KENT SEEKING FIFTH SENIORS COUNTY TITLE

Only three counties have been crowned champions since the English Seniors County Championship was inaugurated in 2005. Kent has dominated with four successes to Cheshire’s three, while Hertfordshire secured the title last year at Heworth. So while Kent will be seeking a fifth triumph when this year’s finals take place at the RAC Club in Epsom on 8th – 10th October, the trophy could be heading for a different destination if Devon, Lancashire or Lincolnshire can create history in Surrey. After their initial success at Rotherham in 2007, Kent won three times in-a-row from 2009 and with two current senior internationals in the line-up they will prove hard to beat once again. But Lancashire has two internationals of their own and having been in three previous finals they are keen to get their name on the trophy. Having overcome current champions Hertfordshire in the South East Qualifying, Kent are back on familiar ground, having contested most finals since 2005. They will be led by Chris Reynolds a senior international for the past eight years who helped England retain the Senior Home Internationals in Ireland recently. Also in that England team was Richard Partridge, who earned his first England cap in the European Seniors Team Championships in Hungary this summer, while others who have been part of Kent’s winning teams are Chris Hurst, Ricky Moore and David Weighton. Lancashire will be making their fourth finals appearance. Their squad is the one that finished third last year and includes English senior international Stewart King, secretary/manager at West Lancashire Golf Club, and Glyn Rees, a Welsh senior cap. But the side is again missing three-time English Seniors champion Alan Squires, who is unavailable. Jeremy Morgan is the current senior county champion while Alan Gillespie and Mike Gray finished second and third. Devon will also be making their fourth appearance in the Finals, having appeared for three successive years from 2006. Their line-up includes their senior champion in Richard Ward, while senior captain is Paul Vicary, who finished third in the South West Seniors Championship and has topped the Devon seniors Order of Merit. The team also includes former Devon senior champions in Jim Pettigrew, George Rumbold and Grahame Sanford. Lincolnshire will be making their debut in the Finals having won the Midland Qualifying on home ground at Woodhall Spa. Five members of their squad are from Woodhall Spa under the leadership of non-playing captain Stewart Graves. However, the team will be without senior international Richard Latham, the English seniors champion, and General Manager at Woodhall Spa. The Seniors Finals are contested on a round robin basis, each match consisting of three foursomes and six singles. In the first round of matches on 8th October, Lancashire plays Kent while Devon meet Lincolnshire. Teams: Devon Phil Lyons (Churston) Brian Medlam (Royal North Devon) Jim Pettigrew (Churston) Rick Pillow (Exeter) George Rumbold (Yelverton) Grahame Sanford (Staddon Heights) Paul Vicary (Saunton) Richard Ward (Dainton Park) Kent Ian Brooker (Littlestone) Ross Galgut (Littlestone) Chris Hurst (Pedham Place) Ricky Moore (Westerham) Richard Partridge (Wildernesse) Chris Reynolds (Littlestone) David Weighton (Littlestone) Jon Wright (Wildernesse) Lancashire Terry Brown (Stand) Stuart Fawcett (Southport & Ainsdale) Robert Fox (Royal Lytham & St Anne’s) Alan Gillespie (St Anne’s Old Links) Mike Gray (Lancaster) Stewart King (West Lancashire) Jeremy Morgan (Longridge) Glynn Rees (Fleetwood) Lincolnshire Robin Horseman (Woodhall Spa) David Keen (Blankney) Steve Kellett (Waltham Windmill) Ray Pauley (Woodhall Spa) Ray Pearson (Woodhall Spa) Dave Quincey (Woodhall Spa) Des Robbins (Lincoln)Clive Skinns (Woodhall Spa) Image: RAC Golf Club For more information, tournament news, and scores visit the English Seniors County Championship page on the England Golf website.  -ENDS- For further information please contact: Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 01526354500