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Sophia Fullbrook

England Golf’s elite Women’s Squad gets a major overhaul

Six new players have been included in England Golf’s elite Women’s Squad for the 2023/24 season.

Redditch’s Lili-Rose Hunt and Nellie Ong (Royal Norwich) are newcomers to the national programme, and join Sophia Fullbrook (The Melbourne) and Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury), who have progressed from the England Girls’ Squad, while Burnham & Berrow-based sisters Mimi and Patience Rhodes are also new additions.

They will join North East duo Jess Baker (Gosforth Park Ladies) and Rosie Belsham  (Whitley Bay) plus Surrey star Lottie Woad (Farnham), who has risen to eighth in the WAGR rankings after a brilliant debut year at Florida State.

Performance Manager for Women’s Golf, Becca Hembrough (pictured above), said: “Coming off the back of a very exciting year for the Women’s Squad and players, we’re looking forward to continuing to support and challenge these women with a view to future success at World and European Team Championships for England, and individual achievements across the amateur game and onto the professional stage.

“The new UK-based squad enables us to have a greater impact on players who could transition into women’s England teams in those big events, and the US-based squad remains very strong with all five players contributing to women’s team success in 2023 and inside the world top 170.”

The nonet, who have been recognised for their impressive achievements over the past year, will receive England Golf training sessions with support from its world-class coaching team, and will feature in competitive opportunities throughout 2024.

The UK-based squad will train alongside the Girls’ Squad for the most part the winter, whilst the US-based players came together last week for a Thanksgiving camp at Florida State University with coaches Steve Robinson and Nick Soto.

Talented trio to represent England in Canada

Three of England’s leading internationals will represent their country at The World Junior Girls Golf Championship in Canada next month.

Sophia Fullbrook (The Melbourne Club), Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury) and Nellie Ong (Royal Norwich) will tackle the 72-hole stroke play event at Brampton Golf Club in October (2-7).

Two best scores from each team on each day counting towards their team’s final score plus there is also an individual competition crowning the player with the best total score across the four days. 

The trio have been in fine form in 2023, with McDonald-O’Brien currently topping the Girls’ Order of Merit and Ong just behind her in 2nd place, with McDonald-O’Brien and Fullbrook having contributed to the success of the England Women’s Home Internationals team. 

Ong meanwhile picked up all six points available to her in England Girls’ Home Internationals in (GIRLS) August while she finished as runner-up at the Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship just a couple of weeks later, following a remarkable four-hole play-off. She also finished fifth at the English Girls’ Championship and picked up top-10 finishes at the English U18 Mixed Amateur Championship, the Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship and the Scottish Girls’ Open Championship.

McDonald-O’Brien won the Fairhaven Trophy in April and reached the semi-finals of the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship last month – a competition where she actually beat Fullbrook in the quarter-finals. The Shropshire golfer has also enjoyed top-10 finishes at the English Girls’ Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship and the Northampton Tigress.  

Fullbrook won the English Girls’ Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship and the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Championship in 2022, while she’s also turned in strong performances at this year’s European Girls’ Team Championship along with top-10 finishes at the Northampton Tigress and the Junior Orange Bowl International in the USA. 

New-look England defend Home International title in Wales

Defending champions England have introduced a raft of news faces into their squad for the 2023 Home Internationals at Machynys next week (August 9-11).

Surrey’s Charlie Crockett (Addington Palace), Lincolnshire’s Will Hopkins (Belton Park) and Cheshire’s Matthew Dodd-Berry (Royal Liverpool) were today named in a much-changed side from last year’s squad. Only three of the players who helped England win the inaugural combined event in Ireland remain. This is partly due to a clash with the US Amateur, where the likes of John Gough and Barclay Brown will be competing, starting on August 14th.

England, who have won the Men’s Home Internationals 46 times since it was first staged in 1932, will be led by Men’s Squad Manager Gareth Jenkins. He said: “It will be a very competitive Home Internationals as the teams will be very equally matched but, as holders, we are confident we can challenge once again.” 

