Golf Club - Northern Golfer

GarrickPorteousGarrick Porteous will be consideredby many to be an England shoe-infor this year’s Home Internationals.The 23-year-old from Morpethwould be the last to subscribe to thatview, but having played a significantrole in England’s European NationsChampionship win in Spain as wellas being in the Great Britain andIreland team for the St AndrewsTrophy, it would be a surprise if hedidn’t make Ganton in August.Garrick is the first to pointout there is a long way to go,starting with this month’s LythamTrophy, which is considered theunofficial British amateur strokeplaychampionship, but the TennesseeUniversity graduate is rightly seen asEngland and Walker Cup material.He shot 74 75 70 69 atSotogrande as England regained theEuropean Nations crown and wasthe only team member to count in allfour rounds and he’s just back fromAustralia where he finished sixth inthe Australian Amateur Masters, theLake Macquarie Amateur (ninth) andthe New South Wales Medal (third).“Australia was a huge boost tomy confidence. It is a long seasonahead, but things are moving in theright direction.”Having graduated from Tennesseewith a BA in studio art alongside avery successful record in collegiategolf – he was captain of the team –Garrick has never forgotten his roots.“At an early age, I became a memberof Bamburgh and it has been myhome club ever since,” he said. “Igrew up in Morpeth, where I playedboth rugby and golf to county level,but at the age of 16 I representedEngland in golf and from there onin, golf has been the sport for meand my four years at Tennessee havereally developed me as a personand a golfer. The greatest honourin golf so far is to have played forEngland Men’s team in the HomeInternationals.Garrick knows England selection willbe based on form, performance andresults.“It works and the best players seemto get picked,” he said.NickMarshYorkshire teenager Nick Marshhas emerged as a consummatetalent over the last two years withwins at England amateur level andalso successive victories on theprofessional Gecko Tour.The 18-year-old from Huddersfieldupstaged the professionals bywinning successive tournaments asan amateur on the Gecko Tour inDecember in Spain.Those victories capped asuccessful year for Nick who alsofinished runner-up in the McEvoyTrophy and the Boys CountyChampions Final and tied third in theFairhaven Trophy.He also reached the quarter finalsof the British Boys Championship,captained Yorkshire to victory in theEnglish Boys County Championshipand was leading individual in theCanadian International JuniorChallenge in which England won theteam title for the fifth successive year.Not surprisingly, he was picked forEngland in the European Boys TeamChampionships and also the BoysHome Internationals. Now steppingup to the full England side at Gantonin August is very much a target.“Winning a big event is obviouslywhat you want because you play golfpretty much as an individual, butplaying in the Home Internationals isonly just behind that,” said Nick.“If I didn’t win a big amateur eventthis year but had a strong season andmade the Home Internationals andplayed for England in my own countyof Yorkshire that would be somethingpretty special. It’s a great feeling andprivilege to hear your name beingannounced on the first tee and toknow you are representing yourcountry. I experienced it at the BoysHome Internationals and it reallymakes you feel great.”Coached by Andrew Nicholsonat Wynyard Hall, Nick decimated aquality field in December recordingan eight- shot victory in storm-forceconditions in the Welsh Open YouthsChampionship at Bull Bay andwhen England successfully defendedtheir Boys Home Internationals titlehe was unbeaten in his six matches.FOR THE BEST GOLFING HOLIDAYS UNDER THE SUNSpain • Portugal • Turkey • Tunisiaand many other destinationsThe 4* Barcelo Punta Umbria, Spain7 nights half board with 5 rounds of golf including car hire, plus flightsMay £425 June £450 Sept £480 Oct £430 -All inclusive available £150pp extra per week, short breaks availableAutumn Mixed Competition Week 10th – 17th OctoberAt the 4* Iberostar Royal Andalus Hotel, Cadiz7 nights all inclusive with 5 rounds of golf and transfers £550 single supplement £70FOR MORE GREAT OFFERS VISIT OUR WEBSITETelephone: 01207 562 322or Mobile: 07889 943 753your holiday package is protectedthrough our ATOL LicenceEmail: brian@golfnorthumbria.com www.golfnorthumbria.comNorthumbria Golf Breaks, The Office, Ravenside Farm, Hedley, Stocksfield NE43 7SXMount Oswald Golf ClubMonday - Monday Madness£12 per round any time during the day(Booking is essential)Tuesday-Thursday - Bacon BonanzaFree bacon sandwich with everyGreen free between9.30am-1.00pm (Before your round)Friday - Sunday & Bank Hol£15 per round (After 1.00pm)Tel: 0191 386 7527information@mountoswald.co.uk • www.mountoswald.co.ukLIMITED NO JOINING FEE OFFERJoin between May and September 2013 pay no joining feeand only pay a Pro rata subscription to the end of SeptemberNEW TWILIGHT MEMBERSHIPOnly £295.00Sunday through Friday from 3.30pm(other terms and conditions apply)For further details contact Dawn Wylie. 01434 603072 ext 1or email info@hexhamgolf.co.ukNorthern Golfer 35