England Win Home International Championship

England completed a remarkable comeback after an opening-day defeat to Ireland to clinch the 2011 Home Internationals Series.

England’s 9.5-5.5 victory over Wales, coupled by Ireland’s defeat at the hands of Scotland, gave the defending champions victory. Ireland’s hopes of victory in the Home Internationals Series at County Sligo were dealt the crucial blow when they lost the foursomes series against Scotland by 4.5 to 0.5. Scotland came out of the blocks very quickly, and scored an important first point through David Law and Paul Shields, who beat the previously unstoppable pairing of Paul Cutler and Kevin Phelan by 3/2.

As the rain drove down harder than it had all week, Ireland found themselves in further difficulty when Michael Stewart and Ross Kellett score a 3/2 victory over Eoin Arthurs and Richard O’Donovan. James Byrne and Scott Gibson saw off Eddie McCormack and Alan Dunbar by 2/1, while Kris Nicol and Greg Paterson cruised to a 5/4 victory over Dermot McElroy and Paul Dunne.

Things got even worse for Ireland when their anchor pair, Gary McDermott and Niall Gorey – who had found themselves two up with three to play – lost the 16th and 17th to be all square with James White and Philip McLean. The final hole was shared in par fours to leave the Scots four points ahead going into the singles.

Meanwhile, England took a 3-2 lead into the singles against Wales as they hoped to capitalise on Ireland’s woes in the foursomes. Jack Senior and Andrew Sullivan scored a vital win in the first match by two holes over Rhys Enoch and James Frazer. Wales hit back, though, with Oliver Farr and Rhys Pugh producing a strong performance on the back nine to see off Steven Brown and Neil Raymond by 4/3.

Jason Shufflebotham and Joe Vickery put Wales in the lead with a 2/1 victory over Craig Hinton and Ben Loughrey, but England held on to win the fourth match on the 19th – Dave Coupland and Garrick Porteous beating Alastair Jones and Richard Hooper. Ben Taylor and Ben Stow won the fifth match by 3/2 over Ben Westgate and Richard Bentham to give England the advantage going into the singles.

Scotland’s surge against Ireland continued in the afternoon when the first three singles went their way – James Byrne beating Paul Cutler, David Law seeing off Alan Dunbar and Michael Stewart accounting for Eddie McCormack, all three on a scoreline of 2/1. That early surge signalled the end for Ireland, as England had weathered an early singles charge by Wales, winning the last three matches by a single hole to seal their victory.

Andrew Sullivan led the way for England, beating Rhys Enoch by one hole, and then Steven Brown saw off Oliver Farr 3/2 for a second England point of the afternoon. Wales hit back, with Rhys Pugh victorious on the 18th against Jack Senior, Jason Shufflebotham winning against Neil Raymond by two holes, and David Boote beating Tyrrell Hatton 4/2. However, Garrick Porteous halved with Alastair Jones to halt the string of Welsh victories, before Dave Coupland beat Richard Bentham by 2/1, and then Ben Loughrey, Craig Hinton and Ben Taylor all scored successive one-hole wins over Ben Westgate, Joe Vickery and James Frazer respectively.

With the outcome of the series decided, Ireland rallied to put a better complexion on the scoreboard. Paul Dunne beat Kris Nicol 4/3, Richard O’Donovan accounted for Philip McLean by 2/1, and Dermot McElroy beat Graeme Robertson on the final green before Niall Gorey halved with James White to leave the match score 8.5-6.5 in Scotland’s favour, and leave Ireland second to England on aggregate of games won.

Friday 12 August 2011

England 9.5 Wales 5.5
Foursomes (England names first).
J Senior & A Sullivan bt R Enoch & J Frazer 2 holes; S Brown & N Raymond lost to R Pugh & O Farr 4/3; C Hinton & B Loughrey lost to J Shufflebotham & J Vickery 2/1; D Coupland & G Porteous bt A Jones & R Hooper 2 holes; B Taylor & B Stow bt B Westgate & R Bentham 3/2.

Singles
A Sullivan bt R Enoch 1 hole; S Brown bt O Farr 3/2; J Senior lost to R Pugh 1 hole; N Raymond lost to J Shufflebotham 2 holes; G Porteous halved with A Jones; T Hatton lost to D Boote 4/2; D Coupland bt R Bentham 2/1; B Loughrey bt B Westgate 1 hole; C Hinton bt J Vickery 1 hole; B Taylor bt J Frazer 1 hole.