Isla McDonald-O'Brien is part of the England U-16s side to face Ireland
PERFORMED WELL INTERNATIONALLY: Isla McDonald-O’Brien has been promoted to the full women’s squad

Of the seven women named, Hertfordshire’s Sophia Fullbrook, 17, and Shropshire’s Isla McDonald-O’Brien, 16, will make their first England Women’s appearances at the Home Internationals while it will also be a full Home International debut for Somerset’s Patience Rhodes and Durham’s Jessica Hall. 

Performance Manager for Women’s Golf, Becca Hembrough, said: “This group has a strong combination of experience, form and a big desire to win points for England. It will be a great opportunity for them all to come together as a team at this exciting event.” 

RELATED: Consistent excellence secures Carris Trophy for Tyler Weaver

Crocket, Hopkins and Dodd-Berry have stood out thanks to a number of excellent results in America, backed up by strong finishes at the St Andrews Links Trophy and the Amateur Championship amongst other competitions. Also the Cheshire man recently won the Junior Dutch Open.

Four players who represented England Men in this month’s European Team Championship have been named, including Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield), Jack Bigham (Harpenden), Arron Edwards-Hill (Chelmsford) and James Claridge (Enville). 

The final member of the men’s squad is newly-crowned England Boys champion Tyler Weaver, who also played in the event last year alongside Bigham and Edwards-Hill.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Mimi Rhodes will play alongside her sister Patience

For the women, the sister duo of Mimi and Patience Rhodes add some vital experience to the women’s team, along with Rosie Belsham and Lottie Woad, who picked up silver medals with Patience for England Women at July’s European Team Championship. 

Mimi won the NCAA Division One Women’s National Championship with Wake Forest in the USA earlier this year while her little sister and Woad are representing Europe against Asia-Pacific this week in the Patsy Hankins Trophy. 

The Boys/Girls squads have also been announced with Lindrick staging that event next week (August 8-10). To view those teams click here.

Home internationals squads – England Men
• Jack Bigham (Harpenden GC, Hertfordshire)
• Zach Chegwidden (Orsett GC, Essex)
• James Claridge (Enville GC, Staffordshire)
• Charlie Crockett (Addington Palace GC, Surrey)
• Matthew Dodd-Berry (Royal Liverpool GC, Cheshire)
• Arron Edwards-Hill (Chelmsford GC, Essex)
• Will Hopkins (Belton Park GC, Lincolnshire)
• Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield GC, Yorkshire)
• Tyler Weaver (Bury St Edmunds GC, Suffolk)
Scotland
• Angus Carrick (Craigielaw)
• Andrew Davidson (Crail GS)
• Connor Graham (Blairgowrie)
• Gregor Graham (Blairgowrie)
• Jack McDonald (Roxburghe)
• Oliver Mukherjee (Loretto School)
• Niall Shiels Donegan (Mill Valley)
• Gregor Tait (Adelburgh)
• Matthew Wilson (Forres)
Wales
• James Ashfield (Delamere Forest)
• Theo Baker (Celtic Manor)
• Tom Bastow (Isle of Purbeck)
• Tomi Bowen (Welshpool)
• Caolan Burford (Rhuddlan)
• Archie Davies (Carlisle)
• Tom Matthews (Aldersey Green)
• James Nash (Ormskirk)
• Matt Roberts (Royal Porthcawl)
Ireland
• Marc Boucher (Carton House)
• Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint)
• Paul Conroy (Enniscorthy)
• Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin)
• Alex Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown)
• Robert Moran (Castle)
• Liam Nolan (Galway)
• Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk)
• David Shiel (Enniscrone)
England women
• Rosie Belsham (Whitley Bay GC, Northumberland)
• Sophia Fullbrook (The Melbourne Club, Hertfordshire)
• Jessica Hall (Bishop Auckland GC, Durham)
• Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury GC, Shropshire)
• Mimi Rhodes (Burnham & Berrow GC, Somerset)
• Patience Rhodes (Burnham & Berrow GC, Somerset)
• Lottie Woad (Farnham GC, Surrey)
Scotland
• Megan Ashley (Blairgowrie)
• Ailsa Brannock (Castle Douglas)
• Penelope Brown (Auchterarder)
• Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne)
• Jasmine Mackintosh (Murcar Links)
• Lorna McClymont (Milngavie)
• Jennifer Saxton (Dunfermline)
Wales
• Darcey Harry (Royal Porthcawl)
• Harriet Lockley (Burnham & Berrow)
• Ellen Nicholas (Ham Manor)
• Kath O’Connor (West Byfleet)
• Luca Thompson (Pavenham Park)
• Ffion Tynan (Pyle & Kenfig)
• Carys Worby (Newport Links)
Ireland
• Sara Byrne (Douglas)
• Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle)
• Emma Fleming (Elm Park)
• Anna Foster (Elm Park)
• Kate Lanigan (Hermitage)
• Mairead Martin (Kanturk)
• Jessica Ross (Clandeboye)

