ENGLAND PLAYERS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON PORTUGUESE TITLE - 17th Feb 2005

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.

Related Links

• http://www.englishgolfunion.org

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