Boyes, Cooper and Hartshorne named in England U16 team

England Golf has named the eight-player mixed squad which will take on Spain’s U16s at Seaton Carew on April 5-6.

The squad – which consists of four boys and four girls – includes Alex Boyes (Teesside, Yorkshire), Leo Cahi (Cottesmore, Sussex), George Cooper (Doncaster, Yorkshire) and Tom Hartshorne (Teesside, Yorkshire) alongside Lauren Crump (Hill Valley, Shropshire), Ellie Lichtenhein (Buckinghamshire GC, Buckinghamshire), and twins Annabel and Emily Peaford (both Walton Heath, Surrey).

The players bring plenty of experience to the annual event, which is played across two days with four foursomes matches in the mornings before eight singles matches take place in the afternoons. Alex, George and Tom represented England U16s against Ireland last year – with Leo, a South East Regional Squad member, a new inclusion. Meanwhile Lauren, Ellie and Annabel were selected for the 2024 edition of the event, which saw Spain win on home soil in Valencia. The trio, plus Emily, who played in the annual U16 match against Switzerland last year, will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the 2023 side which won at Hunstanton.

Deputy performance director Stephen Burnett said: “The annual U16 match versus Spain is always a fantastic and testing start to the season. Spain have always been strong, especially in the early part of the year, but we’re excited to see an experienced group head to the North East. Alex and Tom are both Teesside-based, so their course knowledge could be vital – while Annabel, Ellie and Lauren can draw on their experience from last year.