CARMAN STEPS UP AS CHAIRMAN OF ENGLAND SELECTORS

Andrew Carman, a former international and stalwart of Midland golf, has been appointed Chairman of England Selectors in succession to Peter Benka.

The 44-year-old school teacher from Rugby has been a selector since 1993 but now assumes the key role as England seek to extend their highly successful run on the international stage.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to make a contribution to English Golf", he says. "Peter has moved things along over the last four years and my job is to build on what he has done".

"It is also an honour which carries a responsibility to select teams which will perform with distinction in the international arena. But the job is wider than that, it is also about selecting players for coaching and in aiding their development."

Carman has been connected with top level amateur golf for the past 27 years. He played for Warwickshire from 1972 to 1990 alongside the likes of Peter McEvoy, Paul Downes and Paul Broadhurst during which they won the Midland League several times and reached the final of the English County on 11 occasions. Two of those finals came while he was Warwickshire captain.

Educated at university in Leeds and London, Andrew captained the England Youth team, then was capped at senior level in 1979-80. In 1979 he reached the final of the English Amateur at Royal St. George's but was beaten by Roger Chapman. In those days he had a scratch handicap but now admits to playing off two at Coventry Golf Club. For the past 20 years Andrew has taught economics and business studies at King Henry VII School in Coventry.

One of his first tasks as Chairman of England Selectors will be to choose the England team for the match against Spain at Walton Heath on 8-9 May.

MW