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Five former champions in Logan Trophy line-up

Thursday, 14 August 2008
Paula Benn
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Martin Young (photo courtesy of Tom Ward)

Francois Illouz, the veteran French international, was joint champion in 2002, John Longcake won the following year, Nigel Chesters and Paul Griffiths shared the title in 2005, while Martin Young was victorious in 2006.

All will be seeking a second title over the attractive fairways of Shifnal, but Colin Edwards, the former England cap from Bath, is not defending the title he won at Minchinhampton a year ago.

Young (photo courtesy of Tom Ward) will probably start as favourite as the 38 year old from Hampshire finished runner-up to Edwards last year when defending the title.

However, he will face strong opposition from his fellow former title holders as well as from the likes of past England international John Kemp, Nicky Bell and Iain Mackenzie.

Kemp, 40, from the John O’Gaunt club in Bedfordshire and capped in the 2003 Home Internationals, is a tough competitor and his past achievements include three British Mid Amateur titles, the Midland Amateur, the English Champions Tournament and a quarter final of the US Mid Amateur.

Bell, from Carlisle, is still a highly competitive county player, while Mackenzie was Yorkshire captain for three years until last September when he signed off with a third successive victory for the Northern champions in the English County Championship.

Also in the field of 132 is Graham Ruth from Devon, father of former international James Ruth, Mark Wharton, a club-mate of Kemp at John O’Gaunt, and a widely experienced player, and BB&O’s Steve Barwick, another wily competitor.

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 going through to the final round. The Championship was inaugurated in 1988 when Peter McEvoy was the first winner.

More information, news and results can be found on the Championships section of the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org.