22nd April 2023

Congratulations to Josh BERRY, Arron EDWARDS-HILL, John GOUGH and Dylan SHAW-RADFORD who steered ENGLAND to victory in the 2023 European Nations Championship at RCG Sotogrande.

England Celebrate Their Team Win (Photo: Josh Berry)

After an even par final round ENGLAND finished with an 872 (+8) total with ITALY (+11) 2nd and SPAIN (+14) 3rd.

SCOTLAND (+16) were 4th, IRELAND (+47) 13th and WALES (+48) 14th in the 17 team event.

Click here to view the – 2023 ENC Men’s Team Results

Final Team Results (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

Albert HANSSON (SWE) beat John GOUGH (ENG) in a sudden death play-off-to win the Individual title after both players finished on 286 (-2). The consolation for Gough was that it was his 69 (-3), the joint best round of the day, that went a long way to lifting England to the Team win.

Angel AYORA (ESP) and James ASHFIELD (WAL) finished two shots further back on Even par and in tied 3rd place.

The other leading GB&I players were Gregor TAIT (SCO) +7, who was tied 11th, Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) +8 tied 15th, Josh BERRY (ENG) and Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) +9 tied 19th and Arron EDWARDS-HILL (ENG) and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) +10 tied 24th.

Click here to view the – 2023 ENC Men’s Individual Results

Final Individual Results (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

ME.

_________________________________________

21st April 2023

SPAIN (+6) lead the Men’s European Nations Championship after 54 holes but with ENGLAND (+8), SCOTLAND (+8), ITALY (+9) and FRANCE (+10) all within 4-shots we can expect an exciting finale at RCG Sotogrande tomorrow.

IRELAND (+29) are 12th and WALES (+37) 15th heading into the final round.

Round 3 Team Scores (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

Reigning Boys’ Amateur champion Albert HANSSON (SWE) -5 holds a 3-shot lead over Angel AYORA (ESP) in the Individual competition.

James ASHFIELD (WAL) and John GOUGH (ENG) +1 are tied 3rd, Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) +2 tied 6th, Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) and Gregor TAIT (SCO) +4 tied 11th, Arron EDWARDS-HILL (ENG) +5 tied 16th and Matthew WILSON (SCO), Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) and Josh BERRY (ENG) +7 tied 25th at the end of Day 3.

Round 3 Individual Scores (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

ME.

_________________________________________

20th April 2023

At the top of the Team leaderboard SCOTLAND (-1) lead ITALY and FRANCE (Ev) by 1-shot after the second round of the Men’s European Nations Championship at RCG Sotogrande.

ENGLAND (+3) are 6th, IRELAND (+15) 12th and WALES (+16) 13th with two rounds still to play.

Round 2 Team Scores (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

Nicola GERHARDSEN (SUI), Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) and James ASHFIELD (WAL) -5 lead the Individual competition after all three shot under par rounds on Day 2.

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) and John GOUGH (ENG) Ev are tied 12th, Josh BERRY (ENG), Gregor TAIT (SCO) and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) +2 T17, Arron EDWARDS-HILL (ENG) +3 tied 22nd and Josh HILL (IRL) and Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) +5 tied 33rd.

Round 2 Individual Scores (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

ME.

_________________________________________

19th April 2023

At the end of Day 1 SCOTLAND (-5) lead the 2023 Men’s European Nations Championship by 1-shot from FRANCE with the CZECH REPUBLIC (-3) 3rd, ENGLAND (-2) 4th and FINLAND (+1) 5th.

WALES (+6) are 11th and IRELAND (+12) 14th with both teams having work to do over the next three days.

Round 1 Team Scores (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

John GOUGH (ENG) shot a five under 67 in Round 1, which included six birdies, to take a 2-shot lead in the Individual competition.

James ASHFIELD (WAL) -3 is second, Gregor TAIT (SCO) and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) -2 tied 5th, Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) and Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) -1 tied 12th, Arron EDWARDS-HILL (ENG) +1 tied 24th and Josh BERRY (ENG) and Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) +2 tied 31st.

Round 1 Individual Scores (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

ME.

_________________________________________

14th April 2023

The Men’s European Nations Championship (ENC) starts on Wednesday 19th April at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande in Southern Spain.

RCG Sotogrande is the permanent home of the ENC and this will be the 15th playing of the event.

It is a 72 hole stroke play Team and Individual competition.

Field
17 four-man teams (68 players) will play for the Team prize. An additional six players invited by both RCG Sotogrande and the Spanish Golf Federation will contest the Individual competition, making a total field of 74 players.

