ENGLAND PICK STRONG SIDE TO DEFEND EUROPEAN BOYS TITLE
England is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to retain
the European Boys Team Championships being played at Monticello,
near Como in Italy on 5th - 9th July.
The selectors have named a strong side of proven winners,
namely Jake Amos from Leicestershire, Cheshire’s Stephen
Capper, Matthew Evans from Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire-based
Tom Oliver, Kent’s Tom Sherreard, and Daniel Willett
from Yorkshire. The non-travelling reserves are Matthew Evans
and Adam Hodkinson, both from Yorkshire.
Amos, 18, is a former under 16 international, who was a member
of the Leicestershire side in the 2003 County Finals at Formby
and who represented England in the Westfriese Young Masters
in Holland last year. He might have felt unlucky being named
reserve for the Turkish Amateur last year and for this month’s
World Boys Team Championships in Japan. But he has come of
age and his second place to Sherreard in this year’s
Peter McEvoy Trophy underlines his potential.
Capper, 17, finished third in the last two McEvoy Trophies
and third again in last year’s Daily Telegraph Junior
Championship in Sun City. He was chosen as a reserve for the
Boys Home Internationals last year and was runner-up in the
Cheshire Boys Championship.
Evans, 18, is one of several promising youngsters at Rotherham
Golf Club. An under 16 cap in 2003, he represented Yorkshire
in the Boys County Finals at Broadstone last year and was
successful in the Faldo Series. Like the rest of the team,
he is a member of the England under 18 squad and finished
tied eighth in the recent McEvoy Trophy.
Oliver,17, is another former under 16 cap, who reached the
fifth round of the England Amateur at Hollinwell last year
and finished tied third in this year’s McEvoy Trophy.
Sherreard’s outstanding victory in the McEvoy Trophy
in April was the 18 year old’s biggest success to date.
It followed a runner-up spot in last year’s British
Boys Championship and several victories in the Faldo Series.
Another former under 16 international, he will also arrive
in Italy having represented England in the World Boys Team
Championships in Japan.
Willett will also be travelling from Japan, having finished
alongside Oliver in third place in the McEvoy Trophy. The
Yorkshire 17 year old shot a course record 65 at Northumberland
Golf Club in the second round of the Carris Trophy last summer
before finishing tied third in the Turkish Amateur.
The fact that the Championships are being played at Monticello
could be a lucky omen for England. On the last two occasions
they have been staged in Italy, England has won - in Rome
in 1981 and in Turin in 1986.
England were also champions in 1985, ‘89, ‘94,
‘95, and ‘99, while last year in Finland they
beat Spain 4-3 in the final.
The complete England team is:
Jake Amos (Birstall), Stephen Capper (Caldy), Matthew Evans
(Rotherham), Tom Oliver (Notts), Tom Sherreard (Chart Hills),
and Daniel Willett (Rotherham).
Non-travelling reserve is Adam Hodkinson (Dore & Totley).
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