Patience Rhodes and Jess Baker called up as England Women bid for Euro hat-trick

Somerset’s Patience Rhodes has been called up as England Women bid to win a hat-trick of European team titles in Finland next month (July 11-15).

The St Rule Trophy champion has been added to to the side after once again showing her ability to deliver on the biggest stage. In 2021 she won the England Girls and more recently has battled back from wrist and back injuries which blighted her first year at college.

The title-winning England team at Conwy. From the left: Annabell Fuller, Amelia Williamson, Rosie Belsham, Caley McGinty, Charlotte Heath, Lottie Woad

The Burnham & Berrow player will be joined by 2022 Women’s Amateur champion Jess Baker in the six alongside the core of the England team that won so impressively at Conwy 12 months ago (pictured above) – Rosie Belsham (Whitley Bay), Charlotte Heath (Huddersfield), Caley McGinty (Minchinhampton) and Lottie Woad (Farnham).

Today England Golf unveiled all four of their line-ups for the respective European team championships.

England Women
• Jess Baker (Gosforth Park, Northumberland)
• Rosie Belsham (Whitley Bay, Northumberland
• Charlotte Heath (Huddersfield, Yorkshire)
• Caley McGinty (Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire)
• Patience Rhodes (Burnham & Berrow, Somerset)
• Lottie Woad (Farnham, Surrey)
England Men
• Jack Bigham (Harpenden, Hertfordshire)
• Barclay Brown (Hallamshire, Yorkshire)
• James Claridge (Enville, Staffordshire)
• Arron Edwards-Hill (Chelmsford, Essex)
• John Gough (The Berkshire, BB&O)
• Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield, Yorkshire)
England Girls
• Sadie Adams (Royal Birkdale, Lancashire)
• Sophia Fullbrook (The Melbourne, Hertfordshire)
• Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury, Shropshire)
• Ellise Rymer (Lincoln, Lincolnshire)
• Amelia Wan (Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire)
• Maggie Whitehead (Close House, Northumberland)
England Boys
• Hugh Adams (Hagley, Worcestershire)
• Sam Easterbrook (Olton, Warwickshire)
• Kris Kim (Walton Heath, Surrey)
• Harry Malin (Bognor Regis, Sussex)
• Jake Plumb (The Gog Magog, Cambridgeshire)
• Tyler Weaver (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)

In the men’s, Yorkshire’s Dylan Shaw-Radford has gained reward for another supremely-consistent season. The Huddersfield player finished second at The Irish Open behind his international team-mate John Gough, who will once again lead the team.

Enville’s James Claridge also gets a well-deserved call-up. This year the Staffordshire player has won both the Berkhamsted Trophy and West of Ireland Open plus he gained a third in the Brabazon (English Men’s Open Stroke Play) and came sixth at the Irish Open.

