England Golf has launched its new Team England Golf – Professional Golf Development Programme, a major investment designed to give young professional English golfers the competitive starts and structured support to excel in the professional game.
From 2026, England Golf has secured playing opportunities for both male and female players across two key professional circuits: the HotelPlanner Tour and the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS).
The programme represents one of the most significant enhancements to England’s performance pathway in recent years. As part of this, male players recently competed in the all-new English Open at The Vale Golf Club, while the Women’s English Open will provide opportunities for a number of females at The Manchester Golf Club from 8-10 July.
Expanding Playing Opportunities
HotelPlanner Tour (Men)
- 50 England Golf invites across the 2026 season
- English players may receive up to nine tournament invitations which includes the English-based events
- Amateurs eligible to earn Order of Merit points
LET Access Series (Women)
- 35 England Golf invites across the 2026 season
- No limit on the number of starts per player
- Amateurs eligible to earn LETAS Order of Merit points
A Clear Pathway with Strong Support
Players selected for Team England Golf will:
- Wear the England Golf logo on headwear, apparel or bag for a minimum of two years
- Share performance data and contribute up to three days per year to support the amateur game
- Receive ongoing access to The National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa and ongoing management support
Agreements will run for one year, with players eligible for up to three agreements across three years.
England Golf Performance Director Nigel Edwards hailed the programme as a landmark moment for the national pathway, saying: “This is a transformational step for performance golf in England. For years, we’ve seen talented amateurs reach the cusp of the professional game but struggle to access the competitive starts they need to truly progress. This programme changes that.
“It gives our players meaningful opportunities on recognised tours, allowing them to test themselves, learn quickly and build the foundations for long-term professional success. What excites me most is the clarity this brings to the pathway. Whether it’s a male player aiming for the DP World Tour or a female player targeting LET status, we are giving them the competitive platform to make that jump with confidence. It’s a programme built on opportunity, accountability and ambition – and it will raise standards across the board.”
Measuring Success
Success for the programme will be defined by:
- Male players becoming self-sufficient on the HotelPlanner Tour or securing DP World Tour playing rights
- Female players achieving LETAS exemption or earning LET membership via a top-seven Order of Merit finish
- Amateurs gaining valuable professional starts, building experience and transitional relationships with England Golf
Event Allocations
England Golf will exchange invites with other nations to maximise opportunities for English players on both the HotelPlanner Tour and LETAS.
Find out more below about the individuals who are being supported through the programme - which also saw Bradley Bawden finish tied-3rd at the Interwetten Open (Austria) on an England Golf invite recently.
MEN'S PLAYERS
George Bloor
The programme represents one of the most significant enhancements to England’s performance pathway in recent years. As part of this, male players recently competed in the all-new English Open at The Vale Golf Club, while the Women’s English Open will provide opportunities for a number of females at The Manchester Golf Club from 8-10 July.
Expanding Playing Opportunities
HotelPlanner Tour (Men)
- 50 England Golf invites across the 2026 season
- English players may receive up to nine tournament invitations which includes the English-based events
- Amateurs eligible to earn Order of Merit points
LET Access Series (Women)
- 35 England Golf invites across the 2026 season
- No limit on the number of starts per player
- Amateurs eligible to earn LETAS Order of Merit points
A Clear Pathway with Strong Support
Players selected for Team England Golf will:
- Wear the England Golf logo on headwear, apparel or bag for a minimum of two years
- Share performance data and contribute up to three days per year to support the amateur game
- Receive ongoing access to The National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa and ongoing management support
Agreements will run for one year, with players eligible for up to three agreements across three years.
England Golf Performance Director Nigel Edwards hailed the programme as a landmark moment for the national pathway, saying: “This is a transformational step for performance golf in England. For years, we’ve seen talented amateurs reach the cusp of the professional game but struggle to access the competitive starts they need to truly progress. This programme changes that.
“It gives our players meaningful opportunities on recognised tours, allowing them to test themselves, learn quickly and build the foundations for long-term professional success. What excites me most is the clarity this brings to the pathway. Whether it’s a male player aiming for the DP World Tour or a female player targeting LET status, we are giving them the competitive platform to make that jump with confidence. It’s a programme built on opportunity, accountability and ambition – and it will raise standards across the board.”
Measuring Success
Success for the programme will be defined by:
- Male players becoming self-sufficient on the HotelPlanner Tour or securing DP World Tour playing rights
- Female players achieving LETAS exemption or earning LET membership via a top-seven Order of Merit finish
- Amateurs gaining valuable professional starts, building experience and transitional relationships with England Golf
Event Allocations
England Golf will exchange invites with other nations to maximise opportunities for English players on both the HotelPlanner Tour and LETAS.
