Penge gets England call as he eyes overdue big victory

Marco Penge has been named in the England team to challenge at the European Nations Cup.
Marco Penge in actionMarco Penge in action
Marco Penge in action

The 18-year-old Horsham golfer is knocking on the door of a big win, having had to settle for second place in three major championships in the last ten months.

England will field two top teams in the competition at Sotogrande in Spain from March 29 to April 1.

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Dan Brown, Penge, Alfie Plant and Jack Singh Brar will aim for England’s seventh win in the men’s event – and to regain the trophy last won in 2015.

Marco Penge in actionMarco Penge in action
Marco Penge in action

Louisa Brunt, Annabell Fuller and Penge’s girlfriend Sophie Lamb will target a first win for an England women’s team.

Golf at Goodwood player Penge was pipped in a play-off for the French amateur last May, was beaten on the 36th hole of the 2017 New South Wales amateur by fellow England squad player Scott Gregory, and bowed out 4/3 in the Spanish Amateur Championship at the start of the month.

But he knows he’s looking good and told his Twitter followers: “What a week! Another great week and I couldn’t have a better start to the season! Two second place finishes! It wasn’t meant to be, but I’m sure a win won’t be far away!”

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He finished runner-up after losing a tight battle against Jack Davidson of Wales at the start of the month. Penge took control in the first part of the final, never dropping behind over the opening 18 holes and going in to lunch with a one-hole lead.

Marco Penge in actionMarco Penge in action
Marco Penge in action

But Davidson squared matters on the 19th and got to 1 up when Penge three-putted the 22nd – and then stayed ahead for the rest of the match. Earlier in the championship, Penge teamed up with fellow internationals Plant and Bradley Moore to win the Nations Cup for England.

Penge and Lamb suffered second-round disappointment in the Sunningdale Foursomes this week.

The pair were defending their title that they won last year at the Berkshire-based club. But it didn’t go to plan for the boyfriend and girlfriend duo who failed to make it past the second round.

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In the opening round, they beat Richard O’Hanlon and John Bevan 4&3, but then lost 2&1 to Graham Powell and Henry Smart.

Penge tweeted: “Well today was one of them days and wasn’t meant to be!! Nothing went our way and we couldn’t get the damn ball in the hole!

“Good luck to everyone who is left In it! We will be back next year!”

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