Scotland 8.5 Ireland 6.5
Foursomes (Scottish names first).
D Law & P Shields bt P Cutler & K Phelan 3/2; M Stewart & R Kellett bt E Arthurs & R O’Donovan 3/2; J Byrne & S Gibson bt E McCormack & A Dunbar 2/1; K Nicol & G Paterson bt D McElroy & P Dunne 5/4; J White & P McLean halved with G McDermott & N Gorey.

Singles
J Byrne bt P Cutler 2/1; D Law bt A Dunbar 2/1; M Stewart bt E McCormack 2/1; R Kellett halved with K Phelan; G Paterson lost to A Kearney 3/2; P Shields lost to G McDermott 4/3; G Robertson lost to D McElroy 1 hole; P McLean lost to R O’Donovan 2/1; K Nicol lost to P Dunne 4/2; J White halved with N Gorey.

Final Standings:
1st: England 2 points - Won 27 / Lost 18.
2nd: Ireland 2 points - Won 25.5 / Lost 19.5.
3rd: Scotland. 2 points - Won 22 / Lost 23.
4th: Wales. 0 points - Won 15.5 / Lost 29.5.

GUI Media Release courtesy of Alan Kelly


IRELAND	SCOTLAND	WALES

View photo slideshow of the Home International Championship

Home Internationals 2011

Home Internationals return to Rosses Point

In August 2011 County Sligo Golf Club will once again have the honour of hosting the prestigious Men's Home Internationals. This is the second time this tournament has been hosted by County Sligo.

In 1991 the Irish team retained the trophy on home soil after a magnificent win in Conwy the previous year. Three time major winner Padraig Harrington was a member of this team that went on to complete a hat trick of victories at Prestwick the following year.

We are delighted to host the 2011 Home Internationals in Rosses Point where officials, players and supporters are assured of a very special welcome from the members of County Sligo Golf Club.

The Venue

Founded in 1894, County Sligo Golf Club is one of the oldest and best known courses in Ireland. The links are set out on one of the most scenic locations in the country, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, Benbulben mountain dominates the view on the northern skyline and bears a striking resemblance to Cape Town's Table Mountain. To the east is Glencar Valley and the Dartary mountains with the impressive peaks of Lugnagall and Truskmore, while the southern vista is completed by Knocknarea topped by a large Cairn of stones reputed to be the grave of the 'Warrior Queen Meave of Connaught'

The course was designed by Harry Colt in 1927 with his able assistant Captain Hugh Allison taking credit for the bunkering arrangement. Allison was noted for his deeper bunkers with a high ridge line to be negotiated for a successful exit. ¨The club has hosted many prestigious events over the years. It is home to the West of Ireland Championship which is held each Easter. The club has hosted the Irish Close Championship as well as the Interprovincial and the Home International Championships which were staged here in 1991 when Ireland won the Raymond Trophy.

In recent years the golf club engaged the services of the renowned course architect, Martin Hawtree, to strengthen areas of the course that were being challenged by the continual improvements in golf equipment. Improvements are ongoing under the guidance of Consultant Agronomist Dr. Ian McClements. These include new tees that have been added to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 11th, 17th and 18th holes. Also included is the reshaping of existing bunkers and the creation of new bunkers on the 6th, 7th, 11th and 15th. These changes will ensure a stern test for the elite amateurs of Britain and Ireland as they compete for the Raymond Trophy Home Internationals scheduled for County Sligo in 2011.

It is now over 100 years since the clubs inception and Harry Shapland Colt's classic course design has stood the test of time, so that even with today's advances in golf technology and coaching, it still offers a stern test for even the most accomplished golfer. Tom Watson has described Rosses Point as "a magnificent links" and made particular mention of the stretch from the 14th to the 17th that run adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. This course is considered by many to be the finest 18 holes of golf in Ireland.

Course type: Links
Designer: Harry Colt
Championship length: 6817 yards - 6234 metres
Par: 71

'Rosses Point is a beautiful maritime village'

Rosses Point is situated 8kms (5 miles) from Sligo town, it is a beautiful maritime village and holiday resort with two magnificent sandy blue flag beaches. The village is set against the backdrop of the spectacular Dartry mountain range and the beauty of Sligo Bay.

