International Pairs UK

Woods and Briggs Have World Glory In Sights

WOODS AND BRIGGS HAVE WORLD GLORY IN SIGHTS

Teenagers Tom Woods and Elliott Briggs will be aiming to add the world title to their English crown when they take their place in the 2008 International Pairs World Final at St Andrews next month.
Woods, who plays off 15, and eight-handicapper Briggs upset the form book last October when they produced a performance beyond their tender years to stun an experienced field to win the English title on the historic links at Carnoustie in the 2007 International Pairs UK Final.
The 17-year-olds will line up against competitors from 29 other countries at the Home of Golf at The Duke’s, St Andrews, from September 21-23 - in the world’s largest tournament of its kind for club golfers.
And the pair, who play at Howley Hall Golf Club, in Morley, Leeds, are optimistic that they can produce a repeat performance when they return to Scotland.
Woods said: “After the first day we thought we had a chance of doing something at Carnoustie and we’re hopeful about next month.
“Both our handicaps have come down since we won the English title and we’re planning to play lots of golf between now and the final.
“I haven’t played that much this summer because I also play cricket but that’s nearly finished for the season, I’m playing lots of golf now and am really looking forward to going to St Andrews.”
Woods and Briggs will be joined by six other pairs from the UK as they battle for the chance to succeed Scarborough South Cliff duo Shaun Smith and Simon Deaves as world champions.
Deen (correct) Graves and Martyn Ashcroft, from Dawlish Warren Golf Club near Exeter, will lead the challenge after winning the 2007 UK Final at Carnoustie last year and they will be joined at The Duke’s by father and son team Bryan and Aled Williams, the Welsh champions from Cottrell Park GC, Cardiff.
Bonnybridge duo John Maxwell and Stephen Brown will represent the home nation as Scottish champions and the UK line-up will be completed by Dunscar duo Jim Callaghan and Mark Gregory, Market Rasen Golf Club’s Roy Knowles and David Steel and Andrew Richardson and Mike Greener, from Woodham GC, near Durham.
Graves and Ashcroft made history last year when they followed up their success in the International Pairs 2001 UK Finals by winning the title for a second time and they are hopeful their good run in the competition - the largest of its kind for club golfers in the world - can continue.
Ashcroft, a property developer in Torquay, said: “We haven’t had the chance to play that much this year because work has been quite difficult but we have set aside the whole of September to practice.
“We’re both really excited about it and it would be great to bring the world title back to Torquay.”
The 2008 world final, the fifth in International Pairs’ history, promises to be the most spectacular yet with competitors from countries including America, South Africa, Malaysia, Iceland, Ireland and Nigeria taking part.
The players will march through the historic streets of St Andrews accompanied by the St Andrews Pipe Band and schoolchildren from across Fife as part of a glittering opening ceremony, before the action switches to The Duke’s for a 36-hole fourball betterball Stableford competition - which will be screened to a worldwide television audience of tens of millions of people.
And the event, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2008 and has been backed by Visit Scotland for the last six years, is poised to get even bigger as it is set to expand into 52 countries.
Australia, Sweden, Russia and the Caribbean have all joined International Pairs this year while it has also signed agreements with the English Golf Union and International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) in the last 12 months.
Ross Honey, founder and chairman of International Pairs, said: “This year is a notable landmark for International Pairs and it seems fitting that the world final will be staged in Scotland at the Home of Golf.
“Scotland has played a pivotal role in the development of the competition and I really believe we haven’t scratched the surface of what we can achieve. It’s very exciting.
“We have been able to establish fantastic international partners all over the world. And I think with the people and global family we have created we can build an amazing means of moving forward.”
To enter the International Pairs and to register a club, please call 01489 878509, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Alternatively, visit the Pairs’ website at www.internationalpairs.com.

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