They will be joined in the six by Barclay Brown, fresh from appearing in the US Open at The Olympic Club, while Harpenden’s Jack Bigham has also returned from college in The States and England stalwart Arron Edwards-Hill (Chelmsford) is the final member of the six. The Essex golfer was also a pivotal part of the GB&I side that beat the Coninentals in the St Andrews Trophy in 2022.

The men’s event takes place at Royal Waterloo in Belgium, the Boys equivalent is hosted by Geneva GC in Switzerland while the Girls tournament takes place in France (Hossegor GC).

Last-green drama as England fight back in memorable style to retain Seve Ballesteros Trophy.

England retained the Seve Ballesteros Trophy in thrilling fashion this afternoon as the hosts overcame a five-point deficit in the singles to tie the match 15-15.

Spain were 12.5-7.5 ahead after this morning’s foursomes at Worplesdon GC and had won all three sessions going into the final set of ten singles.

England needed to gain at least 7.5 points out of 10 in the final session to hang on to the trophy they won at Formby in 2019 and managed it in nerve-wracking circumstances. The biennial competition features teams of six male and four female players.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, England Men’s captain Gareth Jenkins said: “I would like to congratulate both sets of players on two outstanding days of golf and commend everyone for the spirit in which this match was played.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the members of Worplesdon Golf Club who have kindly given up their course to allow us to play this fantastic international match.

“The quality of the golf and the spirit in which the match was played was exceptional and we look forward to playing the fixture once again in Spain in two years’ time.”

The last three matches, all involving England Girls squad members, went down to 18th but once Amelia Wan (Sherwood Forest) lost in the penultimate tie, it all came down to Shrewsbury’s Isla McDonald-O’Brien (pictured above).

The English player was one up playing the last and a par proved enough to claim the hole and her match against opponent Paula De Francisco Liano, who missed her 10-foot par putt which meant her opponent has two for it from three feet but she only needed one.

However just a few hours earlier McDonald-O’Brien and the rest of her team-mates looked destined to lose despite talisman John Gough (The Berkshire) leading from the front to gain his first point of the week. He was always ahead as he took out Lytham Trophy runner-up Luis Masaveu Roncal, eventully sealing it 3&2.

Further down the batting order Lytham Trophy champion Frank Kennedy and Berkhamsted winner James Claridge were struggling. The Florida-based teenager was four down with seven to play while the Enville GC golfer was four down at halfway.

However both fought back brilliantly to get a half point and overall England’s only defeat was Wan, who nearly executed her own great escape having been four down after eight.

Dylan Shaw-Radford (left) and Josh Berry were unstoppable in the morning foursomes
FORMIDABLE: Dylan Shaw-Radford (left) and Josh Berry were unstoppable in the morning foursomes

Elsewhere today Yorkshire duo Josh Berry (Doncaster) and Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield) both claimed their third point out of four.  Having lost in the opening foursomes yesterday, the teenage pair won both their singles matches and combined to stunning effect in the morning foursomes. They were seven under par after 12 holes as they dispatched Carlos Abril Segura & Alejandro Aguilera Martin 7&6. That included a run of five birdies and a eagle, starting at the sixth.

Essex star Arron Edwards-Hill also won both his singles matches and was particularly impressive yesterday as he got to five under par for his opening 11 holes.

Hertfordshire’s Sophia Fullbrook was also never behind in her clash with World No 34 Paula Martin Sampedro. The English Girls champion won the third to go ahead and by the turn was four up. She lost 12 but the next four holes were halved as she won 3&2.

Meanwhile Lincoln’s Ellise Rymer collected her third half point of the week in match No 7. She lost the lead on 14 and the final four holes were halved. 

