Four years of the University of Tennessee golf and study have finally come to an end for Garrick. He graduates with a BA degree in Studio Art alongside a very successful record in collegiate golf. Whilst proud to call himself a Tennessee Volunteer, he is now looking forward to new horizons and new challenges in both life and golf for 2013.

He plans to play the full amateur golf circuit in 2013. As a member of the England Elite squad, he starts his programme with seven weeks in Australia to play in some of their major amateur golf events. He is accompanied by Neil Raymond, Craig Hinton and Nathan Kimsey and they will be playing in the Australian Amateur Championship, the Australian Master of the Amateurs, the Lake Macquarie Amateur and the New South Wales Stroke and Match Play Championships. This will be Garrick's first visit 'down under' and he is looking forward to testing his skills against some of the best amateurs from across the world.

Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) has received the biggest accolade in his golf career to date. He has been selected to play for England in the men's amateur World Team Championships. This is the most important and most prestigious tournament in the men's amateur golf calendar. "This is as big as it gets playing for your country as an amateur golfer. It is the biggest prize of all" (England Golf, 2012).

The World Amateur Team Championship is only held every two years and it is contested by 72 countries. The top three amateur golfers from each country are selected. It will be played over two courses, the Antalya club (Sultan Course) and the Cornelia Golf Club, in Turkey from 4-7th October with the best two scores from three counting on all four days.

Garrick (aged 22) is the youngest in the England team which includes current England stars, Neil Raymond (twice Brabazon Champion) ad Craig Hinton (Welsh Amateur Champion). All three players are members of the GB&I team. This will be the most challenging of any competition that Garrick has played in as it features the best amateur golfers in the world.

Garrick's selection comes on the back of some very consistent stroke play performances throughout 2012, including seven top ten finishes in major amateur events both in the UK and overseas. He was also a member of the victorious England team in the European Challenge Trophy in Iceland where he finished tied third in the individual ranking.

England has not won the Eisenhower Trophy since the Home Countries fielded separate teams in 2002 and prior to that GB&I won it in 1998. Live scoring will be available at http://www.worldamateur2012.org/first.asp or http://www.golfstat.com.

Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) made a significant contribution to the Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) team as they battled The Continent of Europe for the St Andrews Trophy, 31/8/12 to 1/9/12. Played over the famous Portmarnock links in Dublin, where the rough was up and the wind blew, it was The Continent of Europe who prevailed in a very close contest 12.5-11.5.

Garrick played in all four sessions. On day one, he partnered the current European amateur champion, Rhys Pugh and they played superbly defeating Manuel Trappel and Marcel Schneider 5&4. His good form continued in the afternoon singles where he was up against Tapio Pulkkanen from Finland. Despite losing the first hole after finding a bunker from the tee, he never looked back and was four under par for the next 12 holes winning the match 6&5 in superb style.

Day two saw a re-match of the day one foursomes. This time it was much closer with the lead fluctuating all the time. However, it was the Europeans who prevailed with a par on the 18th hole to secure a two hole victory. In the final afternoon singles, Garrick played Carlos Pigem from Spain. This was to prove to be a classic match. The Spaniard played very solid golf in windy conditions for the first 10 holes and was three up. Garrick responded magnificently with birdies at 12 and 13 and as they boarded the 15th tee he was only one down. His short game came to the fore and he surged ahead after 16 holes. He held his nerve and a superb par at the last ensured a one hole victory. He played all four matches, winning three. He was the highest points scorer along with Craig Hinton for the GB&I team.

Overall, a very rewarding week for Garrick and despite not winning the St Andrews Trophy he can be very pleased with his own performances at this level.

Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) has been named in the Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) team for the upcoming St Andrews Trophy at Portmarnock Golf Club, Dublin, Ireland. The match takes place on the 31st August and 1st September 2012. The St Andrews Trophy is a two day Ryder Cup style event against The Continent of Europe. Nine players have made the team based on their performances this year, with five from England, two from Ireland and one each from Scotland and Wales. The biannual trophy is currently held by The Continent of Europe. It is the forerunner to next year's Walker Cup which is to be held in New York.

Garrick's selection is based on some fine performances in 2012, including seven top ten finishes in major amateur events both in the UK and overseas. His form was very much evident at the recent Home Internationals in Scotland, where his most significant result was the defeat of British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar by 6&4. In addition, his current handicap is plus four.

Live scoring will be available on the R&A website at www.randa.org. The press release for the event can be found at http://www.randa.org/en/RandA/News/News/2012/August/Trophy-Teams-Announced.aspx

The Home Internationals 2012 were staged on the famous links of Glasgow Gailes, Scotland between 15-17thAugust. England were looking to continue their dominance of the event having won the Raymond Trophy for the last three years. Unfortunately, it was not to be with Scotland just edging out Ireland and England on count back.

Garrick was selected for his second Home Internationals and formed a very strong foursomes partnership with Neil Raymond. Going out first, they started very strongly defeating Wales 4&3 on day one, but found the Scottish and Irish pairs just too strong. The clash with the Irish pair of Alan Dunbar and Reeve Whitson was a classic, with both pairs playing superb golf with nine birdies between them. However, Garrick and Neil fell short 3&1.

The singles proved more fruitful for Garrick. He defeated Will Jones from Wales 4&3 before going down by one hole to Jack MacDonald from Scotland. However, he saved the best for last, with a resounding 6&4 victory over the current British Amateur champion, Alan Dunbar of Ireland. His overall Home International record stands at P12 W7 H2 and L3.