The village has numerous excellent restaurants, a top class hotel and bed & breakfast accommodation and no shortage of friendly pubs. The bay is ideal for swimming, angling and all water sports, it is also a very popular sailing resort, with Sligo Yacht Club located a short walk from the village.

Just off the coast from Rosses Point are two small islands, Oyster island and Coney island. Oyster island with it's distinctive lighthouse takes its name from the many oyster beds that were found along its shores. The islands are separated by Shrunamile, 'the channel of a thousand currents'. A feature of the bay is the unusual 'Metal Man', a 12ft tall cast iron statue of a Royal Navy petty officer erected on a perch rock in 1821 to indicate the safe passage for ships through Sligo Channel to the quays in Sligo town.

Rosses Point has been immortalised in paintings and verse by the renowned Yeats brothers, the poet William Butler and the artist Jack. They spent many summers there as children staying in the 'grand' Elsinore Lodge which was owned by the Middleton family.

The Sligo Connection

County Sligo Golf Club member Dr Kevin Flanagan (right) will captain the Irish team in this years Home Internationals to be played in Rosses Point. He will be hoping to end his three years in the role by guiding his team to victory on his home course.

The Rosses Point club has been well represented on Senior International teams over the years. In 1906 William Campbell became the first member to achieve international recognition. He was followed by Rosses Points 'most famous son', the legendary Cecil Ewing who represented his country on numerous occasions between 1934 and 1958. A regular Championship winner, which included ten victories in his home event, the West of Ireland, Ewing also made six Walker Cup appearances during an outstanding career.

Another outstanding golfer of this era was Dr. James Mahon who was a regular on the Irish team from 1938 to 1955 and was Irish Amateur Close champion in 1995.

Ken Kearney made the break through on the international stage in 1994. In a glittering amateur career spanning 25 years, he played regularly for his province and country. He won many of the major titles in Irish amateur golf, including the Irish Close, the West of Ireland and the East of Ireland. Ken competed against, and often beat, such household names as Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington.

David Dunne has long been a stalwart of successful Senior Cup and Barton Shield teams having played on each of the 7 All Ireland winning teams (3 Senior Cups & 4 Barton Shields). He made the semi-finals of the West of Ireland & the North of Ireland Championships in 1997 to deserverdly clinch a place on the Senior International team that year. David made his Senior International debut at Burnham & Berrow (Luke Donald & Justin Rose were on the English side) and was selected on the Walker Cup Panel the following year (1998). He played for the Irish boys and youths teams and twice represented Irish Universities team at the World Student Games.

Royal St David's GC was the venue for Sean McTernan's international debut against Wales in 2002. Having played for Ireland at boys and youth levels, this was a natural progression for this exceptional golfer. He had just returned from America where he had been a key member of a highly successful University of Toledo team. Sean had an outstanding record in junior golf including victory in the Irish Boy's Close Championship and the Munster Youth's Championship in 1999. He also excelled at senior level but a major title proved elusive for the County Sligo player. In 2004 Sean was selected along with Brian McElhinney and Darren Crowe to play for Ireland in the prestigious amateur team event, the Eisenhower Trophy World Team Championships, which was played in Puerto Rico.

2010 was a very special year for youngster Barry Anderson culminating in his call up to the international team for the Home Internationals played at Ashburnham GC in August. Having won the Connacht Youths Championship earlier in the year, he also enjoyed a top four finish in the Irish Youths Championship at Dun Laoighre GC later in the season. Barry also made a big impact in the senior game with exciting performances in all the 'majors'. A continuation of that solid form and the experience gained in Wales last year will go a long way to securing him a place in Kevin Flanagan's team.

A Brief History of the Championship

The first Home International series was played at Royal Troon in 1932, but we need to delve back to the previous century to appreciate the circumstances that led to the founding of this famous event.

The Open Amateur Championship for individual competitors was founded by Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 1885 and has been formally organised by the Royal & Ancient GC of St Andrews since 1921. It wasn't until 1892 that Portmarnock became the first club to organise and host an international team fixture between Ireland and Scotland on March 6th of that year. A number of informal individual matches were played in the following years, until a triangular match was played between England, Scotland and Ireland prior to the Amateur Championship in 1900.

