A total of 288 leading players, the largest ever, will descend on the Kent coast on Monday 30th July seeking to join a long and exclusive list of English champions.
The English Amateur Championship returns to Royal St George’s Golf Club at Sandwich, scene of so much history in the game and of so many dramatic golfing episodes as the championship takes on a different format.
Instead of straight match play from the start, as has been the practise for many years, two rounds of stroke play qualifying, one at Royal St George’s and the other at nearby Royal Cinque Ports at Deal, will be staged over the opening two days.
From that, the leading 64 players and ties will go forward to the knockout stages over 18 holes before the 36-hole final in staged on the Saturday. This brings the English Amateur in line with the Amateur Championship and many other national events.
Six days of quality golf will be guaranteed over these famous links, with every member of the Elite and A squads and most of the under 21 and under 18 squads competing, thereby producing a line-up of internationals.
Paul Waring (pictured – photo courtesy of Tom Ward), champion in 2005 and just back from competing in the Open Championship at Carnoustie, gets his bid underway at 12.50pm at Deal alongside fellow Elite squad colleague Matthew Cryer (11.10) and Jamie Moul (11.50).
Gary Wolstenholme, who has never won the English title despite reaching the 2000 final, starts at 1.10pm at Royal St George’s as does David Horsey (7.20am), Seve Benson, recent winner of the Tillman Trophy (8.20), and Gary Boyd (11.50).
The in-form Chris Wood from Gloucestershire, recent winner of the Russian Amateur and runner-up in the Tillman Trophy as well as his county championship, could prove a top candidate and he starts at Sandwich at 10.40am.
The field also contains most of England’s boy internationals including 14 year old Oscar Sharpe, also from Gloucestershire, who is first off on Monday at Deal, while under 16 champion Tom Lewis from Hertfordshire, starts at 8.40am at Deal.
The Championship starts at 7am on Monday 30th July and culminates with the 36-hole final on Saturday 4th August. Entry to the event is free and for those who are unable to get to Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports the latest scores and news updates can be found on the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org.
Contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500
