Mark Eley

198 2026 GB&I Walker Cup Team Is Announced

18th August 2026

The Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team was announced at 10.00am today by The R&A and captain Dean Robertson.

The ten golfers will play against the United States of America in the 51st Walker Cup match at Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland on 5th-6th September.

Stuart GREHAN (IRL) was the first player to make the team, gaining automatic selection in June 2026 when he won the Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool G.C.

In line with the stated team selection criteria Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #2, Luke POULTER (ENG) #5, Eliot BAKER (ENG) #16 and Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO) #18 also earned automatic selection on the 6th August 2025 based on their World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) on that date.

Jack WHALEY (ENG) gained automatic selection on 16th August 2026 when he won the U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion G.C. It appears that the Yorkshireman was not under final consideration until his historic victory brought him front and centre.

The above left GB&I captain Dean Robertson with four picks. Today’s announcement confirmed that he had selected Ben BOLTON (ENG), Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG), Connor GRAHAM (SCO) and Josh HILL (ENG) to complete his line-up.

Josh Hill’s commitment to making the team and his performance at the Lahinch training camp in July, where he demonstrated the skills required to play the course in all conditions, seems to have been decisive for the selectors.

The team will therefore be made up of 7 English players, 2 Scottish and 1 Irish.

Thomas HIGGINS and David HOWARD were announced as the first and second reserves respectively. Tyler Weaver and to a lesser degree Ben Bolton have both been managing their recent workloads due to ongoing back injuries so this may prove to be important.

Dean Robertson stated in his press conference that “Tom HIGGINS would have been in the team, 100 per cent (before Whaley’s U.S. Amateur win). I would have loved to have more Irish on the team. Thomas stood up and he won the Europeans for Ireland. He makes more birdies than any of the other players in the team but he offsets that with a lot of bogeys as well. The selection I have made is a fair selection and it’s an unbiased selection.” Higgins, 23, has an impressive match play record and won the Irish Close last week.

Wales can also count themselves as being unlucky to miss out on representation in 2026 with Tomi BOWEN (WAL), Caolan BURFORD (WAL) and Sean DAVID (WAL), who won the 2026 South of Ireland at the host venue, all making reasonable claims for inclusion.

Tom OSBORNE (ENG), who appeared a lock for the team after winning both the Spanish International Amateur and Brabazon Trophy earlier this year, seemingly peaked too soon and played his way off the team when he failed to feature in the bigger summer events.

Six players who competed in the 2025 match at Cypress Point will be returning for GB&I, namely, Eliot Baker, Connor Graham, Stuart Grehan, Luke Poulter, Niall Sheils Donegan and Tyler Weaver. GB&I have benefitted more than USA, who only have three returning players, from the match uniquely falling just one year after the last one at Cypress Point.

Ben Bolton, Sam Easterbrook, Josh Hill and Jack Whaley will be making their Walker Cup debuts at Lahinch.

Dean Robertson said “It is a tremendous honour to captain Great Britain and Ireland again and I’m excited by the team we have selected for the match at Lahinch. We have a really exciting blend of players who have experienced the Walker Cup before and others who have earned their first opportunity through some excellent performances over the last year.”

“We have players who have won important championships, performed at the highest level in amateur golf and demonstrated that they can deliver results in international match play. Playing at Lahinch will make this a particularly special Walker Cup. We know there will be fantastic support for the team in Ireland and our players will be determined to give those supporters plenty to get behind. We learned a great deal from Cypress Point and everyone involved is hugely motivated by the challenge ahead.”

GB&I Walker Cup Team (Graphic: The R&A)

GB&I Player Profiles

Eliot BAKER (23) – Tiverton, England / WAGR #16
Runner-Up in the 2026 Spanish International Amateur Championship
Winner of the Individual title at the 2026 European Nations Cup at Sotogrande, helping England secure the team title.
Runner-up in the 2026 Brabazon Trophy.
Made Walker Cup debut at Cypress Point in 2025.
Led England to 2025 Men’s Home Internationals success (P6 W5 L1)
Winner of the 2025 Scottish Men’s Open Championship by 7 shots.
Winner of the 2025 Portuguese Int. Men’s Amateur Championship.
Member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team.

Ben BOLTON (19) – Enville, England / WAGR #92
Tied 3rd in the Lytham Trophy.
Tied 3rd in the individual standings at the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande, helping England secure the team title.
Top 10 finishes in the 2026 Portuguese International Amateur and Spanish International Amateur.
Won the 2025 Berkhamsted Trophy.
Bolton has previously played for GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.

Sam EASTERBOOK (19) – Olton, England / WAGR #80
Top-20 Individual finish at the 2026 NCAA National Championship.
First individual collegiate victory for Purdue at the 2025 Puerto Rico Classic.
Reached the quarter-finals of 2026 Amateur Championship.
Came close to securing a major championship debut through Final Qualifying for The 154th Open and the new Last-Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale.

