We can hit ‘em for Six
Last updated 11:46, Thursday, 14 August 2008
WALKER CUP star Gary Wolstenholme believes Cumbria can pull off a big surprise on Saturday by winning the EGU Northern Counties qualifier, known as the Big Six.
County captain Cliff Heath sends his top six players into battle against Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, Lancashire and hosts the Isle of Man, aiming for a place in the national final.
The team collected a major confidence boost in the run up to Saturday’s qualifier by defeating Yorkshire at Workington on Saturday, and Wolstenholme can see no reason why Cumbria can’t record another shock victory at Castletown.
England’s most capped amateur player will represent Cumbria for the first time in the event, and the team has been further boosted by the return of Workington’s Will Bowe, who missed the weekend success.
Wolstenholme, who represents Carrus Green Golf Club, and his Cumbria team-mates sail to the Isle of Man today for a practise round tomorrow in preparation for the tournament.
He said: “The other teams are looking at us as potential winners, which is something we may not have been used to in the past.
“We have a great opportunity to fulfil Cliff’s dream of making it to the County Finals if everyone plays half decently. We managed to win on Saturday without Will Bowe and now he is back it will hopefully strengthen out team.
“We have the potential of a winning team if everyone plays to their best as we have players like John Longcake, who is an old hand, Simon Young, Martin Hand, Nicky Bell and myself are experienced guys, and we’re in reasonably good form.
Wolstenholme, Silloth’s John Longcake, Workington’s Simon Young and Carlisle’s Martin Hand go into Saturday’s event having been boosted by winning both their foursomes and singles matches on Saturday in Cumbria’s 9½-8½ victory.
Cumbria: John Longcake (Silloth), Gary Wolstenholme (Carus Green), Will Bowe (Workington), Martin Hand (Carlisle), Simon Young (Workington), Nicky Bell (Carlisle), reserves: James Atkinson (Kendal), Geoff Nixon (Brampton) and Craig Morrow (Ulverston).
