England Golf announce Order of Merit schedules for 2015

England Golf has announced a revised schedule of tournaments and championships to form the basis of the Orders of Merit for 2015.

There are six tables to be competed for, with the boys, men and senior men contesting their respective England Golf Orders of Merit. The girls, women and senior women will also contest their Orders of Merit, which are sponsored by Ascot Golf.

In addition to the new-look schedules, a consistent system of awarding points across all six tables will be introduced.

Also for the first time, the senior men’s Order of Merit will be used for automatic selections for teams for the European Teams Championships and the Home Internationals. This system was adopted two years ago for the senior women who, in 2014, won both their European Team Championship and Home Internationals.

Performance director Nigel Edwards said: “2015 promises to be another competitive year across the board in amateur golf.”

‘The men have the opportunity to strike to make the GB&I team’ In addition to the European Team Championships and Home Internationals, which will be contested by teams at all levels, the men will also be attempting to make the GB&I team for the Walker Cup, which will be played at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s in September.

Ashley Chesters, the 2014 winner of the England Golf Men’s Order of Merit, will be aiming to defend his title as he enters another year of amateur golf. Chesters is already 20,000 points ahead of his rivals, courtesy of qualifying for the 2015 Open Championship at St Andrews.

2014 Ascot Golf Women’s Order of Merit winner Sarah-Jane Boydwill be looking to build on her successes in the paid ranks, having turned professional at the close of last season.

Previous Order of Merit winners include Charley Hull and Holly Clyburn in the women’s game and Tom Lewis, Chris Wood and Gary Wolstenholme MBE in the men’s. All have won professional titles since graduating from the amateur ranks.