Josh Hilleard, arguably the best player ever to emerge from Farrington Park, has been selected to play for England in the Home Internationals team against Wales, Scotland and Ireland at Nairn Golf Club, Scotland, this week, August 10th–12th.
The 21-year-old left hander from High Littleton made his international debut and was joint top-scorer when England beat France at Formby earlier this year. He was also in England’s winning team at the Costa Ballena Quadrangular Tournament in Spain.
His most recent feat was in reaching the last sixteen in the English Amateur. He has won the West of England Championship, the Berkhamsted Trophy, the Faldo Series Wales Championship and the Hampshire Salver this season. Now the fourth highest ranked player in the country, he is coached by Farrington’s PGA professional, Terry Williams. Director of Golf, Jon Cowgill, said: “We are all very proud of Josh and his wonderful achievements, which have helped put Farrington Park on the national golf map.
“He developed his golf here and has been supported all along the way by the club. We are following his progress very carefully and feel he is capable of even greater improvement.”
England will be seeking to regain the Home Internationals title, which they last won at Ganton in Yorkshire in 2013.
With Andy Murray, a Scotsman, enthusiastically waving the Union Jack flag at the Olympic Games opening ceremony, Carl Frampton, an Irishman, winning the WBA featherweight title fight in New York, Phil Thompson, an Englishman, winning Division One with forty points, it was left to Shaun Carter, a patriotic Welshman, playing off a handicap of twenty to win the Committee Cup with 42 points. Well done, boyo!
Results: Division One, Phil Thompson, 40, Leo Seddon, 38, Dave Brain, 37, Barry Hall, 37, Alan Elkington, 37. Division Two, Shaun Carter, 42, Neil Morgan, 38, Tony Clement, 38, Philip Michael, 38, Steve Ball, 37. Division Three, Phil Toogood, 40, Nigel Punchard, 35, Ian Clement, 33, Stephen Banfield, 33, Bill Waddington, 33. Nearest the pins: Alan Elkington on 5th, Steve Cope 8th, Philip Michael 14th, Steve Cook 15th.