Marsh defends English title on home ground

Huddersfield’s Nick Marsh will defend his title in his home county when the English men’s amateur championship is played next week at The Alwoodley and Pannal.

Marsh is among 42 Yorkshire players who are taking part in the championship, which starts on Monday July 27 and ends with a 36-hole final on Saturday August 1.

National Club Golfer will also have two players in the field – Alwoodley members Tom Irwin and William Shucksmith.

Also battling for the 90-year-old title are Ali Balcombe, from Clevedon, Paul Kinnear, of Formby, and Walton Heath’s Ben Taylor, fresh from taking part in the Open at St Andrews.

National Club Golfer’s Tom Irwin and Will Shucksmith are taking part The English Amateur Championship is England Golf’s oldest tournament and was first played in 1925. Previous winners include Sir Nick Faldo, Danny Willett, Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey.

The Alwoodley is hosting the championship for the second time, while Pannal is co-hosting the stroke play qualifying rounds. All 288 competitors will play one round at both clubs. Then, the leading 64 players and ties will qualify for the match play stages, which start on Wednesday July 29 at Alwoodley.

Yorkshire players will represent 29 clubs in the county and include England Golf squad members Dan Brown (Bedale), Dan Wasteney (Bondhay), Joe Dean and Jonathan Thomson (Lindrick) and Jamie Bower (Meltham), as well as Marsh.

Pannal is represented by Will Rushworth, Daniel White and Oliver White.

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