Connor GRAHAM (19) – Blairgowrie, Scotland / WAGR #25
Graham, the youngest player (16) to ever compete in the match, will be making his third successive Walker Cup appearance at Lahinch.
He has recorded nine top-20 finishes in 12 events for Texas Tech in 2026.
He was also a member of the winning International team in the Arnold Palmer Cup for the second successive year.
He qualified for The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush in 2025.
Graham was the leading stroke-play qualifier in both the 2024 and 2025 Amateur Championships.

Stuart GREHAN (33) – County Louth, Ireland / WAGR #24
Winner of the 2026 Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool in June.
Tied 3rd in the 2026 Irish Amateur Open, having won that title and the Irish Amateur Close following his return to amateur golf in 2025.
Walker Cup debut at Cypress Point.
Grehan played for GB&I in the 2016 and 2025 St Andrews Trophy matches.
He won the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch in 2015.

Josh HILL (22) – Fox Den (USA), England / WAGR #96
Hill, who grew up in Dubai, has impressed in his final college season at the University of Tennessee recording eight top-25 finishes in 2026.
He reached the quarter-finals of the South of Ireland Amateur at Lahinch in July.
Hill previously represented GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.

Luke POULTER (22) – Woburn, England / WAGR #6
Poulter will be making his second GB&I Walker Cup appearance.
A member of the winning International Team at the 2025 and 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup.
Poulter won the 2026 NCAA Columbus Regional representing Florida.
Member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team.
Won the Schenkel Invitational U.S. collegiate event in 2025.

Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (28) – Meadow Club (USA), Scotland / WAGR #18
Born in Scotland and raised in California.
A member of the winning International team in the 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup.
Sheils Donegan will make his second successive Walker Cup appearance at Lahinch after impressing at Cypress Point last year.
Rising senior at North Carolina after transferring from Northwestern last summer.
Semi-Finalist at the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship. Made the Round of 32 this year.
Qualified for the knockout stages of The Amateur Championship in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
4th in the 2025 St Andrews Links Trophy.

Tyler WEAVER (21) – Bury St Edmunds, England / WAGR #2
A strong 2025/26 season for Florida State (69.58 scoring average) highlighted by his second collegiate title at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational.
Worringly Weaver has not played competitively since mid-April 2026 due to injury.
Played in the 2025 U.S. Open Championship.
Unbeaten member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team.
Member of the International Team at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup.
Winner of the 2025 Cabo Collegiate event.

Jack WHALEY (22) – Rotherham, England / WAGR #90
Winner of the 2026 U.S. Amateur, becoming only the third Englishman to win the Championship.
The rising Florida State senior – who spent his first two years at NAIA Dalton State College before transferring – has played well in the states this year posting four top tens
While at Dalton, he won five NAIA tournaments and won every national NAIA honour, including the Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Phil Mickelson Awards.

Reserves

Thomas HIGGINS (23) – Roscommon, Ireland / WAGR #191

David HOWARD (27) – Fota Island, Ireland / WAGR #817

ME.

197. 2026 USA Walker Cup Team Is Announced

16th August 2026

Following the conclusion of the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship on Sunday 16th August the USGA’s Teams Selection Committee working group confirmed the 10 players who will represent the USA in the 2026 Walker Cup match.

The USA Team, led by captain Nathan Smith, will compete against Great Britain and Ireland in the 51st Walker Cup Match on 5th-6th September at Lahinch G.C. in County Claire, Ireland.

Four players had already been selected in advance of the U.S. Amateur so today saw the six remaining players confirmed.

Preston STOUT (22), Tyler WATTS (18) and Ethan FANG (21) who were ranked 1st, 3rd and 4th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) were automatically selected on 8th July 2026.

Miles RUSSELL (17), WAGR ranked #5 at the time, was also added to the USA roster by the USGA Team Selection Committee when they formally announced the above on 9th July 2026.

USA Walker Cup Team (Graphic: USGA)

Kihei AKINA (19 / WAGR #110, Ryder COWAN (21 / WAGR #8), Josiah GILBERT (21 / WAGR #7), William JENNINGS (20 / WAGR #5), Stewart HAGESTAD (35 / WAGR #27) and Jay LENG JR. (20 / WAGR #23) were the additional players named to the 2026 USA Walker Cup Team this evening.

Max HERENDEEN (21 / WAGR #26) of Bellevue, Washington and Logan REILLY (19 / WAGR #56) of Lovettsville, Virginia were also named as the USA’s first and second alternates, respectively.

The USA will have three returning players in their 2026 line-up, namely Stewart Hagestad, Ethan Fang and Preston Stout.

