LANCASHIRE have opted for a blend of youth and experience as they open their Daily Telegraph Northern Counties League campaign against Northumberland at Bolton Old Links on Saturday.
A first full county cap will be awarded to Callan Barrow (pictured), from Royal Lytham & St Annes, who delivered an impressive performance in last week’s Lytham Trophy when he tied 22nd in a field crammed with Europe’s leading amateurs golfers and the bulk of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad.
Barrow, 19, is joined in the team by 18-year-old Luke Kelly (Ashton-under-Lyne), while at the opposite end of the scale in terms of experience are former county champions John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot) and Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park), who have 130 caps between them.
Lancashire will be hoping to go one better than last year, when they finished second behind defending champions Yorkshire in the final game. Paul Williams’ team were crowned champions for three successive seasons from 2012.
LANCASHIRE: James Rooney (West Lancashire); Luke Kelly (Ashton-under-Lyne); Callan Barrow (Royal Lytham & St Annes); Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park); John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot); Ciaran Doherty (Bury); Joe Brice (Manchester); Thomas Winn (Morecambe); Sean Doherty (Rossendale); Mark Duncalf (Formby); Curtis Clarkin (Nelson); Michael Hunt (Pleasington)
Meanwhile, the county Boys’ Championship is at Nelson Sunday.
FIXTURES: May 15 Lancashire Seniors v Cumbria Seniors (Carlisle); May 24 Collinge Trophy (Accrington); May 30 Staffordshire Seniors v Lancashire Seniors (The Chase); June 2-4 Lancashire County Championship (Lancaster)