Cumbria golfer, 14, called up for England
Last updated 14:17, Thursday, 28 August 2008
CUMBRIAN schoolboy Seb Crookall-Nixon has taken another step towards his dream of becoming a professional after he was handed an England place for next year.
The 14-year-old has been handed a place in the English Golf Union’s under-16 squad for 2009, and will have the benefits of warm weather winter coaching in South Africa and expert advice on nutrition, physiotherapy and sports psychology.
It marks another major step forward for Crookall-Nixon, who made his England under-16 debut in an international against Spain earlier this month.
He lost 3&2 on his debut at Heswall on Merseyside as England crashed to a 8½-3½ defeat, but is hoping for better luck next week when he is part of a three-man England team competing in an international field at the Italian Open, near Milan.
England under-16 manager Tommy Flinn rang him yesterday to confirm his selection for next year, which caps an incredible year for the teenager, from Papcastle, near Cockermouth.
He won the English Boys’ Under-16 Strokeplay Championship last month and also became the youngest-ever player to represent the Cumbria men’s team when he played in the victory over Yorkshire. The Cockermouth School pupil has already won the Cockermouth Club Championship and is aiming for a double by also winning the Workington Club Championship after securing a place in the September 7 final after his semi-final victory on Tuesday.
Crookall-Nixon said: “I would be very pleased to be in the top five at the Italian Open, although my main target is to win it.
“It’s another step up for me and the more time I play for England, the more experience I get.
“It was great to get confirmation about my selection for next year. It was a relief to find out because it means I can now relax and focus on my game knowing I’ve been selected.
“It’s good to have the opportunity to show what I’m made of, and having things like warm weather training and all the coaching will really improve my game.”
Crookall-Nixon’s packed schedule will see him play in today’s practice round for the 36-hole Faldo Series regional final at Trentham Golf Club in Stoke.
The top two will advance to the final in Brazil, and the youngster admits he would have preferred to have had more chance to relax and also get have more practice with coaches Steve Harrison and Paul Jenkinson.
He said: “I’ve over-flowed my dairy a bit. My ratio of practice to competition is the wrong way round. Next year with school and my GCSEs, I’m going to have to sit down and decide what I’m going to play in.
“I haven’t had a lot of time to prepare for Italy as I’ve been playing non-stop in recent weeks.”
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