USA Player Profiles – Courtesy of the USGA

Kihei AKINA (20) – Alpine, Utah
Earned the 2026 Phil Mickelson Award as the nation’s top collegiate freshman in his first season at Brigham Young University.
Akina tied for eighth in the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort.
He was runner-up in the Big 12 Conference Championship and won a pair of collegiate tournaments during the 2025-26 season.
He has made two cuts on the PGA TOUR in 2026.
Akina made the Quarter finals of this year’s Amateur Championship and the Round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur.

Ryder COWAN (21) – Edmond, Oklahoma
Earned low-amateur honors at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, finishing tied 23rd.
He is a rising University of Oklahoma senior having posted one collegiate victory this past season.
Cowan has qualified for the last three U.S. Amateurs.

Ethan FANG (21) – Plano, Texas
WAGR No. 4 after winning the Maridoe Collegiate and finishing in the top 10 of the Big 12 Men’s Golf Championship.
A junior at Oklahoma State.
In 2025, he captured The Amateur Championship at Royal St. George’s.
He represented USA at the 2025 World Amateur Team Championship in Singapore.

Josiah GILBERT (21) – Millbrook, Alabama
A rising senior at Auburn University, where he helped the Tigers to their 2024 and 2026 NCAA Division I titles.
DGilbert’s 2026 season earned him PING Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors.
Currently No. 8 on the WAGR, Gilbert advanced to match play in his third U.S. Amateur appearance.

Stewart HAGESTAD (35) – Newport Beach, California
He will be competing in his sixth Walker Cup match. He has won all five he’s played and has W7-L1 record.
U.S. Mid-Amateur champion in 2016, 2021 & 2023.
Hagestad has qualified for five U.S. Opens, making one cut once in 2022.
Only invited U.S. Mid-Amateur champion to make the cut at The Masters (2017).
Advanced to the Round of 32 at the 2026 U.S. Amateur.
Works as a broker for investment bank BDT & MSD Partners in Palm Beach, FL.

William JENNINGS (20) – Greenville, South Carolina
A rising junior at the University of Alabama he earned a 2nd place finish during the stroke-play portion of the 2026 NCAA National Championships.
He has one collegiate victory to his name at the Fields of Honor Collegiate in 2025.
He advanced to match play at the 2025 and 2026 (Round of 16) U.S. Amateur Championships.

Jay LENG JR (20) – San Diego, California
Winner of the 2026 Western Amateur and Runner-up at the 2026 U.S. Amateur and Northeast Amateur.
A rising junior at Stanford.
Leng Jr. advanced to the semi-finals of the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur.
He was also a member of the 2023 USA Junior Ryder Cup Team.

Miles RUSSELL (17) – Jacksonville Beach, Florida
The left-hander finished fifth at the Northeast Amateur, tied 2nd at the Jones Cup and won the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley.
Currently ranked 5th in WAGR he has committed to Florida State in 2027.
In 2024, Russell became the youngest player in Korn Ferry Tour history to make a cut, doing so at the LECOM Suncoast Classic in Florida.
Also named the 2023 and 2025 AJGA’s Player of the Year.

PRESTON STOUT (21) – Dallas, Texas
Rising senior at Oklahoma State where he claimed the 2026 NCAA Division I individual title and helped his team to victory in the 2025 Championship.
Stout currently sits at No. 1 in WAGR after posting four collegiate victories in the 2025-26 season.
Represented the USA in the 2025 Palmer Cup, World Amateur Team Championship and Walker Cup.
Won the 2025 Northeast Amateur by eight strokes.

Tyler WATTS (18) – Huntsville, Alabama
Became the youngest winner of the Northeast Amateur in June 2026.
Watts, WAGR No. 3, will be starting at the University of Tennessee later this month.
In 2025 he won the 84th Sunnehanna Amateur after shooting 18 under par, the lowest 72-hole score in the history of the event.
The left hander also made the championship match of the 2025 North & South Amateur at Pinehurst.
In 2023, Watts claimed the 107th Alabama State Amateur Championship title, setting the record as the youngest player in history to win at age 15.
That same year, he won the Jones Cup Junior Invitational at Sea Island (Ga.) G.C.

ME.

196. Four More Names Are Added To The GB&I Walker Cup Team

5th August 2026

Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #2, Luke POULTER (ENG) #5, Eliot BAKER (ENG) #16 and Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO) #18 have today automatically qualified for the Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) Walker Cup team.

The top-five GB&I players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) published on 5th August were all guaranteed spots in the GB&I line up for the forthcoming match at Lahinch G.C.

Stuart GREHAN (IRL) #22, who earned his place in June when he won the 2026 Amateur Championship, was the fifth highest ranked player. Having already qualified for the team (he also failed to meet the minimum divisor of 18.0 rule) this place now reverts to a captain’s pick.

All five of the players selected to date represented GB&I in the 2025 match at Cypress Point.

