DEVON DEFEND COUNTY TITLE AT WORKSOP
There will be a host of past and present internationals on
view at Worksop Golf Club, Nottinghamshire, next week when
the men from Devon seek to complete a successful defence of
the English County Championship.
The south west champions upset the odds a year ago when they
dethroned Yorkshire in the finals at Formby.
Now they will attempt to make it two in a row against stern
opposition from the other regional champions, Durham, Leicestershire
& Rutland, last year’s runners-up, and Surrey in
three days of highly competitive 18-hole match play on 24th
- 26th September.
It could be argued that Devon will start favourites as their
team contains six of last year’s winning side, the only
change sees Paul Newcombe, the reigning county champion, replacing
Craig Townsend, the former champion.
James Ruth, 19, who secured the point that earned Devon victory
a year ago, is included again and is enjoying a highly successful
year. A former under 16 and boy international, he made his
full England debut against France at Royal St George’s
in May, which followed victory in the Berkhamsted Trophy.
He also won the Easter Medal at Royal North Devon with a
course record 66 and earlier this month joined forces with
his father Graham and Alan Gawman to win the Champion Club
Tournament for Tavistock.
Gawman, 22, a former South West champion, top scored with
five points from six at Formby last year, and is a member
of the England B Squad as is Kevin Harper, last year’s
Devon Youth champion and runner-up in this year’s South
West Championship.
Devon have appeared in 12 finals, winning twice, the previous
occasion before last year being at Burnham & Berrow in
1985. They won their regional qualifying by five strokes from
Gloucestershire with an amazing comeback at Trevose after
they had trailed by 16 shots at halfway.
Leicestershire & Rutland gave Devon a close battle at
Formby and they field five of their 2003 team including most
capped Englishman Gary Wolstenholme and Mid Amateur champion
Steve Sansome.
Their newcomers are teenager Jason Palmer, who reached the
last eight of the English Amateur at Hollinwell in July, and
Philip Thomason, who shot a course record 66 at Woodhall Spa
to finish the individual winner in the Midland Qualifying.
Their team also includes county champion Neil Chaudhuri,
who led the Regional Qualifying for the Open Championship
at Little Aston, and former county captain David Gibson.
Leicestershire & Rutland, like Durham, have never won
the title. The Midlanders were fourth on their maiden appearance
in 1979, second at Hoylake in 1991, fourth again in 1996 and
third a year later before finishing second a year ago.
Durham will be making only their second appearance in the
finals, the last being in 1989 when they finished runners-up
to Middlesex at St Enodoc.
However, the northern champions could prove the dark horses
particularly as they are flying new England cap Robert Dinwiddie
back from college in Tennessee to reinforce their chances.
The 21 year old from Barnard Castle marked his full international
debut by helping England to the title in the recent Home Internationals
at Prestwick having played a vital role in easing Durham to
the finals seven shots ahead of Lancashire in the qualifying
at Seaton Carew.
Their line-up also includes Tom Maddison, 18, a former member
of the England School of Excellence, ex-boy international
Ian Parnaby, and county champion Hugh Hamilton.
Of the four counties involved at Worksop, Surrey have by
far the best record in the event. This will be their 25th
final appearance and they have won the title ten times, the
last in 2000 at Little Aston. But their team is very different
from the star-studded one which won the South East Qualifying
by 22 strokes at Wildernesse in July.
Ross Fisher has turned professional, while English champion
James Heath and fellow cap Sam Osborne have accepted invitations
to play in the conflicting European Tour event The Heritage
at Woburn. On top of that former boy international Farren
Keenan is at college in America.
That means the side contains just two survivors, Adam Gee,
who made his full England debut against France this year and
helped England win the Home Internationals, and Ryan Harrison.
However, they will be backed by boy cap Seve Benson and England
squad member Jonathan Evans.
Andrew Inglis, three times national artisans’ champion,
is also included as is former professional Keith Waters, now
a top executive with the European Tour at Wentworth.
The Finals are contested on a round robin basis, each match
consisting of three foursomes and six singles. In the first
round of matches on 24th September, Devon meet Durham and
Leicestershire & Rutland will play Surrey.
Teams:
Devon
Adam Bridgewater (Yelverton)
Alan Gawman (Tavistock)
Damien Gee (Sidmouth)
Kevin Harper (East Devon)
Paul Hendrickson (Churston)
Paul Newcombe (East Devon)
James Ruth (Tavistock)
Durham
Steve Dance (Ramside)
Robert Dinwiddie (Barnard Castle)
Hugh Hamilton (Seaton Carew)
James Harper (Seaton Carew)
Tom Madison (Castle Eden)
Ian Parnaby (Durham City)
Mark Ridley (Consett & District)
Leicestershire & Rutland
Neil Chaudhuri (The Leicestershire)
David Gibson (Cosby)
Jason Palmer (Kirby Muxloe)
Liam Plant (Cosby)
Steve Sansome (Birstall)
Philip Thomason (The Leicestershire)
Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs)
Surrey
Seve Benson (Wentworth)
Jonathan Evans (Guildford)
Adam Gee (Leatherhead)
Ryan Harrison (Wentworth)
Andrew Inglis (Sunningdale Artisans)
James Morrison (St George’s Hill)
Keith Waters (West Byfleet)
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