ENGLAND PLAYERS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON PORTUGUESE TITLE
Matthew Baldwin, James Ruth and Paul Waring, all members
of England’s World Class Performance Programme Elite
Squad, have been chosen to compete in the Portuguese Amateur
Championship at Estela Golf Club on 23rd - 27th February.
All three players have recently completed the EGU’s
Warm Weather Training week at the Fancourt Golf Resort in
South Africa. Ruth and Waring are currently returning from
Australia after competing in the the Lake Macquarie International
followed by New South Wales Medal.
Last year, Baldwin, as England boy captain, led his squads
to victory in the European Boys Team Championships in Finland
as well as the Boys Home Internationals. The current Lancashire
champion, who will turn 19 on 26th February, also finished
third in the Carris Trophy, carded a course record 13 under
par 61 in winning the Silver Pheasant at Fairhaven in August,
and is a former winner of the English under 16 Championship
for the McGregor Trophy. He is also a member of the 2005 Walker
Cup squad.
Ruth enjoyed a successful 2004 in which he won the Berkhamsted
Trophy, made his full England debut against France at Royal
St George’s, helped his club, Tavistock, win the English
Champion Club title, then played for Devon in the County Finals
at Worksop. Ruth, who turned 20 on 21st January, has been
on the international scene since 2000 when he was capped by
England at under 16 level. In 2003, he represented England
in the World Boys Team Championships in Japan, the winning
Boys Home Internationals team and made his debut as a boy
international in the European Boys Team Championships in the
Czech Republic. He is also a former winner of the South West
Boys Championship.
Waring, who celebrated his 20th birthday on 2nd February,
is a former England boy captain and another player with international
experience at all levels. Also a former McGregor Trophy winner,
he has represented England in many foreign events. In 2004,
the Cheshire teenager finished runner-up in the Duncan Putter
in Wales before winning the Peugoet Classic in France, where,
together with Lawrence Dodd and James Smith, they won the
Nations Cup for England. Waring was due to make his full England
debut in September’s Home Internationals at Prestwick
but was forced to pull out with injury. He was replaced by
Ruth.
As well as the three members of the Elite Squad there are
30 other English players, out of a field of 80, taking part
in the event, many of whom are receiving EGU support to broaden
their experience of overseas competition. The last English
player to win the Portuguese Amateur Championship was Richard
Walker in 2003. Last year, Surrey’s Adam Gee reached
the semi-finals.
After Portugal, Ruth will travel on to Spain where he will
team up with Dodd as England’s representatives in the
Spanish Amateur Championship at El Saler in Valencia on 2nd
- 6th March.
Dodd is another member of England’s Elite Squad. The
21 year old, who made his full England debut in September’s
Home Internationals at Prestwick, won the Greek Amateur Championship
in 2003, which led to his inclusion in the England A Squad.
Last year, the former Suffolk champion finished runner-up
in the West of England Stroke Play Championship as well as
the Peugeot Classic in France. He also finished second individual
in the European Youths Team Championships in Ireland and reached
the quarter finals of the English Amateur Championship.
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