The GB&I team of 10 players will therefore include five picks by Dean Robertson, assuming no GB&I player wins the U.S. Amateur Championship next week, and be formally announced on Tuesday 18th August.

It should be noted that whilst Tyler Weaver attended a squad meeting at Lahinch G.C. ahead of the recent South of Ireland Amateur Championship he has not played competitively since 26th April due to injury. He has also withdrawn from the U.S. Amateur Championship and given his inability to demonstrate his fitness to compete may decide to stand down.

European WAGR Extract As At 5th August 2026 (Graphic: WAGR)

The USGA Team Selection Committee have not announced any additional players to their Walker Cup team in recent weeks.

The winner of the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship, set to be played at Merion G.C. on 10th-16th August, and the recipient of the 2026 McCormack Medal, will also earn automatic exemptions, should they be American.

The remaining USA team members are scheduled to be announced at the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur Championship on Sunday 16th August.

ME.

195. 2026 Walker Cup Teams Start To Take Shape

8th & 9th July 2026

With less than 60 days to go until the 51st Walker Cup match begins the two teams are now starting to take shape as some of the selections are confirmed.

Stuart GREHAN (IRL) claimed the first place in the Great Britain & Ireland team when he won the 131st Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool G.C. on 20th June 2026. His win over USA’s Matt Moloney earned him an automatic selection to the GB&I team.

Stuart Grehan (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

The top-five GB&I players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) published on 5th August will be the next to gain automatic selection.

The top 5 as at 8th July are Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #2, Luke POULTER (ENG) #7, Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO) #18, Stuart GREHAN (IRL) #19 (although he does not meet the divisor of 18 rule) and Eliot BAKER (ENG) #21.

Weaver has been injured since late April and is running out of time to prove his fitness for the match in early September. Grehan, as the Amateur champion, has already secured his place on the team. These positions are not transferable so captain Dean Robertson may end up having one or possibly two additional picks.

The full GB&I team of 10 players is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday 18th August.

As Preston STOUT (22) #1, Tyler WATTS (18) #3 and Ethan FANG #4 (21) were the three highest-ranked American players in the WAGR as of 8th July they have earned automatic exemptions from the USGA onto the 2026 USA Walker Cup Team. Stout and Fang competed in last year’s match at Cypress Point.

USA WAGR Extract As At 8th July 2026 (Graphic: WAGR)

Miles RUSSELL (17), WAGR ranked #5, was also added to the USA roster by the USGA Team Selection Committee on 9th July 2026.

The USGA Team Selection Committee stated in their announcement that they may also name additional players to their Walker Cup team in the coming weeks.

The winner of the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship, set to be played at Merion G.C. in August, and the recipient of the 2026 McCormack Medal, will also earn automatic exemptions, should they be American.

The remaining USA team members are scheduled to be announced at the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur Championship on Sunday 16th August.

ME.

194. Tickets & Schedule For The 2026 Walker Cup Match

27th March 2026

Tickets for the 51st Walker Cup Match on 5th-6th September 2026, which is to be played for the first time at Lahinch G.C. in County Clare, Ireland, have gone on sale today.

Weekend Passes will cost €80 while Single Day tickets will cost €45 each.

All children under-16 years old will be given free entry if accompanied by a paying adult. Discounted youth tickets are also available for 16-24 year olds.

Click here to view – The R&A’s Ticket Page

An early bird offer, applying only to the first 500 tickets sold, of €70 for the Weekend Pass and €40 for either the Saturday or Sunday was fully taken up within hours of the site going live.

The match schedule was also outlined by The R&A: –

Friday 4th September – Practice Day

8.00am: AM Team Practice
1.30pm: PM Team Practice
5.00pm: Opening Ceremony

Saturday 5th September – Match Day 1

8.00am: Four foursome matches
1:45pm: Eight singles matches

Sunday 6th September – Match Day 2

8.00am: Four foursome matches
1:30pm: Ten singles matches
7.00pm: Closing Ceremony

ME.

193. USGA Names Their 2040, 2048 and 2052 Host Venues

28th February 2026

The USGA has today announced that the National Golf Links of America, Cypress Point Club and Seminole Golf Club will respectively host the 2040, 2048 and 2052 Walker Cup matches.

This means that the USGA has now confirmed all of their Walker Cup home venues up until 2052.

The National Golf Links of America in New York was designed by C.B. MacDonald and opened in 1909. It hosted the inaugural Walker Cup match in 1920 and its 44th playing in 2013.2048 will see the Alister MacKenzie designed Cypress Point in California host its third Walker Cup after previously staging the contests in 1981 and 2025.

Seminole, designed by Donald Ross and opened for play in 1929, has been afforded its second match following the playing of the 2021 contest at the famed Florida course.ME.

