Eleven of England’s most promising young golfers are set to showcase their talents on an international stage at the Boys & Girls German International Amateur Championship.
Held at the prestigious Golf Club Hardenberg from Thursday, May 30th to Saturday, June 1st, this event promises a thrilling display of future golf stars in action.
Representing England in the girls’ event are Sadie Adams (Royal Birkdale), Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury), Chloe Tarbard (Royal Norwich), Amelia Wan (Sherwood Forest), and Ellie Lichtenhein (Buckinghamshire). The boys’ team features Ben Bolton (Enville), Seb Desoisa (Alcadeisa, Spain), Daniel Hayes (Bramhall), Monty Holcombe (Walton Heath), Oliver Toyer (St Neots), and Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley).
The competition format consists of 54 holes of stroke play over three days, a true test of skill and endurance.
Women’s Performance Manager Becca Hembrough expressed her excitement: “We’re very much looking forward to our youngsters testing themselves against the best amateurs in Europe at one of the premier individual championships they will play in during the year.”
Girls’ Team Highlights
Sadie Adams (Royal Birkdale, Lancashire)
- Adams, 17, claimed victory at the Fairhaven Trophy in April and secured a top-10 finish in the Scottish Girls’ Open Championship. She was a member of the GB&I Junior Vagliano team in 2023 and represented England at the European Girls’ Team Championship and R&A Girls’ & Boys’ Home Internationals.
Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury, Shropshire)
- McDonald-O’Brien, also 17, finished in the top 10 at the Junior Orange Bowl Invitational and the top 20 at the European Nations Cup in Sotogrande, Spain. She reached the semi-finals of The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in 2023 and won the Fairhaven Trophy. Her contributions were vital in England’s victory at The R&A Women’s & Men’s Home Internationals in August and the European Girls’ Team Championship.
Chloe Tarbard (Royal Norwich, Norfolk)
- At 16, Tarbard won the Scottish Girls’ Open Championship in April and placed third at the Fairhaven Trophy. In 2023, she clinched the English U16 Girls’ Open Amateur Stroke Play and was part of the GB&I Junior Vagliano team.
Amelia Wan (Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire)
- Wan, 17, finished fifth at the European Nations Cup in Sotogrande, Spain. Her 2023 highlights include helping England win the R&A Women’s & Men’s Home Internationals and finishing seventh in the English Girls’ Open Amateur Stroke Play. She also achieved top-five finishes at the Fairhaven Trophy and the Northampton Tigress.
Ellie Lichtenhein (Buckinghamshire)
- Lichtenhein, at just 14, finished second in this year’s Fairhaven Trophy and played a significant role in the England v Spain U16 match, securing 2.5 out of 4 points. She also contributed to Buckinghamshire’s Women’s County Finals victory in September and achieved top-10 finishes in the R&A Girls’ U16 Amateur Championship and the English Girls’ Open Amateur Stroke Play in 2023.
Boys’ Team Highlights
Ben Bolton (Enville, Staffordshire)
- Bolton, 17, tied for third at the Peter McEvoy Trophy in April. He has represented England in the Octagonal Match in Spain and the International Match v France. His 2024 season is off to a strong start with top-20 finishes at the U18 French Open, Portuguese International Amateur, and Junior Orange Bowl International. In 2023, he won the Faldo Series Grand Final in the UAE and the European Young Masters in Slovakia.
Seb Desoisa (Alcadeisa GC, Spain)
- Gibraltar’s Desoisa, also 17, has been a formidable competitor, securing 13 top-five finishes since early 2023, including wins at the Spanish U18 Championship and multiple TORO TOUR Costa del Sol Winter Series events.
Daniel Hayes (Bramhall, Cheshire)
- Hayes, 17, boasts five top-five finishes in the USA, UK, and Spain over the past 15 months. His accolades include a victory at The Cheshire Cat, a tied-second finish at the English U18 Amateur Stroke Play Championship, and third place at the Spanish U18 International Championship. He also represented England in the Octagonal Match in Spain.
Monty Holcombe (Walton Heath, Surrey)
- Holcombe, 17, led Surrey to victory in the Boys’ County Finals and represented GB&I at the Jacques Leglise Trophy. He finished in the top 10 at the Peter McEvoy Trophy and in the top 20 at the U18 French Open.
Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley, Essex)
- Rusbridge, 16, won the Keating Trophy in April and secured fourth place at the Fairhaven Trophy shortly after. He placed third at the U18 French Open and achieved top-20 finishes at the Portuguese International Amateur Championship and the Peter McEvoy Trophy.
Oliver Toyer (St Neots, Cambridgeshire)
- Toyer, 17, achieved top-10 finishes at the Fairhaven Trophy, Hampshire Salver, and World Junior Golf Championship in Spain this year. In 2023, he finished second in the English U18 Amateur Open Stroke Play and made it to the last 16 of The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship.
These young athletes are set to make a significant impact at the German International Amateur Championship, bringing with them an impressive array of achievements and a wealth of experience.
England Golf’s future looks bright with these rising stars ready to take on Europe’s best.