The following players have been selected to represent the four competing home nations in 2023: –

England – Josh BERRY, John GOUGH, Arron EDWARDS-HILL, Dylan SHAW-RADFORD

Ireland – Joshua HILL, Matt MCCLEAN, Robert MORAN, Peter O’KEEFFE

Scotland – Connor GRAHAM, Gregor GRAHAM, Gregor TAIT, Matthew WILSON

Wales – James ASHFIELD, Caolan BURFORD, Paddy MULLINS, Matt ROBERTS

A Women’s ENC, made up of three player teams, also takes place alongside the Men’s competition. Only Ireland have entered from the four home nations this year.

Tee Times / Scores
Click here to view the – 2023 ENC Men’s Tee Times

Click here to view the – 2023 ENC Men’s Team Scores

Click here to view the – 2023 ENC Men’s Individual Scores

Format and Prizes
72 holes of stroke play, with 18 holes played daily, will be contested by all of the players. There is no cut.

In the Team event the best three 18-hole scores from the four players count towards the overall total.

In the case of a tie for 1st place a team member will be nominated and a sudden death play-off will be contested on the 9th hole. Other ties will be determined by a count back of the team score for the last 18, 27, 36, etc. holes.

The Individual prize is awarded to the lowest scoring player. Ties will be broken in line with the Team approach outlined above.

Winning Team members each receive a replica of the Nations Trophy. The Individual champion receives a trophy and a bright yellow jacket.

Venue and Course
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande was opened in 1964 and was originally designed by Robert Trent Jones. One of the best courses in Continental Europe it first held the Spanish Open in 1966, won that year by Roberto de Vicenzo.

In 1970 The Sherry Cup, the precursor of the European Nations Cup, was established. Former Individual winners of this include Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia. (see below for the full list of past Individual winners).

In 1973 a Women’s event started to be played alongside the Men’s.

In 1983 Sotogrande hosted the Spanish Amateur Championship with Jose Maria Olazabel victorious.

Sotogrande was awarded royal patronage by HM King Juan Carlos I in 1994.

Between 1996 and 2001, in tandem with nearby San Roque GC, the course hosted the European Tour’s Qualifying School.

In 2006 The Sherry Cup was rebranded as the European Nations Cup and in 2017 become known as the European Nations Championship played for the Sotogrande Cup.

In 2011, ahead of it’s 50th anniversary, the Club decided to embark upon a major course renovation appointing Roger Rulewich and David Fleury. With the work on greens, bunkering and drainage taking place in 2015 and early 2016 the ENC moved temporarily to the nearby La Reserva Club de Golf for two years. Since 2017 the competition has been played on the renovated course.

The Black Tee Championship Course at Sotogrande plays 6,492m with a par of 72. The front nine measures 3,163m and the back 3,329m.

Weather Forecast
The forecast looks great albeit as always the winds will be a factor, particularly in the afternoon. This can cause problems given the numerous water hazards on the course.

Wednesday 19th – Sunny Intervals Min. 14°C / Max. 21°C; E 22mph
Thursday 20th – Sunny Min. 15°C / Max. 22°C; SE 17mph
Friday 21st – Sunny Min. 15°C / Max. 21°C; E 18mph
Saturday 22nd – Sunny Min. 15°C / Max. 22°C; SE 16mph

Past ENC Winners

The home nations have an excellent record, particularly in recent years, in this event.

Team Competition

2022  Spain     2022 ENC Men’s Team Results

SPAIN (+13) completed a wire-to-wire victory last year at RCG Sotogrande.

ENGLAND (+35) finished 2nd, 22-shots behind the home team, with ITALY (+40) coming in 3rd.

WALES (+49) tied 8th, IRELAND (+50) 10th and SCOTLAND (+65) 13th.

Team Results (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

2021  Cancelled
2020  Cancelled

2019  England     2019 ENC Team Results

Defending champions England (+14) retained the European Nations Championship in Spain. Their 878 total was 8 shots better than The Netherlands (+22).

Ireland (+23) were third and Wales (+29), who recorded the lowest final day score (213), were an encouraging 4th. Scotland (+37) had a poor final day and fell away into 8th.