192. USGA Announce 2026 Walker Cup USA Practice Squad

30th October 2025

The USGA’s International Team Selection (ITS) Committee has invited 18 players to attend a Walker Cup practice session on 18th-20th December 2025. The players will play at Jupiter Hills Golf Club, McArthur Golf Club and Seminole Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida.

Nathan Smith, who will captain the USA Team for a second time in the 2026 Walker Cup match at Lahinch Golf Club, will lead the event.

The following players will be in attendance: –

Evan BECK (35) of Virginia Beach, Virginia (Mid-Amateur)
Luke COLTON (18) of Frisco, Texas (High School – 2026)
Ethan FANG (20) of Plano, Texas (Oklahoma State, junior)
Josiah GILBERT (20) of Houston, Texas (Auburn, junior)
Stewart HAGESTAD (34) of Newport Beach, California (Mid-Amateur)
Max HERENDEEN (20) of Bellevue, Washington (Illinois, junior)
Mason HOWELL (18) of Thomasville, Georgia (High School – 2026)
Jackson KOIVUN (20) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Auburn, junior)
Michael LA SASSO (21) of Raleigh, North Carolina (Ole Miss, senior)
Bryan LEE (21) of Fairfax, Virginia (Virginia, senior)
Bobby MASSA (37) of Dallas, Texas (Mid-Amateur)
Jacob MODLESKI (20) of Noblesville, Indiana (Notre Dame, junior)
Miles RUSSELL (16) of Jacksonville Beach, Florida. (High School – 2027)
Lance SIMPSON (22) of Knoxville, Tennessee (Tennessee, senior)
Preston STOUT (21) of Dallas, Texas (Oklahoma State, junior)
Cameron TANKERSLEY (22) of Dickson, Tennessee (Ole Miss, senior)
Jack TURNER (21) of Orlando, Florida (Florida, junior)
Tyler WATTS (18) of Huntsville, Alabama (High School – 2026)

Seven of these players, namely Ethan Fang, Stewart Hagestad, Mason Howell, Jackson Koivun, Michael La Sasso, Jacob Modleski and Preston Stout, represented USA in the 2025 Walker Cup match at Cypress Point.

The other three 2025 USA team members, Ben James, Tommy Morrison and Jase Summy, are all college seniors and have presumably declined invitations on the basis that they will be turning pro in May 2026.

WAGR-ranked No. 1 Koivun, who earned his PGA TOUR card in May 2025, through the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program is attending but it remains to be seen whether he stays amateur long enough to play at Lahinch. He has earned the right to turn pro after either the 2026 or 2027 NCAA Championships and take up his season and a half PGA TOUR membership.

An invitation to the Walker Cup practice session does not guarantee selection to the team. Players not invited will also be considered for inclusion on the team as the 2026 season plays out.

Eight and seven of the 16 players from the December 2024 and 2022 Walker Cup practice sessions respectively competed in the 2025 and 2023 matches.

The 51st Match will be played at Lahinch G.C. in the Republic of Ireland, on 5th-6th September 2026.

ME.

Dean Robertson Re-Appointed GB&I Walker Cup Captain

13th October 2025

Dean Robertson, 55, will continue as captain of the Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) team for the 51st Walker Cup match.

This next match will be played on 5th-6th September 2026 at Lahinch G.C. in Ireland.

Dean Robertson (Photo: The R&A)

The R&A stated that the “Scot’s meticulous work behind-the-scenes and strong rapport developed with the players helped secure the backing for a second stint as Captain.”

Robertson, who took charge of the GB&I team for the recent 17.0-9.0 defeat at Cypress Point, will now aim to halt the USA’s run of five straight wins and secure a GB&I’s first victory since 2015.

The Head of Golf at the University of Stirling said “I am proud to accept the honour of captaining Great Britain and Ireland again in the Walker Cup. Leading a talented group of players at Cypress Point this year was a huge privilege and while we produced strong foursomes performances, the singles showed us the improvement and belief needed to achieve victory. I am committed to captaining the team with drive and determination over the iconic links of Lahinch. The focus will be to build on this year’s performance with the goal of winning back the Walker Cup next year.”

Robertson represented GB&I in the Walker Cup in 1993 and then turned professional that year. He went on to win the Italian Open in 1999.

ME.

190. John Harris Has Died Aged 73

22nd September 2025

John Harris, who represented USA in the 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2001 Walker Cup matches, died on 17th September 2025. He enjoyed an impressive P14 W10 L4 D0 record albeit USA only won two of these contests.

He was just 73 and had been ill for some time with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow.

John Harris (Photo: USGA Archives / John Mummert)

John Richard Harris was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 13th June 1952.

He played ice hockey and golf for the University of Minnesota. In 1974 he won the NCAA Championship with his team in the former and the Big 10 Championship individually in the latter.

After college Harris played both sports professionally but ice hockey, in the minor leagues, for only a short time.

After two years he lost his PGA Tour card at the end of the 1976 season. He regained his amateur status in 1983.

