The 22-year-old, who claimed victory at Royal County Down last year, is aiming to become the first player since Sweden’s Louise Stahle to retain the championship, back in 2005.

Having progressed on the cut mark during qualifying, Toy found her form in the matchplay stages to continue her quest for a historic success at the spectacular North-West links.

In the championship’s 117th staging, Toy saw off the challenge of Roehampton’s Isabelle Simpson.

Her one-hole win in the morning, was followed by a comfortable 5&4 triumph over Ireland’s Jessica Ross.

Toy said: “I’m trying not to give up the title. Obviously, making the cut on the mark was a relief and coming through two rounds I’m pleased to be where I am.

“It was a really good match this morning and I was pleased to get the win,” added the Carlyon Bay member.

“This afternoon I played nicely again. I have been struggling a little bit with form coming into this event. So it has been nice to actually see some nice shots.

“At the start of the week, in my eyes, the trophy was out there for anyone to win.

“I’m just coming to an event trying to win like everyone else. If I can keep doing the right things and if that is good enough at the end of the week then great.

It’s my first time here and I’m really enjoying it,” said Toy, who missed out on the chance to play at Augusta in April because of the COVID-19 crisis, which saw the second ever Augusta National Women’s Amateur cancelled along with the Masters.

Is Price right for Emily’s double?

LUDLOW’S in-form Emily Price, who won the English Women’s Amateur Championship earlier this month, maintained her bid for more glory.

She beat Iceland’s Hulda Clara Gestsdottir 2&1 to reach the last-16 where she will face Lithunia’s Gilė Bitė Starkutė.

Denmark’s Amalie Leth-Nissen – who was the leading qualifier on countback – lost out to her older sister, Cecilie, at the final hole in an emotional contest in the opening tie of the day.

It was a notable triumph, given Cecilie is ranked 765th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking compared to Amalie who sits at 47th.

However, Scotland’s Hannah Darling, the Girls’ Under 16 Open Champion in 2018, then ended the hopes of Leth-Nissen in the afternoon with a one-hole victory.

Seventeen-year-old Darling said: “It feels good to reach the last-16. I was just solid out there today.

“In both matches I think I was two-down after three. So I’m just really proud of how I ground it out and stuck in there.

“It’s the type of golf course where anything can happen. I wouldn’t say it is a course you can go low on. You have to grind it out and scramble.

“I heard Cecilie had a close game in the morning with her sister. I’m friends with them both, and it was then nice to have a good match against her too.

“It’s my first time in the Women’s Amateur. But it’s matchplay and I’ve done well in those events in the past. So I just have to keep it going.

“I’m probably younger than most people out there. But as my dad says, age has nothing to do it with it, and it’s about performing,”said the Broomienknowe teenager.

Florida’s Fuller still in as German marches on

ROEHAMPTON’S newly crowned English Strokeplay champion Annabell Fuller is also in the last-16.

The University of Florida ace first beat Royal Cromer’s fellow England international Amelia Williamson 2&1, and St Mellion’s Megan Giles 5&4 in the second round.

Of the other leading qualifiers, Whitley Bay’s Rosie Belsham lost to Annabel Bailey, from Leicestershire’s Kirby Muxloe by one hole.

Bailey was then knocked out by Kent’s Shama Dutrieux at the 23rd hole.

Italian Alessia Nobilio, the World No. 5, quietly went about her work to reach the last 16. Meanwhile two German players – Paula Schulz-Hanssen and Aline Krauter – also progressed.

Schulz-Hanssen, who has already won the Swiss Amateur title this year, was delighted with her progress.

She said: “I’m happy to be in the last-16. I played pretty good today.

“I played 32 holes in the two matches and I had 12 birdies and only four bogeys. It is tough playing 36 holes in the one day.

“I was level par for the strokeplay qualifying, but today was even better,” said last year’s European Young Masters winner.

“The course is so beautiful to play, so amazing. There are so many holes where you can really attack the flag.

“If you hit good shots, you can get good results. It’s my first time playing in the event and I’m playing well,” said Schulz-Hanssen, a member of Europe’s 2019 Solheim Junior Cup team.

