University of Tennessee Athletics
Porteous England's Top-Ranked Amateur
November 10, 2011 | Men's Golf
Nov. 10, 2011
BY JOHN PAINTER
UTSports.com
Tennessee senior Garrick Porteous has been promoted to the England Elite Squad for 2011-12 and currently stands as England's No. 1 ranked amateur player.
A native of Morpeth in his country's northeastern section, Porteous made his debut for England in the 2011 Home Internationals in Ireland after a summer of consistent performances. He narrowly missed out on a national title with a runner-up finish at the Tillman Trophy, and recorded top-10s in major events such as the British Amateur qualifying and European Amateur Championship.
"The likes of Chris Paisley and Charlie Ford have been on the same squad, so it's a pretty prestigious honor," Porteous said. "It's part of the national squad, so I will be eligible to receive funding after my college season is over."
Porteous is ranked 45th in the Men's World Amateur Golf Rankings and is England's top player by a comfortable margin. The world ranking compiles the top male amateur golfers on the basis of their average performances in counting events over a rolling cycle of the previous 52 weeks, including his play with the Vols.
"When I get back in the summer, there are tournaments all over the world they can pick me for if I'm playing well," he said.
This fall for Tennessee, Porteous stands second on the team with a 73.08 scoring average and recorded five of his 12 rounds at par or better. In four tournaments, 11 of Porteous' 12 rounds counted for the Tennessee team score - a figure tying for tops on the squad. His best finish was a tie for at the season-opening Carpet Capital Collegiate, and he placed in the top 25 for three of his four events.
"I feel like right now I could play a lot better, so it's just about improving throughout the winter," Porteous said. "I'm ready to go to work and get ready for the spring."
