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English Golf Team ready for the final of the Four Nations Golf Challenge 2011 at The Oxfordshire Golf Club

Thursday, 22 September 2011

After hundreds of Matchplay duels over five months of gruelling, competitive regional brackets in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales - The Four Nations successful finalists are ready to represent their country and attempt to win the title of Champion Golf Nation of the Year.

The Final of the Four Nations Golf Challenge 2011 (FNGC) is hosted at The Oxfordshire Golf Club in the Chiltern Hills from Sunday 25th to Wednesday 28th September, 2011. This leading amateur competition is due to be broadcast on Sky Sports.

The four day competition is open to the public, whether you are a golf-lover or new to golf this thrilling Four Nations final is not to be missed.

The four National finalist teams of twelve men and ladies from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales will descend on the award winning Rees Jones-designed American parkland style Golf Course at The Oxfordshire. This spectacular rolling layout is owned by Leaderboard Golf, which also boasts some of South England’s best golf courses; Chart Hills (Kent), Dale Hill (East Sussex) and Sandford Springs (Hampshire). During the Grand Final players will stay in The Oxfordshire’s newly opened four-star hotel, where they will be able to relax and revitalise in the ‘Tempus Spa’, gym and swimming pool after the tournament days.

Tim Pettifer, General Manager of The Oxfordshire said; “We are very pleased to have been selected to host one of the most prestigious amateur golf contests in the UK. I’m sure it will be two days of great and challenging golf.”

The format for the Grand Final will be Fourball Betterball, Matchplay and will consist of two 18 holes semi-finals followed by an 18 holes Play-Off for third and fourth place and of course, the 18 holes Final itself. The winners of this will be crowned the Champion Golf Nation of the Year.

A Final Qualifying event took place at Astbury Hall on Monday 5th September, 2011 to decide which six pairs would represent each country in the Grand Final. Forty Eight qualifiers (four teams of six pairs) will now battle it out to see who will win the prestigious 2011 Grand Final Four Nations Golf Challenge.

The Four Nations Golf Challenge is sponsored by Golf Plus Direct and organised by Concierge Golf Limited. Concierge Golf has set out to establish an attractive and stimulating annual, amateur golf tournament which gives competitive members of UK golf clubs the rare opportunity to represent their Country. This competition is potentially the most exciting team competition for amateur golfers in the UK!

Gary Wolstenholme, MBE, Ambassador to the FNGC, said; "I can tell you that there is no better feeling than playing for your Country and being part of a team.”

The Four Nations will be represented by:

TEAM ENGLAND

Colin Rust & Jim Starbuck from Gedney Hill Golf Club

Martin O’Looney & Tony Miller from Southport & Ainsdale

Darren Boyce & Steve Clark from Donnington Grove

Sean Lapper & Stephen King from Cherwell Edge Golf Club

Dave Fox & Ben Dawes from Shirland Golf Club

Nathan Page & Stuart Vallis from Dunwood Manor

TEAM IRELAND

Brian McClements & William McClements from Spa Golf Club

Robert Aiken from Royal Portrush & Jonathan Doherty from Portstewart

Baden Maher & Michael Maher from Killarney Golf Club