WALKER ADDS TO ENGLAND'S GROWING LIST OF TRIUMPHS

Richard Walker's sensational victory in the Brabazon Trophy at Royal Birkdale on Sunday was yet another triumph in a vintage year of English successes at home and abroad.

Walker, five shots behind young Scot, Steven O'Hara at the turn in the final round, and three adrift after 14 holes, picked up four strokes over the closing stretch to pip his 20 year old playing partner, who finished with four straight pars.

A member of England's intermediate squad, Walker was capped at boys and
youth levels before turning professional. Reinstated a year ago, the 29 year
old's victory over Royal Birkdale's testing links was a lesson in skill and
durability.

Walker's win is the latest in a long line of England victories stretching back to last November when Nick Dougherty and Gary Wolstenholme came out on
top in the Juan Carlos Tahilade Cup in Argentina.

After the turn of the year, Dougherty went to Australia and won the Lake
Macquarie Tournament, the first Englishman to win the title in 10 years, then Tom Whitehouse took the Spanish Amateur as England finished ahead in
their international with Spain in Barcelona.

This was followed by David Dixon lifting the South African Amateur Championship allied to an international triumph over the Springboks, both in Johannesburg, while Wolstenholme successfully defended the Sherry Cup in Spain.

In between, Mark Wharton took the Portuguese Mid Amateur title, then when
the domestic season got underway, Scott Godfrey won the Berkhamsted Trophy.

Wolstenholme took the Selborne Salver and Hampshire Salver with International Jonathan Lupton winning the Hampshire Hog before England team-mate Richard Finch travelled to Saunton to win the West of England Open Strokeplay.

Then it was Richard McEvoy's turn to get into the act. He took the Lytham
Trophy and completed a notable double with the Irish Open Amateur a week
later in Dublin. This was the prelude to Walker's amazing performance in the
Brabazon.

All of these champions have benefited from the English Golf Union's commitment to producing golfers capable of performing on the world stage through it's highly-productive National coaching structure.

For a full list of scores from the Brabazon Trophy visit the EGU web site
www.englishgolfunion.org