FOUR NEWCOMERS IN ENGLAND NATIONAL SQUAD

England has called up 22 players for its national squad to attend three sessions of winter coaching at The National Golf Centre in Woodhall Spa.

The squad contains four newcomers in a mixture of youth and experience, headed by British and English Mid-Amateur champion Stephen East and former Walker Cup man Matthew Stanford. The other newcomers are David Porter and Daniel Wardrop, both promoted from the boy's squad. East, at 43, is the oldest member of the squad but has enjoyed another high successful year, winning the British Mid-Amateur Championship at Seaton Carew, as well as regaining the English version for the Logan Trophy at Lindrick. It was the third time in four years that the Yorkshire veteran has won the Logan and on the other occasion - in 2000 - he was runner-up. He also played a major role in helping Yorkshire regain the English County Championship at Burnham and Berrow.

Stanford's call-up represents a return to the England fold after a gap of eight years. The West Countryman played for England from 1991 to '93 and for GB&I in the 1992 Eisenhower Trophy and St Andrews Trophy. The highlight of his career was as a member of the 1993 Walker Cup team at Interlachen. Stanford, 32, turned professional, winning several Order of Merit events in the West Region and then joined the police force in Bristol and regained his amateur status in June. Hampshire-based Porter, 18, the boys captain, led England to victory in the Home International at Moortown and to third place in the European Boys Team Championships in Poland and his promotion to the senior squad is a natural progression for someone who has been on the international scene since 1997.

Wardrop, 18, from Cheshire, was a teammate of Porter's for both competitions and recently won the Greek Amateur at Glyfada. Wardrop also came close to winning the Luxus European Under-21 Championship at Turnberry but was beaten in a play-off by Scotland's Barry Hume. The squad also includes six US college-based players, who are unlikely to attend the coaching sessions but will be considered for selection to the England team next year should they be available.

The first coaching weekend took place on 18-21 October, while the others are scheduled for Woodhall Spa on 22-25 November and 26-28 March, 2002. England National Squad members 2001/2002: Paul Bradshaw (Gainsborough); Graeme Clark (Doncaster); Stephen East (Moortown); Colin Edwards (Bath); Richard Finch (Hull); Scott Godfrey (St Enodoc); Darren Henley (Stoneham); Jonathan Lupton (Middlesborough); David Porter (Stoneham); Zane Scotland (Woodcote Park); Matthew Stanford (Bristol & Clifton); Richard Walker (Walton Hall); Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury); Tom Whitehouse (Maxstoke Park); Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs); Simon Young (Seascale) USA based members: Jamie Elson (Kenilworth); Simon Robinson (Seaton Carew); Philip Rowe (West Cornwall); David Ryles (West Hill); David Skinns (Lincoln); Oliver Wilson (Coxmoor).

The EGU has also called up 15 young as well as experienced players in its 'A' Squad (formerly the Intermediate Squad) for two coaching sessions, also at Woodhall Spa. In the group is Essex champion Ricky Blaxill, semi-finalist in this year's English Amateur, and Barry Barker, last year's Cheshire Order of Merit winner. They, along with Daniel Wardrop, won the Nations Cup in the recent Greek Amateur Championship. The squad also includes current and former boy internationals James Heath, Scott Jackson, Stephen Lewton, Gary Lockerbie, Josh Simons and Ben Welch. A few weeks ago, Welch helped St Mellion win the Champion Club tournament at Minchinhampton. Two of this group are also US based, Geoffrey Harris, the left-hander who reached the English Amateur quarter-finals this year, and former international Robert Duck. This squad has also gathered for one weekend, on 27-28 October, while a second will be held on 22-24 March 2002. 'A' Squad Members 2001/2002: Barry Barker (Reddish Vale), Ricky Blaxill (Wanstead), Lee Corfield (Burnham and Berrow) Robert Duck (Northamptonshire County), Geoffrey Harris (Reading), Ben Harvey (Dudsbury), James Heath (Coombe Wood), Scott Jackson (Bramall Park), Stephen Lewton (Woburn), Gary Lockerbie (Penrith), Chris McDonnell (Stocksfield), Michael Nester (Notts), Josh Simons (Coombe Hill), Ben Welch (St Mellion), Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor)

For more information contact: Jan Coles Coaching/International Teams Administrator