Tommy Fleetwood called in by England

for European team championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall, Lancashire) Mas been added to last week’s victorious Ashes squad as England seek to regain the European men’s team championship at Conwy Golf Club, Wales from June 30 to July 4.
The young Lancastrian will link up with the quintet that beat Australia 11-3 at Royal Birkdale - Charlie Ford (Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire), Luke Goddard (Hendon, Middlesex), Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham, Kent), Sam Hutsby (Liphook, Hampshire) and Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes, Essex) - to form a formidable team to take on the other European nations over the North Wales links.
The reserve is Chris Paisley (Stocksfield, Northumberland) and all are members of the Walker Cup squad.
Fleetwood, 18,made his full England debut in last year’s home internationals at Muirfield and also played against Spain in March. The former England boy captain from Formby Hall illuminated a superb 2008 by finishing runner-up in the British amateur championship at Turnberry and winning the English county champions title as well as being crowned Lancashire champion.
This year, Tommy has won the Scottish open stroke-play at Murcar Links, the Southport & Ainsdale Bowl and tied for the Henriquez Salver in the Brabazon Trophy, as well as several other top three finishes.
Ford, 24, an England cap since the 2007 home internationals, made an impressive visit to Australia last winter during which he lost a play-off for the Avondale Medal, tied third in the Lake Macquarie International and was a quarter-finalist in the New South Wales amateur championship.
Like Fleetwood, Goddard, 21, earned his first full England cap in last year’s home internationals. That followed victories in the South of England stroke-play championship and joint third place in the European individual amateur championship. Last December, the Middlesex man won the Argentine amateur championship.
After being capped for the first time against France at Frilford Heath last year, Haines, 19, has played in every England team since. Winner of the McEvoy and Carris Trophies in 2007, the Kent man enjoyed a successful 2008 with victory in the Lytham Trophy.
So far in 2009, Haines has four victories: the Berkhamsted Trophy, the Hampshire Hog, Hampshire Salver and joint winner of the Duncan Putter. He was also runner-up in the Welsh open stroke-play and a quarter-finalist in the Spanish amateur championship.
Hutsby, 20, also became a full England cap in the 2007 home internationals and is another ever-present. Last year, the Hampshire man won the Bernard Darwin Salver and was second in the Welsh open stroke-play. He won the individual title in the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande and has an impressive record in the Spanish amateur. He was champion in 2006 and runner-up this year.
Whitnell, 20, the current leader of the Titleist/Footjoy EGU Order of Merit, was another 2007 home internationals debutant. Last year, the Essex man reached the semi-finals of the Australian amateur and was runner-up to Haines in the Lytham Trophy. However, he won the Lagonda Trophy, Tillman Trophy and the North of England youths championship.
So far this year Whitnell's record includes victory in the Portuguese amateur, third place in the Lytham Trophy and Scottish open stroke-play and fourth in the Brabazon Trophy.
In last week’s Ashes contest, Haines and Whitnell won all four of their matches while Hutsby won three of four and Goddard two of three.
So far this year England teams have beaten Spain and Australia and won the European Nations Cup in Spain with Ford, Goddard, Hutsby and Whitnell.
This will be the 26th playing of the European Men’s Team Championships and England has lifted the title on nine occasions, the last in 2005 at Hillside.