England 15, Spain 15

Thursday foursomes (1.5-3.5)
  • Sophia Fullbrook (Brocket Hall) & Ellise Rymer (Lincoln) A/S with Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio & Paula De Francisco Liano
  • Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury) & Amelia Wan (Sherwood Forest) beat Paula Martin Sampedro & Cloe Amion Villarino 2&1
  • John Gough (The Berkshire) & Arron Edwards-Hill (Chelmsford) lost to Luis Masaveu Roncal & Angel Ayora Fanegas 1 hole
  • Frank Kennedy (Trump Florida) & James Claridge (Enville) lost to Carlos Abril Segura & Alejandro Aguilera Martin 1 hole
  • Josh Berry (Doncaster) & Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield) lost to Pablo Alperi Lopez & Mercel Fonseca Aguilar 2&1
Thursday Singles (4.5-5.5)
  • Sophia Fullbrook lost to Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio 1 hole
  • Isla McDonald-O’Brien lost to Cloe Amion Villarino 2&1
  • Amelia Wan lost to Paula De Francisco Liano 1 hole
  • Ellise Rymer A/S with Paula Martin Sampedro
  • John Gough lost to Luis Masaveu Roncal 3&1
  • Frank Kennedy beat Angel Ayora Fanegas 2&1
  • Arron Edwards-Hill beat Alejandro Aguilera Martin 1 hole
  • Josh Berry beat Carlos Abril Segura 4&3
  • James Claridge lost to Mercel Fonseca Aguilar 3&2
  • Dylan Shaw-Radford beat Pablo Alperi Lopez 2 holes
Friday foursomes (1.5-3.5)
  • John Gough & Frank Kennedy lost to Mercel Fonseca Aguilar & Angel Ayora Fanegas 5&3
  • Arron Edwards-Hill & James Claridge lost to Luis Masaveu Roncal & Angel Ayora Fanegas 3&1
  • Josh Berry & Dylan Shaw-Radford beat Carlos Abril Segura & Alejandro Aguilera Martin 7&6
  • Sophia Fullbrook & Ellise Rymer lost to Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio & Paula Martin Sampedro 3&2
  • Isla McDonald-O’Brien & Amelia Wan A/S with Paula De Francisco Liano & Cloe Amion Villarino
Friday Singles (7.5-2.5)
  • John Gough beat Luis Masaveu Roncal 3&2
  • Frank Kennedy A/S with Angel Ayora Fanegas
  • Arron Edwards-Hill beat Pablo Alperi Lopez 2 holes
  • Josh Berry beat Carlos Abril Segura 3&2
  • James Claridge A/S with Alejandro Aguilera Martin
  • Dylan Shaw-Radford beat Mercel Fonseca Aguilar 2&1
  • Sophia Fullbrook beat Paula Martin Sampedro 3&2
  • Ellise Rymer A/S with Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio
  • Amelia Wan lost to Cloe Amion Villarino 1 hole
  • Isla McDonald-O’Brien beat Paula De Francisco Liano 2 holes

James Claridge called up for Spain showdown at Worplesdon

James Claridge’s excellent start to the season has been rewarded with a call-up into the England team which will take on Spain at Worplesdon next month.

The Staffordshire player, who was named in the full England Men’s Squad for the first time this year, has won the Berkhamsted Trophy and West of Ireland Trophy this month.

The 2022 Walton Heath Trophy champion has been named in a 10-strong team for the biennial meeting, which takes place in Surrey (May 3-5). The format is five sets of morning foursomes followed by ten afternoon singles on both days.

RELATED: Back-nine brilliance from John Gough leads England to glory in Spain

Claridge (Enville) will be joined by the four players who carried off the European Nations Cup last weekend – John Gough (The Berkshire), Arron Edwards-Hill (Chelmsford), Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield) and Josh Berry (Doncaster). The other male player is 2022 Portuguese Amateur champion Frank Kennedy (Trump, Jupiter).

The four female golfers selected are England Girls champion Sophia Fullbrook (Brocket Hall) plus England Girls squad members Amelia Wan (Hollinwell), Ellise Rymer (Lincoln) and Maggie Whitehead (Close House).

This will be the first staging of the event in four years after the 2021 edition, scheduled to take place at Lumine Golf Club in Spain, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Back in 2019, England ran out 13-7 winners in a rain-affected match at Formby Golf Club.