Find out more below about the individuals who are being supported through the programme - which also saw Bradley Bawden finish tied-3rd at the Interwetten Open (Austria) on an England Golf invite recently.
MEN'S PLAYERS
George Bloor
Amateur:
- Runner-up at English Amateur Championship
- Runner-up at North of England Amateur Championship
Professional:
- Membership: HotelPlanner Tour (category 14)
- Won the 2023 Clutch Pro Tour
- Tied-2nd in 2026 Swiss Challenge
- Played in the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush
Barclay Brown
- Runner-up at English Amateur Championship
- Runner-up at North of England Amateur Championship
Professional:
- Membership: HotelPlanner Tour (category 14)
- Won the 2023 Clutch Pro Tour
- Tied-2nd in 2026 Swiss Challenge
- Played in the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush
Barclay Brown
Amateur:
- Former member of England U18 Squad
- Three-time Home Internationals winner
- Played in three European Team Championships
- Represented GB&I in two Jacques Leglise Trophies as Playing Captain
- Won 2018 Carris Trophy
- Former England Men’s Squad member
- Part of GB&I’s 2021 and 2023 Walker Cup Squads
- Enjoyed two Collegiate wins in the USA
- Tied-1st in stroke play stages of 2022 British Amateur Stroke Play Championship
- Finished 2nd in stroke play stages of 2023 European Team Championship
- Played in majors; 2022 Open Championship (made cut), 2023 US Open
- Won 6.5 points from 13 matches played for England
Professional:
- Membership: Clutch Pro Tour – 2025 Winners Category, Alps Tour – Top 10 OOM in Egypt Swing Category
- Two-time Clutch Pro Tour winner
- Made five cuts on Challenge Tour
- 2026 Pebble Beach Pro Am Invitational winner
- 3rd-place finish at 2026 Swiss Challenge
- Tied-3rd finish at 2026 English Open
- 2026 Alps Tour Egypt Swing – 3rd
Bailey Gill
- Former member of England U18 Squad
- Three-time Home Internationals winner
- Played in three European Team Championships
- Represented GB&I in two Jacques Leglise Trophies as Playing Captain
- Won 2018 Carris Trophy
- Former England Men’s Squad member
- Part of GB&I’s 2021 and 2023 Walker Cup Squads
- Enjoyed two Collegiate wins in the USA
- Tied-1st in stroke play stages of 2022 British Amateur Stroke Play Championship
- Finished 2nd in stroke play stages of 2023 European Team Championship
- Played in majors; 2022 Open Championship (made cut), 2023 US Open
- Won 6.5 points from 13 matches played for England
Professional:
- Membership: Clutch Pro Tour – 2025 Winners Category, Alps Tour – Top 10 OOM in Egypt Swing Category
- Two-time Clutch Pro Tour winner
- Made five cuts on Challenge Tour
- 2026 Pebble Beach Pro Am Invitational winner
- 3rd-place finish at 2026 Swiss Challenge
- Tied-3rd finish at 2026 English Open
- 2026 Alps Tour Egypt Swing – 3rd
Bailey Gill
Amateur:
- Former England Men's Squad member
- 2nd-place at 2018 Portuguese Amateur Championship, top-5 finish in 2019, and top-10 in 2017
- Won the 2017 Darwin Salver
- 2nd-place finish at 2017 Dutch Junior Open
- Winner of the 2016 Welsh Open Youths
- Top-10 finishes in British Amateur, St Andrew Links Trophy (twice), Spanish Amateur, Portuguese Amateur (three times), and Brabazon Trophy
- Part of 2019 Walker Cup squad and reached WAGR #52, 2nd in European Men’s ranking
- Represented England in matches against France and Spain, as well as at the Costa Ballena Octangular, Home Internationals, and European Nations Cup
- Picked up 10 points from 18 matches played for England
Professional:
- Membership: HotelPlanner Tour (category 13)
- Won twice on the MENA Golf Tour
- Won three times on the Clutch Pro Tour
- Won once on Jamega Pro Golf Tour
- Won three times on the 2020protour
- Made 11 cuts in 22 Challenge Tour events, and played in three DP World Tour events
Conor Gough
- Former England Men's Squad member
- 2nd-place at 2018 Portuguese Amateur Championship, top-5 finish in 2019, and top-10 in 2017
- Won the 2017 Darwin Salver
- 2nd-place finish at 2017 Dutch Junior Open
- Winner of the 2016 Welsh Open Youths
- Top-10 finishes in British Amateur, St Andrew Links Trophy (twice), Spanish Amateur, Portuguese Amateur (three times), and Brabazon Trophy
- Part of 2019 Walker Cup squad and reached WAGR #52, 2nd in European Men’s ranking
- Represented England in matches against France and Spain, as well as at the Costa Ballena Octangular, Home Internationals, and European Nations Cup