Humphreys waiting for putts to drop

ESSEX’S Lily May Humphreys, the highest-ranked English player in the field, now faces Schulz-Hanssen in Friday’s showdown.

The Stoke-by-Nayland player who was runner-up to Price at Woodhall Spa, said: “It feels really good. It’s my best so far in this championship.

“I haven’t done that great in it before. Hopefully I can carry on through tomorrow to the semi-finals,” added Humphreys, who won the Irish and Welsh Strokeplay titles last year.

“I feel like I played solid today, tee-to-green – just didn’t hole a massive amount of putts,” Lily May added.

“It was less breezy out there today. A little drizzle in the afternoon, but the conditions were better.”

Meanwhile Italian Carolina Melgrati also exited at the 19th to Wales’ Ffion Tynan.

Tynan continued her form as she defeated Berkshire’s Irish international Laura Webb, the oldest player in the field at 57, with a 2&1 victory against the East Berkshire veteran.

Webb was named captain of Ireland’s national team for 2020 and won the Irish Seniors championship in 2019.

That win completed the first-ever Irish Ladies slam by winning the Girls, Women’s and Over 50s titles during her career.

West Lancashire’s Hollie left to Muse after defeat

THERE was disappointment however for West Lancashire’s Hollie Muse and Scotland’s Hazel MacGarvie, who were knocked out at the last-64 stage.

The other England players still in the hat are Carus Green’s Caitlin Whithead after her wins over Scot Lorna McClymont, from Milngavie, by 4&3 – and last year’s English Amateur Champion Ellen Hume, from Mill Green, in Hertfordshire, by 4&2.

Fourteen-year-old Chiara Noja, who was born in Germany and raised in the UK, faces another teenager in Nobillo.

The latter is the current Italian and Portuguese Amateur Stokeplay Champion.

Dutrieux, from Wrotham Heath, will play another Italian in the shape of Emilie Paltrinieri, last year’s German Girls Champion, after her win at the fifth extra hole.

The matchplay continues, with the last-16 and quarter-final ties played, ahead of Saturday’s semi-finals and the 18-hole final.

There are significant rewards for the champion with exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open and traditionally, the US Women’s Open, The Evian Championship and Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.

•Follow live scoring at RandA.org as well as on The R&A’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

The post Toy takes her time in defence of Amateur Championship title at West Lancashire appeared first on Golf North.

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, England Golf has today announced a number of key decisions relating to all of our championships and wider golfing activities.

• All championship and performance events have been postponed until 7 June.
• With the health and wellbeing of all golfers, staff and volunteers paramount in our thinking, we have issued a comprehensive guidance document to clubs and golfers on how best to proceed in these unprecedented times
• England Golf’s AGM and national participation events scheduled for the spring have been postponed
• New working practices for staff have been adopted to ensure we remain fully operational and available to assist counties, clubs and golfers in the weeks and months ahead

For full details on all these important announcements please click below:

Championships and Performance

Guidance for Golf Clubs and Golfers

Event Postponements and How to contact England Golf

These remain extremely difficult and unprecedented times for the game of golf as well as the country in general.

England Golf remains committed to helping our golfing community adapt to the necessary changes and for golfers to continue to play the game in a safe environment and according to government and public health guidelines.

The pace of change and the constant updating of government and medical advice means that a continual process of re-assessment of decisions and guidelines must be undertaken.

England Golf will continue to communicate any changes through our website, social platforms and via direct correspondence to our affiliated counties, clubs and golfers.

It is vital that everyone continues to follow best practice when it comes to dealing with the current outbreak of coronavirus.

For expert medical advice please refer to the following websites:

World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Public Health England: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england

The post England Golf update: COVID-19 appeared first on Golf North.

England Golf Statement Regarding Coronavirus

England Golf  – in light of the developing situation with the COVID-19 outbreak – has today issued the following guidance to all our affiliated golf clubs and golfers.

We fully recognise the need to adhere to the expert advice available and as such we would point all our clubs in the direction of the guidelines set out in detail by Public Health England via their website.

