10:50am Saturday 20th December 2008
SWINDON youngsters Miles Mackman and Sam Matton have been named in the 2009 England A squad, which has been merged with the Under 21 squad in a streamlining of the English Golf Union’s (EGU) coaching system.
Mackman, 22, a member of Broome Manor, this year won the South West Youths Championship and the West of England Match Play Championship.
He also finished runner-up in the South West Counties Strokeplay Championship after losing a playoff, against Jon White of Devon.
He had creditable finishes in the Hampshire Salver (fourth), the Duncan Putter (tied sixth), Berkhamsted Trophy (tied sixth), Welsh Amateur (tied 12th), Lagonda Trophy (tied 14th), West of England Strokeplay (tied 15th), the St Andrews Trophy (tied 15th), the Brabazon Trophy (tied 18th) and the Lytham Trophy (tied 25th).
Mackman and Matton were top scorers for Wiltshire in the English County Finals at Hollinwell, Nottingham.
Matton, 20, a member at both Bowood & Broome Manor golf clubs, won the Parman Championship, formerly the St Mellion International, and finished tied ninth in the Italian Amateur and reached the UK finals of the Faldo Series 2008.
He successfully defended the Broome Manor Club Championship setting a new championship record of 14 under par for the 36 holes on the par 71 course, with rounds of 63 and 65.
Broome Manor again proved kind, when in September, he won the Wiltshire Matchplay Championship beating Wiltshire captain Ali James in a thrilling 12-birdie season finale.
Mackman finished 20th in the PING/EGU Order of Merit Table 2008 while Matton finished a further eighth places down the listing in 28th position.
The remaining England A squad members: Jason Barnes (Chart Hills), Andrew Cooley (Chobham), Jonathan Gidney (Church Stretton), Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth), Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford), Craig Hinton (The Oxfordshire), Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale), Adam Keogh (Boston West), Gary King (Tyrrells Wood), Ben Martin (Worthing), Ryan Newman (Brookmans Park), Matt Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne), James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale), Tom Shadbolt (Mid Herts), Jake Shepherd (The Wisley), Michael Swan (Stoke-by-Nayland) and Adam Wainwright (Gainsborough).
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