Welsh Boys Get Walker Cup Lift
September 20, 2011

The Wales Boys team fought their way back to the top level of European
competition with an inspired performance in the Challenge Trophy, keeping
Welsh golf on a roll after the Walker Cup.

Walker Cup star Rhys Pugh did not play immediately after getting three wins
out of three against the Americans, under the captaincy of Golf Union of
Wales director of player development and coaching Nigel Edwards, but the
rest of the Wales Boys team showed they can learn the lessons.

The players used to competing with Pugh up through the age groups showed
they were determined to build on his success for Welsh golf with a
remarkable score of 29 under over three rounds, Great Britain and Ireland
Boys captain David Boote leading the way finishing fourth in the individual
event.

It meant Wales were in the top three countries of the European Boys
Challenge Trophy held in Slovakia, leading going into the last day but
overtaken by the Czech Republic and Netherlands, while opening up an amazing 30 shot gap on Belgium in fourth. The top three countries qualify for the top level of European team competition next season.

“The boys were very good, prepared very well and the scoring was electric,”
said Wales national coach Neil Matthews.

“We were 29 under collectively over the three days which is very, very good
at that age group. They are quite accurate players, they played very well,
with good team spirit and got their just dessert.

“I am very pleased with the progress the boys are making and let's hope they push forward over the winter and work hard to produce results like this next year.

“There were 10 teams competing for three spots and we got one of them, which is ultimately what we went there for.

“We are seeing this group taking things on board, changing their outlook on
how they practice and prepare - this is probably the best example so far of
them taking what they have been given and running with it.

“It was good to see because of the process as well as the result. We were
very professional and the boys did a good job, they can be proud of
themselves and hopefully it will give them some more belief.

“The boys were discussing the Walker Cup because of Nigel and Rhys's
involvement, but more as a pride issue that the guys had done well.”

Edwards was delighted with the performance of the Boys team, while hoping
that the Walker Cup success in which he played such a major role will also
have an ongoing benefit for Welsh golf.

“I would like to think that the Walker Cup would have an impact,” admitted
Edwards. “It would be nice if it would inspire them to want to be on the
Walker Cup team in the future.

“It depends on them. Some of them might not be as driven as to want to do
that. Padraig Harrington told our team last December that to be good you
have to do constant repetition on some simple things, some people do not
like doing those things over and over, but to be successful you have to do
the simple things well.”

Welsh Boys champion Boote, based in Walton Heath, lead the way with Jack
Bush, Patrick Mullins and Otto Mand also finishing in the top 11. The team
was completed by Delon Hau and Zac Galliford with every player contributing
over the three days with the best five scores counting each day.