ENGLISH GOLF UNION
DOUGHERTY AND ENGLAND DEFEND TITLES IN JAPAN

Nick Dougherty will defend the individual title in the World Boys Team Championship in Japan next month.  The Lancashire teenager has been named in the four-strong England side that will seek to complete a hat trick of the titles in this prestigious international tournament.

The rest of the England line up will be Yasin Ali (Ealing), David Porter (Stoneham) and Zane Scotland (Woodcote Park).

Last June at the Asahi Kokusai Tojo Golf and Country Club, Dougherty carded rounds of 69, 70, 73, 70 for a winning aggregate of 282, six under par, four clear of the field.

That proved the foundation on which England emerged victorious with a four round tally of 863, six clear of the United states and nine ahead of third place Canada.  It ensured the title returned to England for the second successive year.

Dougherty will be making his third appearance in the tournament.  On both previous occasions England have won the title, so he is proving a lucking omen.  He will celebrate his 18^th birthday before the tournament.

Porter, 17 was a member of the winning team last year, finishing with an aggregate of 299, but Ali, 18 and Scotland, 17, will be making their debuts in the event.

Dougherty and Scotland made their senior international debuts recently against France at Chart Hills, and Scotland celebrated with a hole-in-one at the 17^th in his opening singles.

Last year’s World Boys Team Championship attracted 15 teams, including South Africa, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Korea, Finland, Philippines and Japan.

The Tojo course is part of a magnificent 63-hole complex and is claimed to be the longest course in Asia, measuring 7,777 yards.  But for the championship the length was reduced to 7,063 yards.

The non-travelling reserves are David Skinns (Canwick Park) and Stephen Lewton (South Bedfordshire).  The Team Captain will be Roy Case, accompanied by Anthony Abraham.