Details on how best to cope with the virus can also be found via the World Health Organisation website which will provide rolling updates and the best ways to mitigate against the spread of the infection.

NHS England also provide updated and expert advice via their website.

All golf clubs should note, act upon and continually monitor the advice and guidance issued by these expert authorities in relation to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

It is important that we all work together, following the advice of qualified professionals, in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

This remains a very fluid situation and England Golf will continue to take their lead from the government and public health authorities when it comes to safeguarding our clubs and members and offering practical and necessary steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of golfers and golf club staff.

England Golf chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson said: “The expert practical advice that is available from the health authorities and national government should remain the first point of reference for all our golf clubs and golfers.

“This is clearly a fluid and developing situation and we will continue to monitor events as they progress and pass on the relevant information to our stakeholders.

“By working in alignment with those who are specialists in this field, we will be able to take the necessary precautions and provide the correct measures to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Where do you want to go next?

• Scottish Golf statement
• Wales Golf statement
• Golfing Union of Ireland statement

More information

• NHS website
• Public Health Service

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The post England Golf Statement Regarding Coronavirus appeared first on Golf North.

All golf clubs believe they have the greatest greens and the warmest welcome in their county (although we really do), but not all clubs give you a great experience and leave you belonging to a community.

At The Leicestershire Golf Club, our staff put their heart and soul into creating the best possible experience for both our members and visitors. From fresh, local foods catering to all your needs, to a wide range of refreshments at the bar.

We thrive off giving a personal touch to make you feel at home.

You may not know it yet, but we really are the best. You’ll have to come and see for yourself.

PACKAGES 2020

Book your golf society for a Thursday in 2019 between 11am – 3pm to get the special price of £26 per person to
include a Bacon Roll and Coffee on arrival, followed by 18 holes, saving £9 per person! Simply quote the code 1890
when booking to qualify.

The Leicestershire Golf Club
Evington Lane
Leicester
LE5 6DJ

T: 01162 738825
E: office@theleicestershiregolfclub.co.uk
www.theleicestershiregolfclub.co.uk
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England Seniors captain Roy Smethurst proudly shows off the European Senior Men’s Team Championship trophy with Stoneham’s Alan Mew, on the left and Surrey’s Ian Attoe (right)

ENGLAND’S senior golfers completed a golden double when they won both the European Senior Men’s Team Championship, in Denmark, and the European Senior Ladies’ Championship, in Bulgaria.

The men started their tournament slowly, finishing in fourth place behind Scotland, Ireland and hosts Denmark after the 36-hole stroke play qualifier at Rungsted.

However, they went on to beat both Sweden and Scotland 4-1 in the opening two rounds of the knockout match play before finishing the job with a 3½-½ victory over Ireland in the final.

Surrey’s Ian Attoe and Hampshire’s Alan Mew were in commanding form as the beat Karl Bornemann and Jim Carvill 6&5 in the foursomes.

Sunningdale’s Rupert Kellock claimed a 2&1 win over Peter Sheehan in the singles.

And that was followed by a 5&4 win for Rotherham’s Rich Jones against John O’Brien and a half for Beverley & East Riding Golf Club’s Richard Norton against Steven Graham.

Meanwhile Alan Condren claimed a consolation point for the Irish with a 3&2 victory over Paul Wharton, from Lincolnshire’s Woodhall Sap.

England captain Roy Smethurst, from Cheshire, attributed the team’s success to their consistency and strength in the knockout foursomes.

Smethurst said: “All the players played well, it was the consistency of the team that was key to success. Particularly the foursomes pairing in the knockout matches. Everyone played well in strokeplay.

“We wanted to make the top eight in the strokeplay and there were some good scores there. I was disappointed to finish fourth as on paper I thought we had the best side.

“But since the matchplay started I put a strong team out in the foursomes and in all three matches they got us off to a strong start.”

It was England’s first victory in the championship since their win on home soil at Fairhaven in 2010 – and it was a huge success considering the team hadn’t made the final for several years.

