This year’s instalment of the Walker Cup took place on the 12th & 13th of September 2015, Team UK & Ireland had revenge on their minds after 2013’s heavy defeat. The score over that ill-fated weekend, for team UK & Ireland, was 17-9. With the victorious US captain Jim Holtgreiver a native of Fort Myers, California overseeing the biggest win since 1997. The USA do have a far superior record in this bi-annual competition than their counterparts from across the Atlantic, the record currently standing at 35-9. However this competition since 1989 has been fiercely competitive, The Britain and Ireland team regained the Walker Cup with its highest points total, beating the United States, 16 ½ to 9 ½.
The competition which started officially in 1922 in the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, New York, took place in at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in England. This year’s instalment saw team USA will face a strong UK & Ireland outfit .The UK & Ireland team included a record number of Irish players with five representing the Emerald Isle. Gavin Moynihan, Gary Hurley and Paul Dunne announced after the competition that they were leaving the amateur days behind them and turning pro.
GB&I team: Ashley Chesters, (Hawkstone Park, Shropshire), Paul Dunne, (Greystones, Ireland), Grant Forrest (Craigielaw, East Lothian), Ewen Ferguson, Jack Hume (Naas, Ireland), Gary Hurley (West Waterford, Ireland), Jack McDonald, (Kilmarnock (Barassie), South Ayrshire), Gavin Moynihan (The Island, Ireland), Jimmy Mullen (Royal North Devon), Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass, Ireland)
Ashley Chester’s and Paul Dunne were two of the most high profile members of this year’s team, following their remarkable performances at this year’s open championship, with the pair finishing 12th and 30th respectively. Paul Dunne a native of Greystone’s, Co. Wicklow in particular had a fairy-tale championship, the quality of his play saw him in top spot heading in to the final round, before eventually falling away to finish a more than respectable 30th.
With the meteoric rise of former Walker Cup players like Danny Willet who was part of the 2007 & 2011 teams, this year’s competition gave all golf fans a chance to see the best young talent coming through the amateur ranks in the US, UK & Ireland. With the record breaking points haul from team GB & I, people will have to keep a very close eye on players like Jimmy Mullen who won all four matches he played in the two-day amateur event. It was superb weekend of golf and a very satisfying result for people who have a keen interest in the amateur game in Great Britain and Ireland.
Everyone at clubstohire.com would like to congratulate Team GB & I on their fantastic win and wish them all every success for the future.