Harris, 41 at the time, was the last mid-amateur to win the U.S. Amateur, taking the 1993 Championship in Houston with a 5&3 victory over Danny Ellis in the Final.

He also won four Minnesota Amateur Championships (1974, 1987, 1989, 2000), the Sunnehanna Amateur (1995), the Porter Cup (1997) and the Terra Cotta Invitational (2002).

The University of Minnesota inducted Harris into its M Club Hall of Fame in 1994 for his sporting achievements, with the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame also inducting him in 1998.

He eventually turned pro again when he reached 50 to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. He played in 53 events over a 10 year period enjoying one victory at the 2006 Commerce Bank Championship after a play-off with Tom Jenkins.

ME.

189. 2025 Walker Cup – Day 2 Report

Sunday 7th September 2025

DAY 2 REPORT

USA won the 50th Walker Cup match, their fifth consecutive victory, by 17.0-9.0.

Day 2 again got off to a cloudy and cool start in California before warming up nicely as the Foursomes reached the turn. The fog rolled back in later in the afternoon as the Singles came to a close.

Leading 6.5-5.5 after Day 1 holder’s USA needed 6.5 points from the 14.0 on offer on Sunday to retain the Walker Cup at Cypress Point. They were of course looking for at least 7.0 points to ensure an outright win in this match.

After the Day 2 Foursomes were halved 2.0-2.0 the match was still tight with USA holding a narrow 1.0 point lead heading into the Sunday Singles session.

USA would go on to win the Singles 8.5-1.5 to put a somewhat flattering scoreline on the event which in the most part had been competitive.

Session Score: USA 8.5 – 1.5 GB&I

Day 2 Score: USA 10.5 – 3.5 GB&I

SUNDAY FOURSOMES

The morning Foursomes were tied 2.0-2.0. Arguably a fair result as each team gifted their opponents one of the four games contested. However, GB&I will feel the harder done by given the nature of their capitulation in the opening game and their much greater need to win the session.

Captain Nathan Smith left out Stewart Hagestad and Ben James from his Foursomes line-up whilst GB&I rested Dominic Clemons and Gavin Tiernan.

Captain Dean Robertson explained what he would be saying to his team at lunch “The momentum switches quickly in match play, and we’re behind. How, I don’t know, but anything to keep up concentration. We need to be tighter coming down the stretch. It’s going to be a great fun afternoon.”

Reflecting on the session Smith said “We were looking to get off to a fast start, maybe hold serve with the session or win it, and we did that. We’re in a good spot going into this afternoon. We’ve got to play good. I think it’s up for grabs, and the team that plays better this afternoon will probably come out with it.”

1. Jackson Koivun & Tommy Morrison v. Connor Graham & Tyler Weaver
Two early birdies saw the USA pairing of Jackson Koivun and Tommy Morrison take a 2Up lead after five holes. To their credit Connor Graham and Tyler Weaver fought back superbly to take their own 2Up lead after 10 holes. 1Up on the 17th tee the GB&I pair found the green in regulation around 12 feet from the hole. With the Americans 7 feet away in three the position could not have been much better for them. Whether Tyler Weaver was focussed solely on glory with a birdie or whether the pressure of the situation got to him only he knows but he badly judged the speed of his downhill putt. When Morrison holed his par putt it was inevitable that Graham, who had putted beautifully all morning, would miss his own 6 foot return. Game All Square. Graham then compounded his partner’s error by slicing his iron off the 18th tee and completely blocking out Weaver. In the end the GB&I pairing did well to make a bogey 5 but when Koivun holed a testing downhill 3 footer for par an unlikely comeback had been completed.

2. Ethan Fang & Preston Stout v. Charlie Forster & Luke Poulter
Ethan Fang and Preston Stout grasped defeat from the jaws of victory in Game 2. Four up after 10 holes the Americans looked on course for a comfortable win. However, a combination of their own poor play and Charlie Forster and Luke Poulter ‘catching fire’ saw the USA pairing lose the 11th to a par and then tellingly another four holes in a row, the 13th-16th, with GB&I recording two birdies and two pars. 1Up with two holes to play the GB&I boys held on valiantly for a crucial win for their team.

3. Mason Howell & Jacob Modleski v. Eliot Baker & Stuart Grehan
Some poor holes from Eliot Baker and Stuart Grehan on the front nine handed the early advantage to their American opponents, Mason Howell and Jacob Modleski. The GB&I pair battled to the end but ultimately had left themselves too much to do. The match finished with three outrageous shots. Not for the first time Howell holed a lengthy birdie putt on the 15th, Grehan then chipped in from 50 feet on the 16th to keep the game alive before Howell holed his approach for an eagle 2 – one bounce and in – on the 17th to put an end to the fun.