“We won it in 2010 and I’ve been captain for the last five years and I’m delighted to finally secure the win,” Smethurst added: “The four years prior we hadn’t been in the final at all – to win was a real achievement.

“It was a fantastic week. To beat the Scots and the Irish is always a big thing and we get to play them again this week in the Senior Home Internationals.”

England Seniors captain Debbie Richards with the European Seniors Ladies Team Championship after her side’s win over Spain in the final at Bulgaria’s BlackSeaRama GC

Meanwhile, out in south-eastern Europe, the England Senior Ladies’ Team were securing their own success by defeating Spain to secure their first Senior European Championship since 2014.

The ladies’ team started the tournament at BlackSeaRama in Bulgaria by finishing third behind Sweden and Ireland in the 36-hole strokeplay qualifier.

They then went on to beat both France 3-2 and Ireland 3½-1½ to reach the final. There they defeated Spain, looking for their first-ever triumph, by the same scoreline to cap a wonderful weekend for the senior English teams.

Cheshire’s English Senior Women’s Amateur Champion Caroline Berry (Bromborough GC) and Wakefield’s Julie Wheeldon got England off to a great start when they combined to beat Xonia Wunsch and Maria Trallero 2&1 in the foursomes.

Macarena Campomanes beat Leicstershire’s Helen Lowe (Scraptoft GC) by one hole in the first singles before Worthing’s Paula Carver and fellow Sussex ace Aileen Greenfield (Pyecombe GC) got England over the line with 4&3 and 3&1 victories over Maria Castillo and Lourdes Barbeito, resepectively.

Bishop’s Stortford’s Jackie Foster – runner-up to Greenfield at the English Women’s Strokeplay this summer, as well as a semi-finalist at the English Senior Amateur – halved the final singles against Maria Orueta.

England captain Debbie Richards, from Surrey, was pleased with the team’s immediate connection across the week.

Richards said: “Team spirit was the secret this week. Everyone got on well on and off the course – we all just jelled so well. Everyone came into the tournament playing well and we just kept it going.

“When you get to the last eight, anyone can win. The talent and the golf is amazing, it’s like watching lady pro’s play.

“It proves how much talent there is in ladies golf at the moment, and we’re only amateurs.”

The post England Seniors do double with European titles as men score first win since 2010 appeared first on Golf North.

ENGLAND’S women’s team will be looking to go one better than last year when they finished runners-up to Scotland in the Ladies Home Internationals, at Ballybunion, in Ireland.

The Home Internationals get under way when England face Wales at Downfield Golf Club, in Scotland, on Wednesday.

They will then face the Auld Enemy on Thursday before facing the last of their Home Nations opponents, Ireland, on Friday.

The selectors have a strong array of talent at their disposal , and have named Women’s Amateur Champion Emily Toy in their seven-strong squad.

Toy is joined by Hertfordshire’s current English Women’s Amateur Champion Ellen Hume, and the player she beat – her predecessor Lily May Humphreys – who has won three big titles aleady in 2019 – in the team that travelled north of the border, earlier this week.

Even without Roehampton’s Fuller sisters or Berkhamsted’s Alice Hewson, the recent winner of the European Amateur Championship, England can go into their matches with Wales, Ireland and hosts Scotland with every confidence.

Twenty-one-year-old Toy claimed the biggest title of her career at the Women’s Amateur Championship at Royal Co. Down, in June, where she beat New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey in the final.

The member at Cornwall’s Carlyon Bay also won the New South Wales Amateur Championship, in Australia, at the start of the year and been flying ever since.

Debutant Hume won her English crown at Sauntion and has also won the West of England Championship – and the Faldo Series’ England Girls’ Championship – this summer.

Essex ace Humphreys, a member at Stoke-by-Nayland, claimed the Welsh and Irish Strokeplay titles in May, and the Annika Invitational Europe.

Humphreys played in last year’s Home Internationals and has since represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy at Royal St George’s, as well as for England at the European Ladies’ Team Championship, in July.

Cheshire’s Isobel Wardle won this season’s Comboy Leveret and was second at the Welsh Ladies’ Open Strokeplay,

The 19-year-old, from Prestbury GC, reached the quarter-final at the English Women’s Amateur and the last 16 at the Women’s Amateur.

