England Golf has announced new appointments to its Performance Team, including Cumbria’s Janet Melville as Senior Women’s captain.
Janet, who hails from Cumbria and was inducted into the England Golf Hall of Fame earlier this year, has had a decorated golf career.
She won the 1978 Women’s British Strokeplay and Women’s British Open at the age of 20 as an amateur – one of only three amateurs ever to win the championship, and the only winner who never turned professional. She later added the Women’s Amateur (1987) to complete the hat-trick of all three major British titles.
On the team front, Janet represented England and GB&I in the Girls’ and Women’s Home Internationals, European Senior Team Championships (winning silver and two bronzes), the Commonwealth Trophy, and two Vagliano Trophies, and captained the Junior Vagliano team in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
She has also won the English Senior Women’s Championship (2013) and two Senior Strokeplay titles.
Janet replaces Kent’s Angela Jones, who enjoyed a six-year stint as captain of the side, leading them to European glory in 2025 and winning the Senior Women’s Home Internationals three times.
Despite stepping down as captain, Angela will remain a women’s and girls’ selector. She said: “I started my captaincy in 2021 when golf was still restricted by Covid regulations and all that the team could play in was a modified Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa with only four players. However, this turned out to be a great experience as we had five England teams all playing and winning, resulting in a great photo of all the winning teams together.
“Our main target is always the European Senior Women’s Team Championship, and in the four iterations from 2022 to 2025, we gradually improved our finishing position each year, gaining the bronze medal in 2024 in Slovenia and a fabulous gold medal in 2025 at Pula Golf Club in Mallorca – a truly memorable experience.
“It’s been both a pleasure and a privilege to lead all the talented women who have represented England during that time.”
Meanwhile, Alexandra Ling and Hayley Davis have been added to the Women’s & Girls’ Selection Committee.
Alexandra, 32, has achieved some incredible milestones in her golfing career, including shooting a 63 at the LET Ladies European Masters at The Buckinghamshire with a record-breaking back nine of 29. She was crowned English Amateur champion in 2012, and represented GB&I in the 2013 Vagliano Trophy. After turning professional in 2014, she earned her LET card, having proudly represented England internationally since the age of 13. A member of Shifnal Golf Club (Shropshire), Alexandra currently works as the head of property services for UK Banking.
Hayley, 33, attended Baylor in Texas on a golf scholarship, was English Women’s Amateur champion in 2010, and English Women’s Open Strokeplay champion in 2014. She represented England at the World Team Championship, European Team Championship, and Home Internationals – including playing alongside Bronte Law and Gabriella Cowley at the World Team Championship in 2014. Attached to Ferndown Golf Club in Dorset, Hayley was also the Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit winner in 2019.
England Golf has also announced two additions to the Men’s Selection Committee – Jack Merry and Steve Wilson.
Jack, 30, won the 2019 Craw’s Nest Tassie at Carnoustie (first in strokeplay qualifying and overall matchplay champion), and won the 2015 Leicestershire Fox. He was part of the Birstall Golf Club team which won the 2015 English Men’s Champion Club (finishing second in the individual strokeplay) and represented England in the 2015 European Champion Club at Minthis Hills, Cyprus. He also enjoyed top 10 finishes at the 2015 Hampshire Salver and 2014 Lagonda Trophy, and represented England Schools in 2012. He was also a member of the England Golf Regional Coaching Squad for the Midlands Region from 2009-2011. A member of Rothley Park Golf Club (Leicestershire & Rutland), Jack works in academic quality in higher education.
Steve, 56, was a scratch player as a teenager and previously managed the Boys’ South U18 Region. A member of Bearwood Lakes (Berkshire), he is chief operating officer for a creative event agency and production company.