- Picked up 10 points from 18 matches played for England
Professional:
- Membership: HotelPlanner Tour (category 13)
- Won twice on the MENA Golf Tour
- Won three times on the Clutch Pro Tour
- Won once on Jamega Pro Golf Tour
- Won three times on the 2020protour
- Made 11 cuts in 22 Challenge Tour events, and played in three DP World Tour events
Conor Gough
Amateur:
- Career-high WAGR #2
- Represented England Boys
- Represented GB&I at 2019 Walker Cup
- Represented Europe at 2018 Junior Ryder Cup
- Represented GB&I at 2018 Jacques Leglise Trophy
- Represented University of North Carolina at Charlotte from 2021-2025, including seven top-10 finishes in NCAA tournaments, and further seven top-20 finishes
- English Amateur Champion in 2019
- Major Champions Invitational Winner 2019
- Boys’ Amateur Champion 2018
- Fairhaven Trophy winner 2018
- McGregor Trophy winner 2018
- Reid Trophy winner 2017
- Douglas Johns Trophy winner 2017
Professional:
- Membership: Clutch Pro Tour (full membership), turned professional summer 2025
Will Hopkins
- Career-high WAGR #2
- Represented England Boys
- Represented GB&I at 2019 Walker Cup
- Represented Europe at 2018 Junior Ryder Cup
- Represented GB&I at 2018 Jacques Leglise Trophy
- Represented University of North Carolina at Charlotte from 2021-2025, including seven top-10 finishes in NCAA tournaments, and further seven top-20 finishes
- English Amateur Champion in 2019
- Major Champions Invitational Winner 2019
- Boys’ Amateur Champion 2018
- Fairhaven Trophy winner 2018
- McGregor Trophy winner 2018
- Reid Trophy winner 2017
- Douglas Johns Trophy winner 2017
Professional:
- Membership: Clutch Pro Tour (full membership), turned professional summer 2025
Will Hopkins
Amateur:
- Former England Men’s Squad member
- Winner of the 2024 Lytham Trophy
- Part of England team at 2024 Home Internationals, England v France matches (2023 and 2024), 2024 European Team Championship, 2024 European Nations Cup – finishing 3rd individually at the event
- Top-10 finishes at 2024 Spanish Amateur, 2024 Avondale Amateur (Australia) and Australian Master of the Amateurs
- Picked up 8.5 points in 13 matches for England
Professional:
- Membership: HotelPlanner Tour (category 14)
- Earned card through DP World Amateur Pathway 2024
Joe Long
- Former England Men’s Squad member
- Winner of the 2024 Lytham Trophy
- Part of England team at 2024 Home Internationals, England v France matches (2023 and 2024), 2024 European Team Championship, 2024 European Nations Cup – finishing 3rd individually at the event
- Top-10 finishes at 2024 Spanish Amateur, 2024 Avondale Amateur (Australia) and Australian Master of the Amateurs
- Picked up 8.5 points in 13 matches for England
Professional:
- Membership: HotelPlanner Tour (category 14)
- Earned card through DP World Amateur Pathway 2024
Joe Long
Amateur:
- British Amateur Champion 2020
- Walker Cup Squad 2021
- English Amateur finalist 2018
- WAGR best #11
- Won 3 points from 5 matches played for England
Professional:
- Membership: Sunshine Tour (category 9)
- Played on Sunshine Tour for three years, finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th in competitions, as well as two other top-10 finishes
- Clutch Pro Tour Tier 2 winner 2023
- Won the 2026 Caddy Comps Trophy on the Clutch Pro Tour at Seacroft
- 2nd-place finish on 2023 Challenge Tour
Joe Pagdin
- British Amateur Champion 2020
- Walker Cup Squad 2021
- English Amateur finalist 2018
- WAGR best #11
- Won 3 points from 5 matches played for England
Professional:
- Membership: Sunshine Tour (category 9)
- Played on Sunshine Tour for three years, finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th in competitions, as well as two other top-10 finishes
- Clutch Pro Tour Tier 2 winner 2023
- Won the 2026 Caddy Comps Trophy on the Clutch Pro Tour at Seacroft
- 2nd-place finish on 2023 Challenge Tour
Joe Pagdin
Amateur:
- Former England Boys’ Squad member
- Team GB Youth Olympics 2020
- GB&I Walker Cup Squad in 2019 and 2021
- Represented England at Spirit International in 2018
- Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award winner 2020
- Highest WAGR #12 in 2021
- Freshman of the Year 2021 at Texas Christian University
Professional:
- Membership: HotelPlanner Tour (category 15)
- Runner-up at 2025 Florida Open