Wardle was also third at the St Rule Trophy, fourth at the Portuguese International Ladies’ and fifth at the Spanish International in the early part of the season.

Somerset’s Mimi Rhodes reached the quarter-final of the Women’s Amateur, and was eighth in the German Girls’ Open as well as ninth in the Annika Invitational Europe.

The 17-year-old represented England in the European Girls’ Team Championship last month, where she was fourth in the individual competition.

Rhodes, a member at Burnham and Berrow, was part of the winning English team in last year’s Girls’ Home Internationals, in Ireland.

Leicstershire’s Lianna Bailey, won the 2018 St Rule Trophy at St Andrews and finished second in the same event this year.

The 22-year-old, from Kirby Muxloe GC, represented England in this year’s European Team Championship.

Bailey was also a member of the team that finished runners-up to Scotland in the 2018 Women’s Home Internationals in Ireland.

Norfolk’s Amelia Williamson won the Chiberta Grand Prix, in France, in July, and was third at the Critchley Astor Salver, at Sunningdale.

The 19-year-old, from Royal Cromer GC, was seventh at the Dutch International Junior Open.

She followed that up by sharing 11^th place behind Hewson at the European Amateur at Parkstone.

Williamson was also part of the winning English team at last year’s Girls’ Home International.

For live scoring click here.

The post England looking to go one better in the Ladies Home Internationals at Downfield appeared first on Golf North.

Formby’s Gary Harris, the former Reading GC member who now works as the England Golf Coast Manager, with the Logan Trophy after his win at the English Mid-Amateur Championship at The Leicestershire. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

IT was a case of third time lucky for Lancashire’s Geoff Harris when he won the English Mid-Amateur Championship, at The Leicestershire Golf Club.

The 37-year-old, from Formby GC, finished third at Beau Desert in 2017 and second to Nick Day last year at Long Ashton.

But this time the left-hander, who ended Gary Wolstenholme’s dream of finally landing the English Amateur at Walton Heath in 2002, finally got his hands on the Logan Trophy.

The former Reading Golf  Club member closed with a three-under par 67 to pip last year’s winner by a single shot after posting a total of five-under.

Harris, who spent four successful years in the USA playing for Dominion University, in Virginia, started the final round level with Day after opening rounds of 68 and 70.

But the ex-England A squad member immediately went ahead with a birdie on the second where he hit an eight-iron into four feet.

Harris, who works as England’s Golf Coast manager promoting the North West’s top links courses, dropped a shot with a three-putt at the fourth.

But he then birdied the 10th, 12th and 13th before finally finishing his round with five straight pars.

Harris said: “I must admit I’m more relieved that anything else.

“After finishing third at Beau Desert two years ago, and then a distant second to Nick last year at Long Ashton, I was beginning to wonder if my chance had gone.

“I played very nicely,” added the new champion, who won once on the PGA EuroPro Tour back in 2004, before being reinstated as an amateur.

“The golf course was in fantastic condition but it was pretty firm and fast, so you had to be careful where you hit it.

“I just tried to keep in the play as best as I could and see if I could get a couple of putts to drop.

“I only hit one driver (in the final round) and it worked very nicely. I’m delighted to get my name on a trophy as prestigious as this one.”

The highlight of Harris’ golf days in the States was playing in the 2002 Palmer Cup at Doonbeg, against the likes of Bill Haas, Hunter Mahan and Nick Watney, DJ Trahan and Troy Mattesson, who all went on to win on the PGA Tour.

Thirty-nine-year-old Day, from Henbury GC, in Gloucestershire, made Harris work all the way before finally relinquishing the title he won by nine shots 12 months ago.

Day went into the last round tied with Harris and Pleasington’s Calum Metcalfe after two opening rounds of 69 and went on to birdie both the fourth and the sixth before 12 consecutive pars from the seventh saw him post a 68.

That left him one shot behind the winner on four-under after totalling 206 for three rounds.

