England Golf Men’s Squad star Eliot Baker has won the first ever Men’s European Amateur Order of Merit.
It’s been a stellar 2026 for the 23-year-old, who won the individual title at the European Nations Cup in Sotogrande, with a tournament record of -15, including five birdies in the final five holes of the event. It also helped England win the team title by an enormous 14 shots.
He was a runner-up at the 2026 Spanish Amateur Championship to England teammate Tom Osborne, and also finished 2nd to Osborne at the Brabazon Trophy.
Baker also enjoyed a top-10 finish in the stroke play stages of the U.S. Amateur Championship, and played a key role in England’s win over France in the biennial international match at Golf de Chantilly.
The Devon golfer also played his first professional event – the DP World Tour’s Nexo Championship – finishing in an exceptional 15th place as an amateur.
He was part of GB&I’s historic comeback to win the Walker Cup at Lahinch in early September, hailing it as the ‘best week’ of his life.
The Tiverton golfer, who also won the 2025 Portuguese Amateur Championship and Scottish Men’s Open Championship, said: “My main highlight this year was winning the Walker Cup with GB&I for the first time in 11 years. Making history with that team was the best week of my life and I think it’ll be pretty hard for anything in my career to come close to that.
“Another highlight was winning the individual and team event at the Nations Cup at Sotogrande, that feeling was very special, winning a tournament while representing your country just takes it to another level.
“The England Golf pathway has been a game changer for my development. Having that structure put in place for me has really helped push me on to get closer to achieving my potential.
“I would especially like to thank Rob Watts (England Golf Men’s Coach) and Ben Gorvett (England Golf Performance Manager (Male Golf)) for all their support at tournaments this year while representing England, and all our success as a team wouldn’t have been possible without them.
“I would also like to thank my family and friends for their constant support as well as my own coaching team around me, who without them, I wouldn’t have had this success.
“My goals for 2027 are to play on the DP World Tour, to win an event, and play in a major championship.”
Elsewhere, there were a host of England Golf Men's Squad players in the top-10 of the European Men's Order of Merit, including Max Hopkins (3rd), Lewy Hayward (6th) and Jake Sowden (7th). Tom Osborne was also 3rd until he turned professional recently - as five England players sat in the top-10.
He was a runner-up at the 2026 Spanish Amateur Championship to England teammate Tom Osborne, and also finished 2nd to Osborne at the Brabazon Trophy.
Baker also enjoyed a top-10 finish in the stroke play stages of the U.S. Amateur Championship, and played a key role in England’s win over France in the biennial international match at Golf de Chantilly.
The Devon golfer also played his first professional event – the DP World Tour’s Nexo Championship – finishing in an exceptional 15th place as an amateur.
He was part of GB&I’s historic comeback to win the Walker Cup at Lahinch in early September, hailing it as the ‘best week’ of his life.
The Tiverton golfer, who also won the 2025 Portuguese Amateur Championship and Scottish Men’s Open Championship, said: “My main highlight this year was winning the Walker Cup with GB&I for the first time in 11 years. Making history with that team was the best week of my life and I think it’ll be pretty hard for anything in my career to come close to that.
“Another highlight was winning the individual and team event at the Nations Cup at Sotogrande, that feeling was very special, winning a tournament while representing your country just takes it to another level.
“The England Golf pathway has been a game changer for my development. Having that structure put in place for me has really helped push me on to get closer to achieving my potential.
“I would especially like to thank Rob Watts (England Golf Men’s Coach) and Ben Gorvett (England Golf Performance Manager (Male Golf)) for all their support at tournaments this year while representing England, and all our success as a team wouldn’t have been possible without them.
“I would also like to thank my family and friends for their constant support as well as my own coaching team around me, who without them, I wouldn’t have had this success.
“My goals for 2027 are to play on the DP World Tour, to win an event, and play in a major championship.”
Elsewhere, there were a host of England Golf Men's Squad players in the top-10 of the European Men's Order of Merit, including Max Hopkins (3rd), Lewy Hayward (6th) and Jake Sowden (7th). Tom Osborne was also 3rd until he turned professional recently - as five England players sat in the top-10.
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org