England trio to head Down Under

English champion Nick Marsh has been selected in an international trio to contest key amateur events in Australia this month.

The Huddersfield golfer will be joined by English Stroke Play champion Ben Stow, of Rushmore, and reigning South American Amateur champion Paul Howard, of Southport & Ainsdale.

During the five-week trip, the trio will be seeking to follow in the footsteps of a number of former internationals who have had success Down Under over the years.

Marsh, 20, has been a full international for the past two years and won the English title in Saunton in August. He lost a playoff for the Portuguese Championship and tied second in the Scottish Open Stroke Play. These performances saw him finish runner-up on the Titleist/FootJoy England Golf Men’s 2014 Order of Merit.
The Australian tour kicks off on January 6 Howard, 24, has also worn England colours for the past two years, won the South American title last January in Columbia. The Lancastrian enjoyed a string of top finishes this year including second place in the Hampshire Salver, third in the St Andrews Links Trophy, fourth in the Hampshire Hog and seventh in the Lytham Trophy for Welsh Open Stroke Play.

He also reached the quarter finals of the Amateur Championship and finished third in the 2014 Order of Merit.

Stow, 23, won the Brabazon Trophy in June and is a former winner of the European men’s Challenge Trophy. He has been a full international since 2011 and last year helped England finish third in the European Men’s Team Championships in Finland.

The trio’s first serious action in Australia will be in the Masters of the Amateurs at Royal Melbourne on January 6-9, followed by the Lake Macquarie International; at Belmont on January 14-17.

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