The 1914-18 World War meant that no championship or international matches were held until 1919 when the Irish Championship was played. It was a year later before the Open Amateur Championship resumed at Muirfield. International matches recommenced in 1923 when fixtures betwwen England, Scotland and Ireland were played. In 1925 an Irish delegation proposed the setting up of a tournament between the four countries to be played annually, but it was not until 1932 that the Royal & Ancient sanctioned the new quadrangular event.

The first tournament took place at Troon in August 1932 when the hosts Scotland won the title winning all three matches. The competition rules that were laid down for that inaugural event, with some minor alterations, have certainly stood the test of time as the Home Internationals continue to be a major highlight of the golfing calendar.

Scotland - Troon 1932

England lead the way having won 33 titles outright and they have been involved in 5 tied matches. They have fond memories of their last visit to these shores having won the last series played here at County Louth GC in 2007. England are the current holders of the Raymond Trophy having won in Ashburnham in 2010 and will probably start as firm favourites this year.

The Scottish team has also enjoyed great success over the years amassing a total of 21 titles plus 6 ties. They dominated during the early years with five wins and a tie with England and Ireland in the first six tournaments. Their last victory was on home soil at Pyle & Kenfigin 2006.

This year's hosts Ireland come next with 9 wins and 5 ties. Five of these titles have been achieved in modern times, including a hat trick of wins from 1990 to 1992. Muirfield 2008 was the scene of their last victory. Having gone close on several occasions, Wales have just a single title which they won on home soil at Royal St David's GC in 2002.

Previous Winners

Year	Venue	Winner	Year	Venue	Winner
2010	Ashburnham	England	1972	Troon	Scotland/England
2009	Hillside	England	1971	Formby	Scotland
2008	Muirfield	Ireland	1970	Royal Porthcawl	Scotland
2007	County Louth	England	1969	Killarney	England
2006	Pyle & Kenfig	Scotland	1968	Gulland	England
2005	Royal St Georges	Scotland	1967	Ganton	Scotland
2004	Prestwick	England	1966	Royal Porthcawl	England
2003	Ballybunion	Ireland	1965	Royal Portrush	England
2002	Royal St Davids	Wales	1964	Carnoustie	England
2001	Woodhall Spa	England	1963	Lytham & St Annes	England/Scotland/Ireland
2000	Carnoustie	Scotland	1962	Royal Porthcawl	England/Scotland/Ireland
1999	Royal County Down	England	1961	Portmarnock	Scotland
1998	Royal Porthcawl	England	1960	Turnberry	England
1997	Burnham & Berrow	Scotland	1959	Lytham & St Annes	England/Scotland/Ireland
1996	Moray	England	1958	Royal Porthcawl	England
1995	Royal Portrush	England	1957	Royal Co Down	England
1994	Ashburnham	England	1956	Muirfield	Scotland
1993	Royal Liverpool	England	1955	Birkdale	Ireland
1992	Prestwick	Ireland	1954	Royal Porthcawl	England
1991	County Sligo	Ireland	1953	Killarney	Scotland
1990	Conwy	Ireland	1952	Troon	Scotland
1989	Ganton	England	1951	Lytham & St Annes	Ireland/Scotland
1988	Muirfield	England	1950	Royal St Davids	Ireland
1987	Lahinch	Ireland	1949	Portmarnock	England
1986	Royal St Davids	Scotland	1948	Muirfield	England
1985	Formby	England	1947	Royal Liverpool	England
1984	Troon	England	1939-46	No Matches
1983	Portmarnock	Ireland	1938	Royal Porthcawl	England
1982	Royal Porthcawl	Scotland	1937	Portmarnock	Scotland
1981	Woodhall Spa	Scotland	1936	Prestwick	Scotland
1980	Royal Dornoch	England	1935	Lytham & St Annes	England/Scotland/Wales
1979	No Match	No Match	1934	Royal Porthcawl	Scotland
1978	Ashburnham	England	1933	Newcastle	Scotland
1976	Muirfield	Scotland	1932	Troon	Scotland
1975	Portmarnock	Scotland
1974	Royal St Davids	England
1973	Royal Lytham & St Annes	England