Published by:
Matt Millard
May 30 2025
The England & Wales team for the Partnership Trophy has been finalised following a double-header of qualifiers this week.
Qualifiers staged at Crews Hill, Essex, and Meltham in West Yorkshire saw Partners vying for the chance to represent their country at the showpiece event, which will be staged at Archerfield, Scotland, later this year.
The Partnership Trophy, in association with Callaway, Callaway Apparel, and TravisMathew, pits Partners from the home nations against each other in a Ryder Cup-style event, offering the chance to win prizes from the sponsors—as well as the highly coveted bragging rights.
There were four places available at each qualifier. At Crews Hill, Richard Smith from Rookery Park topped the leaderboard with 38 points, followed closely by Stoneham’s Adam Hickling with 36 points. Sam Smitherman from Royal Cinque Ports scored 35 to finish third, while Hadley Wood’s Jack Frances secured the final spot with 33 points.
Just 24 hours later, Partners teed it up at a windy Meltham Golf Club, where John Fisher from Huyton & Prescot won with 34 points. Aaron Hodkin from Wheatley finished second with 32, while home pro Adrian Ambler and Ben Ratcliffe from Kilnwick Percy placed third and fourth with 31 and 30 points respectively.
Only three of the eight qualifiers have previous experience at the Partnership Trophy final – Ambler, Frances, and Smitherman. Team captain Simon Keeling will lead a largely new-look squad with five rookies, as England and Wales aim to win only their second Trophy. Their sole victory came at the inaugural event in 2016.
One more qualifier for Scotland is still to take place at Scotscraig GC on Thursday, June 12th.
Ireland's qualifiers are yet to be played. The first will take place at Donaghadee Golf Club on Wednesday, June 11th, followed by Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club on Tuesday, June 17th.
Those who qualify will head to Archerfield from September 30th to October 3rd.
For more information or to book your place at a qualifier, contact your Retail Consultant today.