England men's golf team were the clear winners of the European Challenge Trophy in Iceland, 12-14th July. The six man team (with the best five scores each day to count) were 11 shots clear of the Netherlands and this means they regain their place for the European Team Championships in Denmark next year. Full coverage and results are available at http://emcht.golficeland.org/

Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) made a significant contribution to this victory. He finished tied third with scores of 68-72-70(-3) and was a counter for the team in every round. His colleague Ben Stow won the event on nine under par. Garrick's game was in great shape as he signed for 16 birdies during the week and he commented that 'it was a fantastic experience to play in Iceland and be part of a winning England team'.

Prior to the Icelandic trip, Garrick had been to Portmarnock, Ireland as part of the Great Britain and Ireland squad for the St Andrews Trophy later this year. It proved to be a successful three days familiarising himself with the course and getting to know other squad members. Selection for the team will be determined by the R&A selectors in mid-August.

Garrick now has a short rest before competing as an amateur in his first professional event. England Golf has nominated six players to participate in the English Challenge at Stoke-by-Nayland golf club on 26-29th July. This is a European Challenge Tour event and will be an invaluable experience for Garrick to gauge his game against the professional ranks.

The summer of golf continues at pace and Garrick recorded another top ten finish at the English Men's Open Strokeplay Championship for the Brabazon Trophy. Played over the Old Course at Walton Heath, Garrick entered the final round lying 3rd, but eventually had to settle for 7th overall with scores of 73-75-71-76 following a difficult scoring week in very windy conditions. On completion of the final round he commented that "I played solid all week, hit the ball well and gave myself a lot of chances but the birdies just didn't come".

His journey now continues to Hillside near Southport for final qualifying for the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. It's hoped the birdies will come as qualification is tough with only three golfers progressing from the 72 starters in the field.

Finally, on a really positive note Garrick has been recognised for his good play this year with selection for a six man team who will represent England in the European Men's Challenge Trophy in Iceland 12-14th July. The top three teams in Iceland will go on to compete in the European Men's Team Championship in 2013.

Garrrick warmed up for his summer of golf back in the UK by breaking the existing course record at his home club, Bamburgh Castle, on Saturday 2nd June. Making his first visit in over a year he shot 62 and eclipsed the previous record (63) shot by Phil Ridden in 2008.

Garrick played some effortless golf with even nines of 31. He had four birdies, an eagle and 13 pars. However, it did need a birdie down the final hole to secure the record. Despite shooting the record he failed to lift the Runciman Cup because he had to add three shots to his score and finished with a net 65.

This coming week he now moves onto his first major tournament of the summer, the St Andrews Links Trophy on the Old and New courses. To follow his progress he now has his own website at www.garrickporteous.com.

Garrick Porteous signed off his Tennessee career by competing in the NCAA Division 1 Regional tournament at Stanford golf club, near San Francisco, 17-19th May. On finishing his four years of collegiate golf, Garrick commented: "It's been an epic four years playing golf for the University of Tennessee. It's been a great opportunity and the best thing that's ever happened to me. I have met so many great people. It went past a lot faster than I thought it would, but I'm looking forward to what will come in the future! At least I can always say I'm a Tennessee Volunteer!" He will return to the University for one final semester in August to complete his degree in Studio Art while completing an internship in the University's Athletics marketing department.

His final three tournaments included a 3rd place finish at the Yale University Spring Open where he shot 71-71 (+2). He then had a 7th place finish at the SEC Championships on the demanding Sea Island course in Georgia, where he shot 68-71-69 (-1). Finally, at Stanford he shot 70-66-72 (-2) and finished 18th, but the team fell two shots short of a fourth straight trip to the NCAA finals. The final event was special for another reason, as his sister Angharad, who is studying for her PhD at Stanford was able to watch and support him (pictured together).

Garrick returns to England at the beginning of June for a busy summer of golf. His tournaments include the St Andrews Links Trophy (8-10th June), the British Amateur at Royal Troon (18-23rd June), Open qualifying at Goswick (25th June), the Brabazon Trophy at Walton Heath (28th June-1st July), the English Amateur at Silloth (30th July - 4th August) and the European Amateur in Ireland (8-11th August). He is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

Garrick Porteous has been selected in a preliminary 12-player Great Britain and Ireland squad for this year's St. Andrews Trophy Match against the Continent of Europe. The St. Andrews Trophy takes place in even-numbered years with Great Britain & Ireland playing the United States in the Walker Cup competition during odd-numbered years.The match will be held at Portmarnock Golf Club, Ireland between 31st August and 1st September 2012. The squad will meet for the first time at Portmarnock from 4-6th July in a match play team environment consisting of two series of foursomes and singles matches. Only 9 players will make the final team when it is announced later this summer.

In addition, Garrick is in the England Elite Men's Squad for 2012 and is currently ranked 59th in the men's World Amateur Golf Rankings.He is not only England men's number one but also the UK's top player.He recently represented England in the Jones Cup at Sea Island, Georgia. Garrick made his debut for England in the 2011 Home Internationals in Ireland last summer after a string of consistent performances. He was undefeated in all his matches in the Home Internationals.

Garrick is in his final year at the University of Tennessee, where he is captain of the team. He finished alone in second in his first Tennessee start of the spring season at the San Diego Intercollegiate. He shot 73-73-69=215 to finish at 1 under par, one stroke behind San Diego's Alex Ching. It was his best collegiate finish and his fourth top-four result in the last year.

His good form is continuing with two more top ten finishes. He shot 73-69-66=208 to finish 9 under par and place sixth at the Augusta State Invitational. He followed this up a week later at the Yale Spring Opener where he shot 71-71=142 to finish 2 over par and place third.

Garrick and his Tennessee team now move onto the South East Conference (SEC) Championship at Sea Island Georgia. He is really looking forward to this prestigious event.