Dorset’s David Cook, from Parkstone GC, also fired a closing 68 to finish alone in third place a further shot back, while Metcalfe added a 70 to the course record 65 he carded in the second round to secure fourth place another shot further behind.

American William Smith and Oliver Willson, from Longcliffe, both closed with level par 70s to finish fifth and sixth respectively, while Blankney’s Craig Toyne dropped back to eighth place with a 74.

The post Harris claims Logan Trophy at third attempt with English Mid-Am win at Leicestershire appeared first on Golf North.

Nick Day, from Henbury Golf Club, in Gloucestershire, who won the Logan Trophy at the English Mid-Amateur Championship at Bristol’s Long Ashton, in 2018.
Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S Nick Day will defend his England Mid-Amateur title when the Logan Trophy is played next week at The Leicestershire Golf Club.

The Over 35s Mid-Am has attracted a full field of players and promises plenty of great golf when is played in the East Midlands, from July 5-7.

Last year Day, from Henbury, produced a command performance, winning by nine-shots at Long Ashton, in his native Gloucestershire.

He has recently won his fifth county championship, warning his rivals that he’s on good form. But he can expect plenty of competition in an event which frequently produces a grandstand finish.

The field includes past winners Stephen Jensen, from Woburn, and Somerset’s Tom Burley, from Burnham & Berrow.

North Hants’ Matt Wilcox – the 2017 British Mid-Amateur Champion – is looking to become second Hampshire winner after Martin Young, Wilcox’s foursomes partner in the county first-team, won the title in 2006 at Hayling.

Wilcox warmed up for next week’s championship by claiming the Justin Rose Mid-Amateur Trophy for the second time in three years at the Fleet club where the 2013 US Open winner was a member as a junior.

Rose famously claimed the McGregor (English U16) and Carris Trophies (U18) in the same season, before becoming the youngest-ever player to appear in the Walker Cup, in 1997.

Rose had just turned 17 and weeks after becoming the first Hampshire player to win the St Andrews Links Trophy before famously finishing in a share of fourth at the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and turning pro the following week.

Rose, who won the Olympic Gold Medal in golf in Rio, in 2016, donated his Mid Am trophy for the Over 35s event in recognition of the strength of the golf played by many weekend golfers, and Hampshire players have dominated since its launch in 2016, with Martin Young the champion in 2016 and 2018.

North Hants’ Two-time Justin Rose Mid Amateur Trophy winner Matt Wilcox (left) will be looking to add the Logan Trophy to his British Mid-Amateur title when he tees it up at the English Mid-Amateur Championship at The Leicestershire, next week.

There’s lots of interest for the host club of the 2019 English Mid-Am, which is fielding four players in Mark Birkenshaw, Mark Scarrett, Alan Martinez and Philip Thomason.

They will have the benefit of local knowledge over the parkland course, with its many trees and fine quality greens.

Until last year, the course had no par fives, but the sixth and ninth holes have been extended with new tees to challenge the players.

The championship is played over 54 holes. All competitors play 36 holes before the field is cut to the top 45 players and ties who qualify for the third day’s play.

For more information, including tee times, click here.

The post Nick hoping it will be his Day again as The Leicestershire hosts Logan Mid Am Trophy appeared first on Golf North.

Stoke Park Conor Gough is the youngest member of the GB&I Walker Cup squad named this week. Picture courtesy The R&A

STOKE Park’s reigning British Amateur champion Conor Gough heads a strong contingent of 12 players from England included in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad, named today.

The R&A has announced an initial squad of 26 players who are in contention for selection for the GB&I team to play against the United States of America in the 47^th Walker Cup match at Royal Liverpool, in September.

Sixteen-year-old Gough, who made his Home Internationals debut for England at men’s level last summer is the youngest in the squad in which only nine are aged over 21.

The host nations are aiming to win back the trophy after losing 19-7 at the Los Angeles Country Club two years ago – when there were three Hampshire players in the team.

Captain Craig Watson said, “We have selected a talented group of players who are all in contention for a place in the team to play the United States of America, and will be continuing to monitor the form and results of these players over the course of the season.

