English Golf Union

LOUGHREY AND STOW SEEK FURTHER SUCCESS IN CHIBERTA GRAND PRIX.

Josh Loughrey (Wrag Barn, Wiltshire), winner of the Scrutton Jug at last week’s Brabazon Trophy, and Ben Stow (Rushmore, Wiltshire), who created a course record in the final round of the Brabazon at Burnham & Berrow, have been named in a six-strong squad for the Chiberta Grand Prix in Biarritz on 7th – 10th July.
The other members are Oliver Carr (Heswall, Cheshire), Tom Harris (Castletown, Isle of Man), Jason Timmis (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire), and Paul Kinnear (Formby, Lancashire).
Loughrey, (picture © Tom Ward) 20, is enjoying a successful season having finished joint runner-up in the Brabazon Southern Qualifier, tied third in the Darwin Salver, fourth in the Duncan Putter and equal fifth in the Berkshire Trophy.
Stow, 19, who returned a record 64 at Burnham to finish tied fifth, has won the Welsh Open Youth Championship and finished runner-up in the Welsh Open Stroke Play this year.
Carr, 18, is a boy international and the Cheshire boy champion last year. This year, the English under 18 squad member finished tied fourth in the Fairhaven Trophy and reached the quarter finals of the Cheshire Match Play Championship.
Harris, 17, won this year’s Fairhaven Trophy in a playoff, having finished tied 11th in the McEvoy Trophy. In 2010, he was the Isle of Man boy champion and finished equal third in the Junior County Champions tournament.
Timmis, 23, will be making his debut for the English Golf Union (EGU) having been at college in America for four years. He recently reached the last 16 of the Amateur Championship at Hillside.
Kinnear, 17, was a member of the victorious Formby team in last year’s Champion Club tournament at Woodbridge. Formerly a junior footballer with Tranmere Rovers, he switched to golf and has been a regular in the Lancashire first team for the past two years. He ended 2010 by winning four of five Lancashire Order of Merit events.
The Chiberta Grand Prix is medal stroke play over 72 holes with a halfway cut. There is also a team event over the first two days, the best two of the three cards to count. The EGU's Director of Coaching Peter Mattson commented, "The EGU have a long standing relationship with the Chiberta Grand Prix. Thanks to their hospitality we get the opportunity to send a group of rather new players on the scene for some very valuable international experience. After an experience like this players usually come back with a better understanding of what it takes to compete also in unfamiliar territories."Loughrey, Stow and Timmis will also compete in the Biarritz Cup, the oldest stroke play event in France, on 13th – 15th July.