – Whittlebury Park, June 27-28
• Golf Captains – Moortown, June 30
• Logan Trophy – Sand Moor, July 3-5
• Senior Series and Golf Captains – South Staffs, July 7-8
• English Schools’ Team Championship – Woodhall Spa, July 8
• McGregor Trophy – Heworth, July 14-16
• English Girls’ Open Championship – Sandy Lodge, July 21-23
• Carris Trophy – St George’s Hill, July 21-24
• Golf Captains – Piltdown, July 22

Any player already registered for a postponed England Golf event will be contacted directly by the championship department.

In addition to championships, all England Golf regional and national squad coaching sessions for men, women, boys and girls remain cancelled until further notice.

Individual coaching sessions – apart from those done remotely by video call – have also been cancelled.

The England Golf spokesman added: “Events relating to championships and performance squads remain under constant review and timely updates will be issued via our website and social media platforms.”

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The stunninge St George’s Hill at Weybridge is due to host the Carris Trophy in 2020 but the July date has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic

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The Dyke House Academy team of Jack Burton, Louis Westmoreland and William Skipp who claimed the English Schools Team Championship at Woodhall Spa.

THREE Durham teenagers who have been coached by European Tour winner Graeme Storm helped Hartlepool’s Dyke House Academy win the English Schools’ Team Championship.

Fourteen-year-old Jack Burton scored 40 Stableford points while 17-year-old Louis Westmoreland registered just one less to give the County Durham school a three-shot victory with 79 points over the Bracken course at Woodhall Spa, the HQ of England Golf.

William Skipp’s 35 points were discounted with the best two scores out of the three counting.

Dyke House Academy’s nearest challengers were Scarborough’s The Graham School, who were represented by Sean Burrows, Tommy Risker and Jack Northgraves.

They racked up 77 points to finish two points clear of the third-placed team from Oxford’s Matthew Arnold School, who were representd by Elizabeth Ball, Jakob Johnson and Freddie Whitfield.

“I’m over the moon,” said Dyke House Academy teacher Rhys Morris.  “We played very well and thoroughly deserved our victory.

“We run an elite sports scheme at the school in which golf is one of five sports featured and the coaching the boys have been receiving from Graham Storm and James Harper at The Wynyard Club is definitely helping because we’ve done well in every competition we’ve played.

“We’re all proud of what they have achieved.”

Burrows, from The Graham School, won the Tom Ward Cup awarded to the player with the best individual points total.

He accumulated 41 points to beat Ball, from Matthew Arnold, and Esme Hume, from Hertfordshire’s Roundwood Park School, on countback.

Burton, Bedford School’s Wilf Rush, Wykham Park Academy’s Stanley Kay, West Exe School’s Reggie Reid and Lucy Moss, from Queen Elizabeth, Kirby Lonsdale, all scored 40 points.

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