Walker Cup: Strong American team finalised for Lytham
The 10 men who will travel across the Atlantic to defend the Walker Cup have this week been confirmed.
Five players had already secured their place on the plane and the USGA’s International Team Selection Committee completed the line-up this weekend, with the top amateur at the Open in St Andrews among those chosen.
‘It’s an honour to be the captain for this group of talented men’
Team captain John ‘Spider’ Miller will lead out his charges at Royal Lytham and St Annes and he said: “It is an honour to be the captain for this group of talented men as we represent our country in the Walker Cup match.
Miller won two U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships and played on the 1999 Walker Cup Team.
He added: “They are all very team-oriented and also committed to the spirit and tradition of the match. I believe they will compete to their maximum but also develop friendships that will last for their entire careers in golf.”
The Walker Cup is played over two days, with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes. The USA leads the overall series, 35-8-1 and earned a 17-9 victory in the 2013 match at National Golf Links of American in Southampton, New York.
The Squad
Bryson DeChambeau, 21, of Clovis, California
The 2015 US Amateur champion and 2015 NCAA Division 1 individual champion. Missed the cut at the US Open at Chambers Bay.
Scott Harvey, 37, of Greensboro, North Carolina
Won the 2014 Mid-Amateur to earn an invitation to the 2015 Masters. Won the 2015 Gasparilla Invitational and 2015 South American Amateur.
Beau Hossler, 20, of Mission Viejo, California
At 17 years, 3 months, became the youngest player to make the cut at a US Open since World War II in 2012. Has played in three US Opens and tied for 58th at Chambers Bay.
Denny McCarthy, 22, of Rockville, Maryland
Has earned All-American honours for three years in a row and tied for 42nd in the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay
Lee McCoy, 21, of Athens, Georgia
A member of the winning 2015 USA Palmer Cup team, helped USA to a silver medal at the Pan American Games and missed the cut at the US Open.
Mike McCoy, 52, of Des Moines, Iowa
Was the low amateur in the 2014 and 2015 US Senior Opens and won the 2013 US Mid-Amateur, becoming the second-oldest champion at age 50
Maverick McNealy, 19, of Portola Valley, California
Earned the Jack Nicklaus award as the NCAA Division 1’s top college player and achieved first team All-America honours in 2015.
Jordan Niebrugge, 22, of Mequon, Wisconsin
Tied for sixth at the Open at St Andrews and won the silver medal by posting the lowest score by an amateur in the championship’s 144-year history.
Robby Shelton, 19, of Wilmer, Alabama
Tied for third in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship in July 2015, becoming the first amateur to post a top-three finish on the Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Hunter Stewart, 22, of Lexington Kentucky
Won the Northeast Amateur in June by four strokes, earned first team All-America honours in 2015.
The Reserves
Matt NeSmith, 21, of North Augusta, South Carolina
Scottie Scheffler, 19, of Dallas, Texas
