THE 2019 England v Spain international gets underway at Formby Golf Club today with the teams spurred on by good luck messages from Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal.
Videos from the three Ryder Cup heroes were played at the opening ceremony – urging the teams to play their best and to make lasting friendships.
Rose and Garcia played in the same match in 1997, when other team mates included Luke Donald and Jose Manuel Lara.
England won that year – 161/2-71/2 – with Rose taking three-and-a-half points from a possible four, including a foursomes win over Garcia.
Justin joked: “I’m still good friends to this day with Sergio and Jose Manuel – enjoy it, but not too much. I don’t want to hear any ‘Vamos!’ I want to hear lots of ‘Come On!’”
Garcia said: “I hope you have an amazing match, play some great golf, have fun with your team-mates and opponents and for some of you thinking about turning pro, keep at it, stay patient and be confident.”
Olazabal won the Amateur Championship at Formby, and he told the players: “Formby has a special place in my heart. I have wonderful memories of this place.”
He went on: “I really believe playing this match will be a great learning experience for all of you, and I hope you enjoy it as much as you can.”
First England v Spain match in 1985
THE match started in 1985 as a men’s fixture with England leading Spain 14-2 by 2013. It became a mixed event in 2015 – when England won at Long Ashton GC.
England have won both matches played so far. The teams are made up of six men and four women with four of the players ranked in the world top 50 – Somerset’s Tom Sloman and Bel Wardle for England; and Victor Pastor and Eduard Rousaud for Spain.
The weather could be a crucial factor in the match, with strong winds forecast for tomorrow. As a result the singles will be played before the foursomes.
This year’s international match is dedicated to the memory of Spain’s Celia Barquin Arozomena, who was murdered while at college in the USA last year, shortly after winning the European Ladies’ Championship.
This week, all the players and officials are wearing badges bearing her initials and a minute’s silence was observed at the opening ceremony.
The England international team comprises Yorkshire pair Ben Hutchinson and Bailey Gill, Devon’s Jake Burnage, Somerset’s Tom Sloman, Dorset’s Tom Plumb, Essex’s Georgina Blackman and Lily-May Humphreys, Cheshire’s Bel Wardle and Cornwall’s Emily Toy.
Singles pairings:
Lily-May Humphreys (Stoke by Nayland) v Carla Tejedo
Emily Toy (Carlyon Bay) v Nieves Martin
Bel Wardle (Prestbury) v Marta Garcia
Georgina Blackman (Chelmsford) v Oihana Etxezarreta
Tom Sloman (Taunton & Puckeridge) v Sergio Parriego
Tom Plumb (Yeovil) v Asier Aguirre
Ben Hutchinson (Howley Hall) v Victor Pastor
Ben Jones (Northamptonshire County) v Eduard Rousaud
Bailey Gill (Lindrick) v Adrian Mata
Jake Burnage (Saunton) v Jorges Maicas