- Finished 2nd, 3rd, and 7th in Clutch Pro Tour events
- DP World Tour Q School – Winner of Stage 1, 6th in Stage
- Qualified for PGA/Korn Ferry Q School after finishing 4th in Stage 1 and tied-27th in Stage 2
- Finished 12th on MENA Tour
- Reserve player at LIV Hong Kong 2026
Women’s Players
Ellie Gower
- Former England Boys’ Squad member
- Team GB Youth Olympics 2020
- GB&I Walker Cup Squad in 2019 and 2021
- Represented England at Spirit International in 2018
- Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award winner 2020
- Highest WAGR #12 in 2021
- Freshman of the Year 2021 at Texas Christian University
Professional:
- Membership: HotelPlanner Tour (category 15)
- Runner-up at 2025 Florida Open
- Finished 2nd, 3rd, and 7th in Clutch Pro Tour events
- DP World Tour Q School – Winner of Stage 1, 6th in Stage
- Qualified for PGA/Korn Ferry Q School after finishing 4th in Stage 1 and tied-27th in Stage 2
- Finished 12th on MENA Tour
- Reserve player at LIV Hong Kong 2026
Women’s Players
Ellie Gower
Amateur:
- Former England Girls’ Squad and Women’s Squad member
- Winner at 2019 Home Internationals
- Represented England at the 2019 European Girls Team Championship
Professional:
- Membership: Ladies European Tour Access Series (category 10)
- Made 10 out of 11 cuts in first season as professional in 2022
- Enjoyed first professional win at 2024 Ladies Catalunya Open in a play-off
- At 2024 Q School, finished inside top 50 to gain a category on Ladies European Tour in 2025
- Four top-20 finishes on Sunshine Tour this season
Bel Wardle
- Former England Girls’ Squad and Women’s Squad member
- Winner at 2019 Home Internationals
- Represented England at the 2019 European Girls Team Championship
Professional:
- Membership: Ladies European Tour Access Series (category 10)
- Made 10 out of 11 cuts in first season as professional in 2022
- Enjoyed first professional win at 2024 Ladies Catalunya Open in a play-off
- At 2024 Q School, finished inside top 50 to gain a category on Ladies European Tour in 2025
- Four top-20 finishes on Sunshine Tour this season
Bel Wardle
Amateur:
- Former England Girls’ Squad member
- Part of GB&I Curtis Cup Squad 2020
- Represented GB&I in 2019 Vagliano Trophy
- Won 2021 English Women’s Stroke Play Championship
- Runner-up at 2021 English Women’s Amateur
- Played 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur
- Represented Team Europe in 2018 Patsy Hankins Trophy
- Represented England at the 2019 European Nations Cup and Women’s Home Internationals
- Won 2018 Portuguese Women’s Amateur
- Won 2017 English Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship and English Girls’ Championship
- Won four consecutive Cheshire Girls’ Championships
- Represented England at World Junior Girls Championship in 2016 and 2017
Professional:
- Membership: Ladies European Tour Access Series (category 13-3) for the 2026 season
- Gained full tour card on LET in 2024 through Q School (category 12-11)
- Led the Lacoste Open for Round 1 with career-low -5
- Finished tied-2nd at 2026 Ladies German Challenge
- 3rd at Rose Ladies Series at Southport & Ainsdale 2024
- Full season on LETAS in 2025 (category 10-22) with a tied-19th best finish
- Former England Girls’ Squad member
- Part of GB&I Curtis Cup Squad 2020
- Represented GB&I in 2019 Vagliano Trophy
- Won 2021 English Women’s Stroke Play Championship
- Runner-up at 2021 English Women’s Amateur
- Played 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur
- Represented Team Europe in 2018 Patsy Hankins Trophy
- Represented England at the 2019 European Nations Cup and Women’s Home Internationals
- Won 2018 Portuguese Women’s Amateur
- Won 2017 English Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship and English Girls’ Championship
- Won four consecutive Cheshire Girls’ Championships
- Represented England at World Junior Girls Championship in 2016 and 2017
Professional:
- Membership: Ladies European Tour Access Series (category 13-3) for the 2026 season
- Gained full tour card on LET in 2024 through Q School (category 12-11)
- Led the Lacoste Open for Round 1 with career-low -5
- Finished tied-2nd at 2026 Ladies German Challenge
- 3rd at Rose Ladies Series at Southport & Ainsdale 2024
- Full season on LETAS in 2025 (category 10-22) with a tied-19th best finish
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org