An initial squad of 26 players have been selected by The R&A for possible selection to the 2019 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Team that will face the USA in the 47th Match at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) this September in England.
The biennial encounter is scheduled for Sept. 7-8 with GB&I aiming to win back the trophy after losing 19-7 at The Los Angeles Country Club two years ago. The Match features 10-man amateur teams from GB&I and the USA competing in foursomes (alternate shot) and singles matches each of the two competition days.
Craig Watson, GB&I captain, said, “We have selected a talented group of players who are all in contention for a place in the team to play the United States of America and will be continuing to monitor the form and results of these players over the course of the season.
“We will also be looking closely at the performances of other players who have not been included in the squad and there is still time for them to play their way into our plans ahead of the final team selection later this year.”
Conor Gough, the 2018 R&A Boys Amateur champion, leads a strong contingent of 12 players from England included in the squad. Tom Sloman, who won the 2019 Copa Sotagrande recently, and SANLAM Cape Province Open champion, Thomas Plumb, are also featured in the group, along with 2018 U.S. Amateur quarterfinalist Alex Fitzpatrick, the younger brother of 2013 U.S. Amateur champion and 2013 GB&I Walker Cup competitor Matthew Fitzpatrick. Alex is currently completing his freshman season at Wake Forest University.
Six players from Scotland have been chosen, including 2019 African Amateur champion, Euan Walker and reigning Scottish Amateur champion, Euan McIntosh. Sandy Scott, who won the El Macero Classic earlier this month, Marquette Intercollegiate champion Ryan Lumsden, Kieran Cantley and Jamie Stewart are also in Watson’s plans.
Conor Purcell, who won the 2019 Australian Amateur Championship, is among five players from Ireland selected to the practice squad. He is joined by 2019 West of Ireland Amateur champion Caolan Rafferty, 2018 Eisenhower Trophy competitor John Murphy, Mark Power and James Sugrue.
Archie Davies, the 2018 Irish Boys Amateur champion, Ben Chamberlain and Jake Hapgood are the three players from Wales.
The players selected for the GB&I squad are:
Jake Burnage, Saunton, 23 |
John Murphy, Kinsale, 20 |
Kieran Cantley, Liberton, 21 |
Joseph Pagdin, Lake Nona, 17 |
Ben Chamberlain, Padeswood & Buckley, 21 |
Thomas Plumb, Yeovil, 20 |
Archie Davies, Carlisle, 17 |
Mark Power, Kilkenny, 18 |
Alex Fitzpatrick, Hallamshire, 20 |
Conor Purcell, Portmarnock, 21 |
Bailey Gill, Lindrick, 21 |
Caolan Rafferty, Dundalk, 26 |
Conor Gough, Stoke Park, 16 |
Sandy Scott, Nairn, 20 |
David Hague, Malton & Norton, 22 |
Tom Sloman, Taunton & Pickeridge, 22 |
Harry Hall, West Cornwall, 21 |
Jamie Stewart, Old Course Ranfurly, 19 |
Jake Hapgood, Southerndown, 22 |
James Sugrue, Mallow, 22 |
Benjamin Jones, Northamptonshire County, 19 |
Tom Thurloway, Chartham Park, 21 |
Ryan Lumsden, Royal Wimbledon, 22 |
Euan Walker, Kilmarnock (Barassie), 23 |
Euan McIntosh, Turnhouse, 50 |
Robin Williams, Peterborough Milton, 17 |
The squad will gather at Royal Liverpool for a practice session next week, after which the number of players will be reduced for a second practice session in July. The final 10-man GB&I team will be announced in August.
The USA had a practice session for 16 Walker Cup hopefuls in December.
