COUNTY CHAMPIONS FACE-TO-FACE AT WOODHALL SPA

An array of internationals, including Walker Cup hero Gary Wolstenholme, will be teeing up in the English County Champions Tournament at Woodhall Spa on Saturday 22 September.

This annual clash of champions from every county will decide the Champion of Champions over 36 holes of the famous Hotchkin course.

Wolstenholme, the Leicestershire and Rutland champion, will be bidding for his fourth victory in the event. He won at Rye in 1994 and finished joint winner two years later at The Berkshire, both when representing Gloucestershire. In 1998, when back in Leicestershire, he finished first again at Woodhall Spa, now the tournament's regular home.

But the 41-year-old can expect stern opposition from his England colleagues Zane Scotland, Richard Finch and Colin Edwards among others. Scotland, 19, is the Surrey champion, while 24 year old Finch holds the Yorkshire title.

Edwards, 38, who has been on the international scene for the past 10 years, has partnered Wolstenholme several times on England duty and would love to take the title back to Somerset.

Boy international Tom Whitehouse, 21, the Warwickshire champion, is likely to spearhead the younger generation along with another 21 year old, Darren Henley, representing Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands.

But the likes of Derek McJannet (Nottinghamshire), Ricky Blaxill (Essex), Simon Young (Cumbria), Graham Ruth (Devon) and former international Mike Reynard (Worcestershire) could easily come through to take the title.

The tournament will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and some famous names appear on its Roll of Honour including Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Russell Claydon and Lee Westwood.