There will be a distinctly Irish flavour to this year’s Walker Cup after the 10 young amateurs who will represent Great Britain and Ireland were announced today.
A record five Irish players have been picked by the selectors, who include captain and Wallker Cup stalwart Nigel Edwards. They include 54-hole Open leader Paul Dunne, Brabazon Trophy winner Cormac Sharvin, Jack Hume, Gary Hurley and Gavin Moynihan.
‘We believe we have selected the best players for the team’
Twenty-two-year-old Dunne also advanced to the quarter finals of the US Open last week, and will hope to take this rich vein of form into the competition, which takes place at Royal Lytham and St Annes on September 12 and 13.
Edwards, 47, who will be captaining the GB&I team for the third time, said: “We have selected a talented group of players who compete at the highest levels of amateur golf and, in some cases, have played in Major championships and Tour events.
“The Walker cup offers these players a tremendous opportunity to display their abilities and gain invaluable experience of playing in international team competition.”
GB&I will be aiming to win back the trophy after the USA enjoyed a 17-9 victory in the 2013 match at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, New York.
The rest of the team is made up of two-time European Amateur Champion Ashley Chesters, Jimmy Mullen and Sam Horsfield, of England, while Scotland is represented by Grant Forrest and Jack McDonald.
Disappointingly for Edwards, of Whitchurch, no Welsh amateurs have made the grade, and he said: “I know there will be players who are disappointed not to have made the team but it has been a difficult decision to make with such strength and depth in the British and Irish game at the moment.
“But we believe we have selected the best players for the team and are very much looking forward to the match.”
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Two reserve players have also been named, they are Ewen Ferguson of Scotland and Bradley Moore of England.
The Squad
Ashley Chesters, 26, Hawkstone Park, England
The highest-ranking British player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, in sixth position. Tied for 12th at the Open at St Andrews.
Paul Dunne, 22, Greystones, Ireland
The 54-hole leader at St Andrews, before finishing tied 30th. Reached the quarter finals of the US Amateur last week.
Grant Forrest, 22, CraigieLaw, Scotland
The runner-up in this year’s Amateur Championship. A member of Scotland’s winning team in the European Amateur Team Championship last month.
Sam Horsfield, 18, Davenport, Florida
Born in England but moved to Florida when he was aged five. Ranked 23rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Jack Hume, 21, Naas, Ireland
Tied third in the Brabazon and tied sixth in the St Andrews Links Trophy. Part of the winning Irish team at the Home Internationals.
Gary Hurley, 22, West Waterford, Ireland
Runner-up in the European Amateur Championship, after finishing joint runner-up last year.
Jack McDonald, 22, Kilmarnock (Barassie), Scotland
Reached semi-finals of the Amateur Championship and part of winning Scottish team in the European Amateur Team Championship.
Gavin Moynihan, 20, The Island, Ireland
Played in the 2013 Walker Cup match, won the Irish Open Amateur Championship and finished runner-up in the Brabazon Trophy.
Jimmy Mullen, 21, Royal North Devon, England
Reigning Welsh Amateur Open Stroke Play Champion and part of the England team which finished fourth at the European Amateur Team Championship.
Cormac Sharvin, 22, Ardglass, Ireland
Won the Brabazon Trophy and was runner-up at the Irish Open Amateur Championship, the Lytham Trophy and third at the Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship.
Reserves
Ewen Ferguson, 19, Bearsden, Scotland
Bradley Moore, 17, Kedleston Park, England
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