4. Michael La Sasso & Jase Summy v. Cameron Adam & Niall Shiels Donegan
The Scottish pairing of Cameron Adam and Niall Shiels Donegan took the lead on the 2nd hole and after some great play around the turn – five 3’s in 6 holes – found themselves 5Up after 12. Despite a wobble or two coming home they thankfully got the job done on the 17th green and ensured the overall session would be halved.

Session Score: USA 2.0 – 2.0 GB&I

SUNDAY SINGLES

USA thrashed GB&I 8.5-1.5 in the Day 2 Singles to run out comfortable winners of the 50th Walker Cup match.

All ten players on both sides were in action on the final afternoon.

A delighted Nathan Smith said “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a Walker Cup team bring it like they did this afternoon in singles.”

GB&I captain Dean Robertson was fulsome in his praise for the winners. “We were in it. We fought hard. Our foursomes performances were exceptional. But for a few putts, I think the big difference for us is we need to be better putters. We never really managed to clutch out some of the games, and then this afternoon Team USA performed brilliantly, and hats off to them, and well done to Nathan and his team.”

1. Jackson Koivun v. Tyler Weaver
Playing at No. 1 Tyler Weaver was always likely to be facing Jackson Koivun, a generational talent who has already earned a PGA Tour card. Weaver played well but Koivun was simply too good and birdies on 13 and 15 saw the American pick up his second singles win against the Florida State-based Englishman.

2. Tommy Morrison v. Niall Shiels Donegan
Niall Shiels Donegan was unable to make it three wins from three games against the Texas giant Tommy Morrison who produced five birdies on route to a 3&2 win.

3. Mason Howell v. Connor Graham
Mason Howell and Connor Graham, both 18 years old, tied their game; a competitive one where neither player ever led by more than 1 Hole. Graham restored parity with a birdie on the 15th before the 16th was halved with birdies in a high quality finish.

4. Preston Stout v. Luke Poulter
Preston Stout secured the winning point for USA handing Luke Poulter a 2&1 defeat in a game that saw the two of them share an impressive 11 birdies.

5. Ethan Fang v. Stuart Grehan
Ethan Fang stepped up in his singles against Stuart Grehan, a repeat of yesterday afternoon’s drawn game between the two of them. Early birdies on 3 and 4 provided the platform for the American’s win and after he won the 9th, 10th and 11th holes the contest was quickly brought to a close on the 14th green.

6. Stewart Hagestad v. Eliot Baker
Stewart Hagestad secured the 13th point to guarantee that USA would retain the Cup with his 4&3 victory over Eliot Baker, holing a 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th green to close it out. He is now W7-L1 in singles play and has won all five of the matches he has contested for USA.

7. Ben James v. Charlie Forster
Game 7 was another close contest which eventually fell the way of the Americans. Charlie Forster played well but badly timed bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes handed Ben James the initiative and he was good enough to hang on over the remaining three holes for his point.

8. Jase Summy v. Cameron Adam
Last month’s Western Amateur champion Jase Summy, one of the star performers for USA, earned his third win with a 3&1 victory over Cameron Adam. In an otherwise solid performance the Scotsman’s bogeys on 9 and 11 proved to be critical to his chances.

9. Michael La Sasso v Gavin Tiernan
Amateur Championship runner-up Gavin Tiernan will be pleased to leave the Monterey Peninsula with a 2&1 win over Michael La Sasso; made all the sweeter by it being GB&I’s only victory on the final afternoon. La Sasso surprisingly unravelled coming down the home stretch and Tiernan was pleased to be the beneficiary of his generosity.

10. Jacob Modleski v. Dominic Clemons
In an up and down match Dominic Clemons, who has struggled for form over the last 12 months, was simply too inconsistent to get anything from his game against Jacob Modleski. After a poor start the Englishman won five holes in six to find himself 3Up at the turn. However, five bogeys on the back nine including a deciding one on the 18th saw him lose by 1 Hole. Whilst he was only afforded two outings Clemons leaves Cypress Point as the only player not to contribute a point on either side.

Session Score: USA 8.5 – 1.5 GB&I

Day 2 Score: USA 10.5 – 3.5 GB&I

Match Result: USA 17.0 – 9.0 GB&I

Click here to view the – Walker Cup Scoreboard

Here is my summary of the Individual Performances: –

All of the scorecards shown above are courtesy of the USGA / CISCO Scoring.

ME.

188. 2025 Walker Cup – Day 1 Report

Saturday 6th September 2025

DAY 1 REPORT

The opening day of the 50th Walker Cup got off to a cloudy start before the sun broke through and a near perfect day for golf emerged.

The USA team knew that they needed 13 points to retain the Walker Cup but set out on Saturday morning expecting to easily accumulate the 13.5 points that either side requires to secure an outright victory.

It took the morning Foursomes, which GB&I won 3.0-1.0, for them to realise that this was unlikely to be the walkover that some commentators had predicted before a ball had been struck.

