The Island Games golf team, from left, Matt Barnicoat, Mark Bell, George Foreman, Chris Reed and manager Martin Goodall.
ISLAND GAMES GOLFHOPES are high the Island’s men’s golf team will figure prominently in the medals at this year’s Island Games in Aland.
After a two-year selection process involving the IW Golf Union’s five annual events, four players have been chosen to fly the flag for the Island on Aland’s tough courses.
Team manager Martin Goodall said: "This is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most experienced teams the IW has produced in recent games and all the golfers have the potential to figure in the individual standings, on what are expected to be tough courses in Aland.
"Their record of consistent high quality golf through qualifying will stand them in good stead over the competition.
"This team should do well in the team event, we are all looking forward to the games and to challenging the Bermudans who won both individual and team competitions in Rhodes."
All four golfers will take part in a four-day, 72-hole scratch competition, with the team event running concurrently as the best three scores counting at the end of each day contribute towards a final team score.
Three of the team are from Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club, with the fourth member coming from Ryde.
From Shanklin and Sandown, one of the best medal hopes comes in the shape of Mark Bell, 2007 Island Games silver medallist and three-time IW champion.
Mark led the qualifying list by some distance and was assured of his place before a ball was struck at the final qualifying event last September.
This is Mark’s fourth consecutive appearance at the Island Games and will undoubtedly be targeting one place higher on the medal rostrum this time round having come so close two years ago in the heat of Rhodes.
He is again joined by George Foreman, who also played for the IW in the 2007 Rhodes games and the Gotland games in 1999.
During qualifying, George produced two second places and in 2008 placed in the top five in all the IW Golf Union events, his selection is reward for consistent play in the last two years.
The third team member is Chris Reed, who played in the 2005 Shetland games.
His qualifying record was equally impressive, including two wins and second place finishes.
Having narrowly missed out on qualifying for Rhodes, Chris is keen to play well this time around. The final squad member to qualify was Ryde’s Matt Barnicoat, who makes his Island Games debut this year.
Matt finished runner up in the 2007 IW Championship and had one further second place before winning the final qualifying event on his home course.
He was fourth in the ranking system and his win at Ryde featured a superb round under pressure, which will be a good memory to draw upon in Aland.