“We will also be looking closely at the performances of other players who have not been included in the squad and there is still time for them to play their way into our plans ahead of the final team selection later this year.”

Somerset’s Tom Sloman, who won the 2019 Copa Sotagrande recently, and Dorset’s SANLAM Cape Province Open champion, Thomas Plumb, also feature in a group of 12 English players.

Gough is the same age Hampshire’s Justin Rose was when he became the youngest to be picked to play in the biennial clash which is the amateur game’s equivalent to the Ryder Cup, back in 1997.

Rose had just turned 17 by the time he appeared at Pine Ridge and Essex’s Oliver Fisher broke that record in Chicago in 2005.

Gough is bidding to become the first B.B.&O. player to be picked for the Walker Cup since Luke Donald, who was on the winning team at Nairn in 1999, and again at Sea Island, in Georgia, when Peter McEvoy led GB&I to back-to-back victories for the first time, and won on US soil for only the second time since 1922.

Also in the squad is Sussex’s English Amateur Champion Tom Thurloway (Chartham Park) and Devon’s Jake Burnage, who made a late bid for selection in 2017.

Six players from Scotland have been chosen, including 2019 African Amateur champion, Euan Walker and reigning Scottish Amateur champion, Euan McIntosh, who is the oldest member at 50.

Sandy Scott, who won the El Macero Classic earlier this month, Royal Wimbledon’s Marquette Intercollegiate champion Ryan Lumsden, Kieran Cantley and Jamie Stewart are also in Watson’s plans.

Conor Purcell, who won the 2019 Australian Amateur Championship, is among five players from Ireland to feature in Watson’s squad.

He is joined by 2019 West of Ireland Amateur champion Caolan Rafferty, 2018 Eisenhower Trophy player John Murphy, Mark Power and James Sugrue.

Irish Boys Amateur champion Archie Davies, who hails from Carlisle and is only 17, Ben Chamberlain and Jake Hapgood are the three players from Wales.

There are four players under the age of 18 – the other two are Peterborough Milton’s Robin Williams and Sheffield’s Joseph Pagdin, who is based at Florida’s Lake Nona, and has signed to play for University of Florida, from 2020.

Northamptonshire County’s Benjamin Jones, Pagdin, Williams, Plumb, Gough, and Hallamshire’s Alex Fitzpatrick – the younger brother of Ryder Cup player Matt, who played in the 2013 Walker Cup, were all members of the England Boys team that won the 2017 Home Internationals at St Anne’s Old Links.

The GB&I Walker Cup squad will gather at Royal Liverpool for a practice session next week, ahead of the Lytham Trophy, after which the number of players will be reduced for a second practice session in July.

As well as the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham (May 3-5), and the Brabazon Trophy, at Alwoodley, at end of May, the selectors will be watching events during the St Andrews Links at the Home of Golf in early June – the UK’s other major 72-hole strokeplay championship, which attracts an international field.

The final 10-man GB&I team will be announced in August after the Home Nations hold their respective amateur championships in the first week of the month.

The English Amateur (July 30-August 4) is being held at Hankley Common, in Surrey, with qualifying being jointly held at North Hants GC, while the Scottish event is at Crail in the same week.

The Welsh championship is being held at Tenby, from July 29-August 2, while the Irish Amateur Championship is being staged at Ballybunion, from August 3-7.

The full squad is (England players in bold):

Jake Burnage, 23, Saunton
John Murphy, 20, Kinsale
Kieran Cantley, 21, Liberton
Joseph Pagdin, 17, Lake Nona
Ben Chamberlain, 21, Padeswood & Buckley
Thomas Plumb, 20, Yeovil
Archie Davies, 17, Carlisle
Mark Power, 18, Kilkenny
Alex Fitzpatrick, 20, Hallamshire
Conor Purcell, 21, Portmarnock
Bailey Gill, 21, Lindrick
Caolan Rafferty, 26, Dundalk
Conor Gough, 16, Stoke Park
Sandy Scott, 20, Nairn
David Hague, 22, Malton & Norton
Tom Sloman, 22, Taunton & Pickeridge
Harry Hall, 21, West Cornwall
Jamie Stewart, 19, Old Course Ranfurly
Jake Hapgood, 22, Southerndown
James Sugrue, 22, Mallow
Benjamin Jones, 19, Northamptonshire County
Tom Thurloway, 21, Chartham Park.
Ryan Lumsden, 22, Royal Wimbledon
Euan Walker, 23, Kilmarnock (Barassie)
Euan McIntosh, 50, Turnhouse
Robin Williams, 17, Peterborough Milton

The post Gough is youngest named in Walker Cup squad at 16 appeared first on Golf North.

