ENGLAND DRIVING FOR WORLD SUCCESS
England is preparing to add another success to their long
list of victories already achieved in 2004 by bringing home
the Eisenhower Trophy being held in Puerto Rico next week.
A combination of both youth and experience, added to the confidence
gained from a string of wins by all three players has put
them in an excellent position to bring home the silverware.
It will be the 4th time England’s most experienced
player Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs GC) has taken part
in the Eisenhower and he is hoping to repeat the success he
tasted in 1998 when he played in the winning GB & Ireland
team.
James Heath (Coombe Wood GC), still only 21, has represented
England at all levels since 1998 and is already on a winning
streak this year after taking the English Amateur Championship
and the Lytham Trophy with a record score of 18 under par.
Matthew Richardson (The Buckinghamshire GC), at 19 the youngest
of the England trio, has also had an outstanding year winning
the PING/EGU Order of Merit, the Brabazon Trophy and the European
Amateur Championship.
All three players are members of the squad chosen to prepare
for the Walker Cup in 2005 as well as the England Elite Squad,
part of the English Golf Union's (EGU) World Class Performance
Programme.
Commenting on the team’s ambitions Nigel Furniss, the
EGU’s World Class Performance Director said “England
players have had an outstanding year, performing brilliantly
as a team as well as scoring some great individual successes.
Our confidence is high and we have a strong coaching team
to support the players both physically and mentally”
The preparation for England has been well planned with a
familiarization trip to Puerto Rico in February to survey
the courses and produce more detailed plans. The team are
currently in Houston, Texas as part of an acclimatisation
programme before flying to Puerto Rico this weekend and joining
the other 70 teams at the Rio Mar Golf Resort where play will
start on 28th October.
“Our first ambition is to better the 7th position we
achieved at the last Eisenhower and win a medal ” continued
Furniss “and if we can play as well as I know we can
on the day then we are in as strong as position as anyone
to bring home the top prize.”
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