.NEIL WILLIAMS DEFENDS LOGAN TROPHY AT SAUNTON

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLAND GOLF
Neill Williams (Walton Heath), the champion 12 months ago, will defend the Logan Trophy when the English Men’s Open Mid Amateur Championship is played over the West Course at Saunton Golf Club, Devon from July 6 to 8.
Williams came up-on-the-rails on the final day at Purdis Heath, Ipswich, last July to lift the trophy and he will be joined at the prestigious north Devon club by four former champions, Nigel Chesters (Hawkstone Park, Shropshire), Steve Crosby (Gorleston, Suffolk), Paul Griffiths (Sandwell Park, Staffordshire), and Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor, Hampshire). Williams, a 39-year-old surveyor, finished eagle-birdie for a closing 68 in the sunshine at Ipswich to finish on seven-under-par 206, three stroke ahead of Steve Graham (Littlehampton, Sussex), who closed with a course record 64.
Graham isn’t competing this time but Richard Latham (Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire), Director of Operations at Woodhall Spa, who finished third last year, is along with Michael White (West Wilts, Wiltshire), third in the recent Welsh Mid Amateur.

Chesters, who shared the title with Griffiths in 2005, finished equal fourth a year ago, while Crosby, joint winner in 2002, finished equal tenth at Purdis Heath last year.

Young, the 2006 champion, joint fourth a year ago, is also a regular on the amateur scene with a joint runner-up spot this year in the Hampshire Hog and equal seventh in the Berkhamsted Trophy.
Also in the field of 132 is Ed Richardson (Hemsted Forest, Kent), an England international in 2005 and ‘06. A former Kent champion, he has a fine record this season with a joint third place in the Lagonda Trophy, fifth in last week’s Berkshire Trophy, eighth in the South of England Links Championship and ninth in the West of England Stroke Play.
Another international, John Kemp (Woburn, BB&O), who was capped in 2003, finished runner-up at Shifnal in 2008, further strengthens the field, while Michael Wigley (Holsworthy, Devon), a senior international, is another to watch. Roger Smithies (Manchester, Lancashire), who finished third in 2004, and regulars Tony Cheese (Sandwell Park, Staffordshire), Andrew Inglis (Sunningdale Artisans, Surrey) and Stephen Brennan (Wheatley, Yorkshire) are competing again.
There is also a small overseas challenge with players from Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, and Switzerland.
The Logan Trophy is open to players over 35 years of age, is played over 54 holes with a cut after 36, the leading 45 players and ties progressing to the final round.
More information, live scoring and news updates will available on the Championships Section of the England Golf website, www.englandgolf.org.