Defending champion Gavin O’Neill, Matthew Parkman and Sam Crenan all retain their places in the team for Jersey 2015, and the Royal Jersey Golf Club trio will be joined by Jeremy Phillips of La Moye GC. Royal Jersey’s Alex Guelpa has been named reserve.
Bermuda 2013
Gavin O’Neill – Gold medal
Nick Wildman – 8th
Sam Crenan – 12th
Matthew Parkman – 20th
Team – Bronze
Isle of Wight 2011
Matthew Parkman – 7th
Andy Clarke – 14th
Chris Young – 20th
Sam Crenan – 22nd
Team – 4th
Bahamas-born Phillips (46) has represented Jersey in the last two inter-insulars – he returned a maximum three points last year – and was a professional in New Zealand for over 20 years.
A detective sergeant in the joint financial crime unit, Phillips has been a member at La Moye for 19 years and was last year crowned club champion for the first time, together with winning the La Moye Salver (an Open competition). He also lifted the Jersey Western Foursomes title with club colleague Simon Allchin.
Jersey team manager Robbie Messervy, who will be assisted by Royal Jersey secretary and fellow selector Darren Attwood, said: ‘It’s a strong team and one I hope will do well both individually and in the team event.
‘It’s not easy selecting teams; we were looking at seven players and it was very difficult selecting the fourth. Jeremy eventually got the nod having had a very good season last year.
‘Jeremy will also bring a degree of maturity, he has a good all-round game and he is an asset to the team.
‘I believe it’s the strongest team we can turn out and, obviously, gold is our target in both events.’
While Phillips is set to make his Games debut, the other three team members have all played before.
O’Neill is the current individual champion having produced a magnificent recovery on the final day of competition in Bermuda two years ago, when he overturned a six-shot deficit to win gold by one stroke from Bermuda’s Jarryd Dillas – the gold medal winner in Aland in 2009.
Parkman, Crenan and Nick Wildman’s contributions also helped Jersey win the team bronze in Bermuda, while O’Neill and Crenan were in Jersey’s team that won bronze in Aland.
O’Neill (37) and Parkman (30) will make their third Island Games appearances in Jersey, but it is 23-year-old Crenan that has the most Games experience – he will tee off for the fifth consecutive time having made his debut in Rhodes in 2007.
The individual tournament is 72 holes, 18 each on consecutive days with La Moye hosting on the Tuesday and Thursday and Royal Jersey on the Wednesday and Friday.
