Staff WriterIn the fading Lincolnshire sunshine, England’s golfers turned the Men’s & Women’s Home Internationals into a red-rose revival, edging a nail-biter against Wales 12-9 on the final day at Woodhall Spa to sweep all three matches and reclaim the crown from Ireland.
It’s now three wins from four since the men’s and women’s events merged in 2022 — and this one tasted especially sweet, coming hot on the heels of the Girls’ and Boys’ triumphs in Cork just days earlier. The past five days have been a showcase of English steel, skill, and stubborn refusal to roll over.
“Home Internationals week is always a challenge as the players across all four home nations seem to get stronger and stronger,” said Jenny Henderson, Team Captain and Manager. “All the players this week did a great job in promoting England Golf and themselves, and it was a great result in the end to add to the Girls & Boys yesterday.”
A three-trophy day with everything on the line
Sunday was no stroll down the fairway. All three pieces of silverware — the men’s, women’s, and combined trophies — were still up for grabs when play began. England’s men had already handled Scotland (13-8) and just edged Ireland (11.5-9.5), giving them the lead in both the men’s and combined standings, though the women trailed in second.
A 5-2 foursomes lead over Wales looked like the perfect launch pad. But golf has a habit of pulling rabbits out of hats, and Ireland’s last-gasp putt on 18 snatched the women’s title away. That left the combined and men’s titles still in the balance, with the tension wound tighter than a tour pro’s glove.
Tom Osborne, representing Lindrick, delivered the first knockout with a 2&1 win to seal the combined title. Then it was debutant Jamie Van Wyk’s turn. Standing on the 17th with a birdie putt for the match, he rolled it home like he’d been doing it for decades, not his first week in national colours.
Resilience, new blood, and a Red Rose roar
“For the men, it was an up and down week and we didn’t always start well, but our true quality shone through,” said Men’s Manager Ben Gorvett. “It was fantastic to see some new blood in the team, and you would expect them to be nervous, but not these boys. They came up trumps.
“The Men & Women showed true resilience throughout, especially as we were at home, and we’re really pleased with the result.”
England’s men have now lifted the trophy in five of the last seven years, winning four of the last five. The standout scorers this week were Eliot Baker and Sophia Fullbrook, each racking up five points from a possible six — the golfing equivalent of leaving the rest in their dust.
Squads that delivered
Men’s: Eliot Baker (Tiverton), Ben Bolton (Enville), Seb Cave (Coxmoor), Dominic Clemons (Gog Magog), Lewy Hayward (Marlborough), Tom Osborne (Lindrick), Jake Sowden (The Oaks), Freddie Turnell (Burnham & Berrow), Jamie Van Wyk (Royal Lytham & St Anne’s).
Manager: Ben Gorvett | Lead Coach: Rob Watts
Women’s: Sophia Fullbrook (The Melbourne Club), Lily Hirst (Huddersfield), Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury), Nellie Ong (Eaton), Patience Rhodes (Burnham & Berrow), Amelia Wan (Coxmoor), Davina Xanh (Burnham & Berrow).
Manager: Jenny Henderson | Lead Coach: Steve Robinson
Day One v Scotland
Day Two v Ireland
Day Three v Wales
Final Standings
From the first tee shot to the last putt, the Men’s & Women’s Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa reminded everyone that golf is as much about grit as it is about grace — and England had both in spades.