Gareth Jenkins (Manager), Tom Plumb, Tom Sloman, Bailey Gill and Ben Jones
(Photos: @EnglandGolf)

2018  England     2018 ENC Team Results

England – l-r Gareth Jenkins (Manager), David Hague, Gian-Marco Petrozzi, Todd Clements, Graham Walker (Coach) and Matthew Jordan (Photo: Graham Walker)

2017  Wales    2017 ENC Team Results

Wales – l-r Josh Davies, David Boote, Jack Davidson and Owen Edwards (Photo: GUW)

2016  Ireland    2016 ENC Team Results

Ireland – l-r Stuart Grehan, Alex Gleeson, Jack Hume and Dermot McElroy (Photo: GUI)

2015  England
2014  Scotland
2013  England
2012  France
2011  England
2010  England
2009  England
2008  Scotland
2007  Denmark

Past Sherry Cup Team Winners (started 1998)

2006  Spain
2005  Spain
2004  England
2003  England
2002  Wales
2001  England
2000  England
1999  Germany
1998  Spain

Individual Competition

2022 Jaime MONTOJO (ESP)     2022 ENC Men’s Individual Result

Montojo won the Individual competition beating teammate Luis Masaveu in a play-off after both finished on 288 (Ev).

Jaime Montojo (Photo: RFE Golf)

This year it was the turn of Denmark’s Hamish BROWN (+2) to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory at Sotogrande – almost an annual occurrence. With a five shot lead and six holes to play he bogeyed five of his remaining holes to finish on +2 and in 3rd place.

Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) was GB&I’s leading player in the competition, finishing in 5th on +6.

James ASHFIELD (WAL) +10 was 7th, Olly HUGGINS (ENG) +14 tied 10th, Rob MORAN (IRL) +15 13th, Liam NOLAN (IRL) +18 tied 16th and Matt ROBERTS (WAL) and Lewis IRVINE (SCO) +18 both tied 16th.

Leading Individual Results (Graphic: RCG Sotogrande / Golfbox)

2021  Cancelled
2020  Cancelled

2019  Tom Sloman (England)     2019 ENC Individual Results

Tom won the Individual competition with a 294 (+6) total. His final round 77 looked like it would cost him the title but an eagle on 14 and three closing pars ended up being sufficient as is nearest challengers faltered on the demanding Sotogrande course.

Tom Sloman (Photos: @Golfing4Life_)

2018  Todd Clements (England)    2018 ENC Individual Results

Todd secured the Individual title with rounds of 69 73 71 and 70 for a 283 total (-5).

2017  Jack Davidson (Wales)    2017 ENC Individual Results

Jack won the Individual European Nations Cup title by 4-shots last year. Rounds of 70, 70, 70 and 73 (-5), which included 20 birdies and 2 eagles, gave him his second major title in less than a month. He had won the Spanish International Amateur a few weeks before.

2016  Jack Hume (Ireland)    2016 ENC Individual Results

In winning the Individual Jack Hume played one of the best rounds of amateur golf in the world in 2016 at La Reserva. His 64 in Round 2 was an astonishing 8 shots better than any other player in the field.

2015  Mario Galliano (Spain)
2014  Guido Migliori (Italy)
2013  Adrien Saddier (France)
2012  Robin Kind (The Netherlands)
2011  Julien Brun (France)
2010  Nino Bertasio (Italy)
2009  Sam Hutsby (England)
2008  Shane Lowry (Ireland)
2007  Rory McIlroy (Ireland)

Rory McIlroy (Photo: RCG Sotogrande)

Past Sherry Cup Individual Winners

2006  Nigel Edwards (Wales)
2005  Gary Wolstenholme (England)
2004  Francesco Molinari (Italy)
2003  Gary Wolstenholme (England)
2002  Lee Harpin (Wales)
2001  Gary Wolstenholme (England)
2000  Gary Wolstenholme (England)
1999  Marcel Siem (Germany)
1998  Sergio Garcia (Spain)
1997  Sergio Garcia (Spain)

Sergio Gracia (Photo: RCG Sotogrande)

1996  Alvaro Salto (Spain)
1995  José María Zamora (Spain)
1994  Francisco Cea (Spain)
1993  Francisco Valera (Spain)
1992  Frederic Cupillar (France)
1991  Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
1990  Alvaro Prat (Spain)
1989  Diego Borrego (Spain)
1988  Yago Beamonte (Spain)
1987  Yago Beamonte (Spain)
1986  Borja Queipo de Llano (Spain)
1985  José L. Padila (Spain)
1984  John Marks (England)
1983  José L. de Bernardo (Spain)
1982  Borja Queipo de Llano (Spain)
1981  Veit Pagel (Germany)
1980  Jesús López (Spain)
1979  Veit Pagel (Germany)
1978  José L. de Bernardo (Spain)
1977  F. Jiménez (Spain)
1976  Alberto Croze (Italy)
1975  Veit Pagel (Germany)
1974  Veit Pagel (Germany)
1973  Alberto Croze (Italy)
1972  E. de la Riva and J. Gancedo (Spain)
1971  Alberto Croze (Italy)
1970  Henric Adam (England)

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2023, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.