England Golf name eight-player squad to face France

England Golf have named their eight-man squad to take on France in the biennial international match, which takes place from 11-12 May at Moortown Golf Club.

The competition will see four foursomes matches in the mornings before eight singles matches each afternoon.

England have won 26 of the 31 matches between the sides, and triumphed 13.5-10.5 last time out at Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Breteche.

The eight players representing England are:

• Eliot Baker (Tiverton, Devon)
• Ben Bolton (Enville, Staffordshire)
• Ben Brown (Romanby, Yorkshire)
• Zach Chegwidden (Orsett, Essex)
• James Claridge (Enville, Staffordshire)
• Will Hopkins (Belton Park, Lincolnshire)
• Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield, Yorkshire)
• Harley Smith (The Rayleigh, Essex)

England Golf Performance Director Nigel Edwards said: 

“We are looking forward to another competitive match against France. In our last fixture we had our backs against the wall and performed very well in the singles matches.

“France will be strong and, I’m sure, inspired by the recent performances of Mattieu Pavon on the PGA Tour, but this is a great opportunity for our players to test their match play skills and put in a strong showing ahead of team selection for this summer’s European Men’s Team Championship in Italy.”

Let's meet the England Golf team... 

(image credit: Leaderboard Photography) 

Eliot Baker (Tiverton, Devon)

- In 2024, already enjoyed top-20 finishes at South American Amateur, Portuguese International Amateur, R&A Student Tour Series in France and a top-five finish at R&A Student Tour Series Final
- Represented England in Octagonal Match in Spain in January
- Won South East of England Links Championship in 2023, a year in which he enjoyed 12 top-20 finishes

Ben Bolton (Enville, Staffordshire)

- Tied-3rd at Peter McEvoy Trophy in April
- Represented England at Octagonal Match in Spain in January
- In 2024, already enjoyed top-20 finishes at the U18 French Open, Portuguese International Amateur and Junior Orange Bowl International (USA)
- In 2023, won Faldo Series Grand Final (UAE) in November by seven shots, European Young Masters in Slovakia, Faldo Series England Midlands Championship, and Edge Golf Championship 4 (Portugal)

Ben Brown (Romanby, Yorkshire)

- 2023 English Amateur champion
- Won Men’s County Finals with Yorkshire in October
- In 2024, already enjoyed top-10 finish at South American Amateur and represented England at Octagonal Match in Spain

Zach Chegwidden (Orsett, Essex)

- In 2024, already enjoyed top-20 finish at Australian Men’s Amateur Championship
- In 2023, picked up a 3rd-place finish at Scottish Men’s Open Championship as well as top-10 finishes at Cape Province Open (South Africa), Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship and Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship (UAE)
- Also top-20 finishes at St Andrews Links Trophy and Lytham Trophy
- Represented England at R&A Women’s & Men’s Home Internationals

James Claridge (Enville, Staffordshire)

- Won Berkhamsted Trophy and West of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship in 2023
- Also finished 3rd at Brabazon Trophy and enjoyed top-10 finish at Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship
- Over past 12 months, represented England against Spain in international match, Women’s & Men’s R&A Home Internationals, European Amateur Team Championship and Octagonal Match

Will Hopkins (Belton Park, Lincolnshire)

- Enjoyed a tied-3rd place finish at European Nations Cup in Sotogrande, Spain as part of four top-10 finishes already this year, including Spanish Amateur, Australian Master of the Amateurs and Avondale Amateur (Australia)
- Was unbeaten representing Lincolnshire at Men’s County Finals in September/October
- In 2023, also represented England at R&A Women’s & Men’s Home Internationals, and reached quarter-finals of English Amateur Championship and last 16 of R&A Amateur Championship

Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield, Yorkshire)

- Won the Sunningdale Foursomes in March alongside Harley Smith
- In 2023, finished 2nd at Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship and tied-7th at Toyota Junior World Cup
- Also represented England at European Amateur Team Championship, R&A Women’s & Men’s Home Internationals and England v Spain international match
- Helped Yorkshire to 2nd-place finish at Boys’ County Finals in August
- Represented GB&I at Jacques Leglise Trophy

Harley Smith (The Rayleigh, Essex)

- Won the Sunningdale Foursomes in March alongside Dylan Shaw-Radford
- In 2023, top-10 finishes at Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship, South East of England Links Championship
- Already enjoyed top-five finishes at Spanish Amateur and Alamos Open II, as well as top-10 finishes in Morgado Open and Alamos Open (latter three all Portugal and all pro events)
- 11th-place finish at Aramco Invitational (Thailand) and 12th-place at King Hamad Trophy (Bahrain), also both pro events
- Represented England at Octagonal Match in January

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