GOLFER Matty Lamb came close to achieving European gold while representing England in Sweden.

The 21-year-old was part of the six-man team which reached the final of the European Men’s Team Championship, where they lost to host nation Sweden in the final of the tournament, at Llunghusen.

Lamb played three foursomes, winning his quarter and semi-final matches, as England defeated both Wales and Scotland 4-3 to progress into the final.

England were defeated by two points in the final, with Lamb and his teammate Fitzpatrick losing 4&3 to David Nyfjall and Vincent Norrman.

It meant England had to settle for silver medals for the third consecutive year in the prestigious international event.

But Lamb, who has enjoyed a successful year so far, has achieved another accolade.

He is the only North-East golfer to have been named in the revised squad of 16 players in contention to represent Great Britain and Ireland in the 47th Walker Cup.

The historic Walker Cup enables top amateur players to take on the USA, with this year’s contest taking place at Royal Liverpool, over the weekend of September 7 and 8.

Lamb was not in the original squad of 26 players selected in April, but has now been called into the 16-man squad along with fellow Englishmen David Langley and Joshua McMahon.

The Hexham Golf Club member was set to join up with the squad for practice sessions at Hoylake.

l Haydon Bridge High School pupil Alex Heppell (pictured below) has been selected to represent the English Schools U18 team.

He will make is international debut on August 26, when England will take on Wales at Luffenham Heath Golf Club, Rutland. It comes after Heppell represented Northumberland Schools, and the North of England Schools. He secured his place with a gross 73 at Sherwood Forest GC in Nottinghamshire.