Brandon Stone and Aaron Rai (right) at the DLF Golf and Country Club ahead of this week’s Hero Indian Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AARON Rai insists it would be “a dream come true” to win this week’s Hero Indian Open on a course he holds in extremely high regard.

The 24-year-old Englishman has Indian born grandparents and would love to add a second European Tour title to his CV at DLF Golf and Country Club, on Sunday.

Rai says this week’s host track, The Gary Player Course, is among his favourite in the world and he is happy to be there this week along with a host of local talent.

The golfer, who hails from the West Midlands and first came to prominence at the HSBC Wee Wonders competition, said: “It is in incredible shape and is probably my favourite course in the world.

“It is very scenic to walk around, but more importantly it is a great course, a great test, so you have to be on.

“My grandparents from both my mum and dad’s side where born in India, so back home as well I have family with Indian heritage, so to even compete in India is a blessing.

“So if it was to happen and go one step further that would be a privilege, especially around a course like this where you need to be on your mental and physical game, so a long way to go but if that did happen it would be incredible and a dream come true,” said the Wolverhampton-based golfer.

Four-time European Tour winner Bernd Wiesberger is hoping to see further improvements in his game this week as he continues his return from injury.

The Austrian missed a large chunk of the 2018 Race to Dubai season with a wrist problem but has managed to play nine events so far this campaign and he is pleased with his progress.

Meanwhile, South African Brandon Stone is excited to be in India for the first time this week and the 2018 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open winner hopes to be in the shake-up in Sunday’s final round.

Wiesberger said: “I haven’t been to India for five or six years so it’s nice to be back and I am looking forward to coming to a golf course that has been described as somewhat challenging, and something different to what we see on a regular basis.

“I have been out there for nine holes this afternoon and it’s quite spectacular.

“I was here the last time when it was the old design, so incredible what has been achieved here – an amazing course in great condition –so looking forward to a strong test of golf here in India.

“Unfortunately, I was out from May until November and that was quite a tough break for me not having any golf to play over summer with the injury in my left wrist.

“I still feel the effects of it a little bit, but I’m not where I want to be, so my results have not been anywhere to what

“I expect of myself but at the same time I am kind of taking it easy, week by week, and taking the positives out of every round.

“I am quite happy with the progress in most parts of the game as I have had to restart in a lot of parts of the game, but I am really looking forward to hopefully improving even more in Delhi.”

South African Brandon Stone said: “It’s my first time coming to India and so far, spectacular. I took my first tuk tuk ride yesterday which was a lot of fun, and my first time looking at the course today. Mr Player has come up again with another very unique design.

“My first look at the 17th hole and I wasn’t disappointed, alternative design so let’s say that, the course is in spectacular condition, so I think it’s going to be a very fun week.

“There is a strong field here this week, a lot of local talent, and I am sure they are going to be vying to get their name on the Hero India Open trophy.

“I remember watching the event last year and watching the shot that Matt Wallace hit on 18 to win and didn’t really think it was that good until I walked down the 18th fairway today and realised that was actually top class.

“I’m excited to be here for the event and hoping to put up a stern fight for the championship come Sunday.

Stone also has one eye on the biggest show in town – the IPL cricket.

He said: “On Saturday I will most certainly be there. It has been on my bucket list the last few years, ever since the IPL came to South Africa.

“So to actually go to a game in India where I have a couple of mates that play for the Delhi Capitals – I am quite envious I won’t be at the game tonight.

“But at the same time we are going to be making a lot of friendships with the team at Hero tonight in getting this event underway.”

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