Amateur News: Despite the disappointment suffered in the European Team Championship at Hillside earlier in the year, Ireland have a strong team at the Home Internationals at Royal St George's, Sandwich, on the Kent coast, starting tomorrow, as they go in search of a second title in three years.
Ireland's last success was at Ballybunion in 2003, captain's Mark Gannon's first year in charge, and in this his final outing of a three-year campaign the Co Louth man will be hoping for a repeat of the Ballybunion performance.
Brian McElhinney, winner of the British Amateur Championship and a member of the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup side, spearheads an Irish side that includes four new caps.
Irish Close champion, Rory McIlroy (Holywood) is one of the four and he is joined by debut boys Gareth Shaw (Lurgan), the North of Ireland champion, Connor Doran (Banbridge) and Aaron O'Callaghan (Douglas) while Pat Murray (Limerick) makes a comeback following his last appearance in 1996.
McIlroy also won the West of Ireland Championship and the Willie Gill award for topping the Order of Merit table.
Jim Carvill (Warrenpoint), a double winner this year in the East of Ireland and South of Ireland Championships, was unavailable for selection.
However, Gannon can call on the experience of McElhinney, Michael McGeady, Darren Crowe and Seán McTernan to see Ireland through.
Meanwhile, John Gallagher, is one of two new caps on the Scotland team. The Swanston cack-hander joins another new cap, Bryan Fotheringham of Forres, in the 11-man side for the annual four-cornered contest.
British Open silver medal winner Lloyd Saltman and Aberdonian Richie Ramsay, both members of the Britain and Ireland side narrowly beaten in the Walker Cup, form the backbone and are joined in the team by new Scottish Amateur champion Glenn Campbell, former national champions Andrew McArthur and George Murray, and Australian Amateur winner Eric Ramsay.
Wales, who have only once lifted the Raymond Trophy - at Harlech GC three years ago - include two members of the Walker Cup team, Nigel Edwards and Rhys Davies.
Llewellyn Matthews and Cennydd Mills are back and Craig Smith is usually good at picking up points, while Wales Order of Merit champion Tim Dykes and James Williams have again had great seasons and should prove assets in this round-robin series.
However, the team to beat will be strong favourites England, winners of the European Championship.
Paul Waring, the new English champion, due to earn his first full cap a year ago in the same event at Prestwick but a damaged shoulder tendon forced him to pull out, is included.
Now, Waring will line up with three other new caps, James Crampton, Matthew Cryer and Edward Richardson, in an experienced team that will defend the title won narrowly in Scotland a year ago.
The others selected for the England team are Robert Dinwiddie, Oliver Fisher, Adam Gee, Jamie Moul, James Ruth, Steven Tiley and Gary Wolstenholme.
Four of those selected, Fisher, Moul, Tiley and Wolstenholme, were in the England team that won the European Men's Team Championship at Hillside. Another foursome, Dinwiddie, Gee, Tiley and Wolstenholme, were in the winning team at last year's Home Internationals.
Wolstenholme, who will be 45 on August 21st, has been selected for every Home Internationals since 1988. He is England's most capped player with 183 matches to his credit. A prolific winner of titles down the years, which include two British Amateur Championships, he made his sixth Walker Cup appearance for Britain and Ireland in Chicago last month.
The Irish Women's Seniors Open Strokeplay takes place at Woodbrook Golf Club, next week (September 12th-13th). Alison Murdock will travel from Canada to defend her title which she won by two strokes from Spain's Catherine Gonzalez O'Brien at Seapoint last year.
Former champion Pamela Williamson, however, will be amongst the favourites after winning both the Scottish Strokeplay and Matchplay championships in the last week.
The 84-strong field sees 29 overseas visitors in this very popular event. Following the Championship, the Irish Seniors Team to play at the Seniors Home Internationals in Radyr in early October will be announced from the top six in the Order of Merit, plus one wildcard pick selected by captain Elaine Bradshaw.
Home International Teams
IRELAND: Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Connor Doran (Banbridge), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge), Pat Murray (Limerick), Brian McElhinney (North West), Michael McGeady (North West), Rory McIlroy (Holywood), Cian McNamara (Limerick), Sean McTernan (Co Sligo), Aaron O'Callaghan (Douglas), Gareth Shaw (Lurgan).
ENGLAND: James Crampton (Spalding), Matthew Cryer (Coventry), Robert Dinwiddie (Barnard Castle), Oliver Fisher (West Essex), Adam Gee (Leatherhead), Jamie Moul (Stoke-by-Nayland), Edward Richardson (Southern Valley), James Ruth (Tavistock), Steven Tiley (Royal Cinque Ports), Paul Waring (Bromborough) and Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs).
SCOTLAND: G Campbell (Blairgowrie), S Jamieson (Cathkin Braes), J King (Glasgow), G Murray (Earlsferry Thistle), A McArthur (Windyhill), J McLeary (Leven GS), E Ramsay (Carnoustie), R Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), L Saltman (Craigielaw), B Fotheringham (Forres), J Gallagher (Swanston).
WALES: Rhys Davies (Royal Porthcawl), Tim Dykes (Wrexham), Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch), Craig Evans (West Monmouthshire), Zachariah Gould (Vale of Glamorgan), Llewellyn Matthews (Southerndown), Cennydd Mills (Vale of Glamorgan), Craig Smith (St Mellons), Ryan Thomas (Aberdare), Carl Wakely (Whitchurch), James Williams (Pontypridd).
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