WALKER ADDS PORTUGUESE TITLE
England's Richard Walker (Frodsham GC) added the Portuguese
International Amateur Championship title at the weekend to
the German title he won last April in Cologne.
Walker, a member of England's World Class Performance Programme
Elite Squad supported by the Sport England Lottery Fund, beat
young Italian Nicola Maestroni by 1 hole in the 36 hole final
at Estela Golf Club on Saturday 15th March. Walker, 4 up with
5 to play following a solid display of golf which saw him
10 under par for the previous 19 holes, saw his lead whittled
away by birdies at the 14th and 16th from the young Italian.
Walker however rallied and showed his determination and composure,
1 up playing the par 4 eighteenth he holed a twelve foot birdie
putt to claim the title in style.
Delighted with his victory Richard said "This win is
special to me as it strengthens my claim for Walker Cup selection
and gives me the opportunity to play in a main PGA European
Tour event prior to me entering Tour School in September".
On the way to the final Walker defeated fellow Englishmen,
Chris McDonnell (Stocksfield GC), Martin Sell (Wrag Barn GC)
losing finalist in last years Amateur Championship and fellow
Elite Squad member and last years Portuguese champion Zane
Scotland (Walton Heath GC).
It could have been an all English affair in the final but
unfortunately fellow Elite Squad member Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury
GC) narrowly lost to Maestroni 1 down in the other semi-final.
Richard's win earns him an automatic invitation to compete
in the Portuguese Open on the PGA European Tour to be played
at Vale do Lobo Golf Club 17-20 April.
The England A team comprising Lee Corfield (Burnham &
Berrow GC), Zane Scotland and Richard Walker also won the
Nations Cup with a total of 282 from the England B Team Daniel
Wardrop, Farren Keenan (Royal Mid Surrey GC) and Gary Lockerbie
(Penrith GC) on 284.
Performance Director, Nigel Furniss commented "I am
delighted for Richard who I expect to play a major role in
England's bid to win the European Men's Team Championship
in Holland in July. This win will not have done his Walker
Cup chances any harm either".
Walker, who played in England's Eisenhower Trophy team in
Kuala Lumpur last year, will now look forward to the next
overseas events in the World Class Performance Programme schedule
in April, the Sherry Cup to be played at Sotogrande Golf Club
in Spain and the defence of his German Amateur title to be
played at Golf Club Am Alten Fliess e.V. near (Cologne).
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