Last updated 10:10, Wednesday, 23 April 2008

COUNTY golf captain Cliff Heath has told new recruit Gary Wolstenholme he won’t outshine Cumbria’s star players.

Honours: Gary Wolstenholme has played in six Walker Cups and racked up a record 214 England appearances

Wolstenholme has joined Cumbria with a reputation as one of the world’s greatest amateur golfers, having played in six Walker Cups and racked up a record 214 England appearances.

But Heath, who has assembled a strong team in time for the start of the Northern Counties League opener against Lancashire on May 10, insists Wolstenholme will have not special treatment.

Wolstenholme missed the first game at Seascale as he will be representing England against France, but Cumbria’s captain is determined to only select the 47-year-old former British and European Mid-Amateur champion on his merits.

Heath said: “It’s just like David Beckham joining Carlisle United, but Gary is just a member of the team like everyone else and, like everyone else, he will have to earn his place in the team.

“Gary will miss the first game but he will have to earn his place. If we were to win the opening three matches without him, I’ll have to make a tough decision, but that is just part of my role.

“It would be difficult not to pick an international player, but the rest of the lads are just as important. They’re like family to me and they have delivered in the past.

“Gary will have to make every effort to earn his place in the team. He can only do that by playing in 36-hole events in Cumbria, attending get-togethers, working hard at his game and being part of the team.”

Wolstenholme attracted plenty of attention from golf followers on Appleby’s first tee when he played in his opening 36-hole Open Scratch event in Cumbria on Saturday.

In tough, blustery conditions, he was forced to settle for fifth place after shooting a disappointing morning score of 75 followed by a 70 in the afternoon.

Workington’s Will Bowe won the event thanks to a spectacular five-under-par second round of 63 after a disappointing opening 77.

Silloth player John Longcake was second (70, 72) and Carlisle’s Martin Hand was fourth (71, 72).