Nevertheless a strong bounce back in the afternoon Singles, which USA won 5.5-2.5, will see the favourites take a 1.0 point lead in to the final day at Cypress Point Club.

SATURDAY FOURSOMES

As is becoming the norm Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) got off to a fast start in the opening Foursomes securing a 3.0-1.0 advantage over their hosts.

USA has won eight of the last ten Walker Cup matches but only won one opening Foursomes series in that 20 year timeframe.

Captain Nathan Smith benched Mason Howell and Jacob Modleski whilst GB&I rested Niall Shiels Donegan and Gavin Tiernan.

Having been unbeaten – P8 W6 L0 H2 – in Foursomes at the recent St. Andrews Trophy match against Continent of Europe in Madrid it was no surprise to see captain Dean Robertson go with the same pairings for Saturday’s opening session. His loyalty was amply rewarded.

“It’s been a good morning”, Robertson said. “We’re under absolutely no illusions as to the task at hand. The goal is 13.5 points, we have three, so we’ve got 10.5 to go now.”

1. Jackson Koivun & Tommy Morrison v. Connor Graham & Tyler Weaver
Conor Graham and Tyler Weaver were superb in the opening game producing eight genuine foursomes birdies in the 17 holes they required to take down World No. 1 Jackson Kuivon and Tommy Morrison. Three birdie hole wins in a row on the 13th, 14th and 15th turned the game their way.

2. Stewart Hagestad & Ben James v. Charlie Forster & Luke Poulter
Charlie Forster and Luke Poulter also made a fast start seizing the advantage early in their match against Stewart Hagestad and Ben James, who had both represented USA in 2023 at St. Andrews. James had a poor morning with the putter which stopped USA gaining any momentum and the English pair saw out the game with relative ease.

3. Ethan Fang & Preston Stout v. Eliot Baker & Stuart Grehan
In the tightest of the four games the experienced GB&I pair of Eliot Baker and Stuart Grehan showed great composure and no shortage of skill to hold on to a narrow 1 Hole victory against the Amateur champion Ethan Fang and his Oklahoma State college teammate Preston Stout. Grehan’s clutch tee shot on the short 15th and Baker’s delicate pitch on the 18th were the late highlights that secured this valuable point for GB&I.

4. Michael La Sasso & Jase Summy v. Cameron Adam & Dominic Clemons
Michael La Sasso and Jase Summy easily saw off a battling but at times out of sorts Cameron Adam and Dominic Clemons in the final game of the session. A double bogey and five bogeys by the GB&I pair meant their American opponents were able to win way to many holes with pars.

Session Score: USA 1.0 – 3.0 GB&I

SATURDAY SINGLES

With only eight Singles being played two players from each team had to miss out on the afternoon series. 2025 NCAA Individual champion Michael La Sasso and Tommy Morrison did so for USA whilst Cameron Adam and Dominic Clemons were the unlucky pair for GB&I.

The Day 1 line ups were submitted on Friday afternoon and therefore neither captain could reflect on the Foursomes performances that preceded this session when deciding who to leave out. With the benefit of hindsight Dean Robertson came out of this arrangement better than Nathan Smith as I am sure he would not have changed his decisions whereas the American may well have done.

Despite this USA bounced back superbly in the afternoon to wrestle back control of the match.

US won five of the eight games contested, three of them comprehensively, and in doing so delivered a psychological blow which the underdogs will do well to recover from on Sunday.

Having only won twice before in the States GB&I will certainly need a repeat of today’s Foursomes performance to have any chance tomorrow when they will have to negotiate another 10 Singles. One positive omen is that the last time GB&I won in 2001 they trailed 6.5-5.5 at the end of Day 1.

Speaking afterwards GB&I captain Dean Robertson said “We just fell short on a few putts and things went the other way. If we’d holed a couple more, things might be a little bit different. I’m slightly disappointed that we are one point behind. I’m exceptionally proud of the way the team performed.”

USA captain Nathan Smith said “I can’t really say there was much of a message (after the morning Foursomes). I think the guys knew what they had to do. There were a lot of points out there this afternoon. We just knew we had to have a good session and they delivered.”

1. Jackson Koivun v. Tyler Weaver
Jackson Koivun took revenge on Tyler Weaver for his morning Foursomes loss. The World No. 1 was in scintillating form playing the front nine in 30/31 shots and whilst Weaver didn’t do much wrong he ended up being blown away by 4&3.

2. Jacob Modleski v. Niall Shiels Donegan
A final hole 1Up win for Niall Shiels Donegan – who would have guessed ? In a trade mark roller coaster performance, which included three birdies and three bogeys, the Scotsman wrong footed Jacob Modleski before gutting it out down the home stretch for a valuable point for GB&I. Shiels Donegan also beat Modleski in the U.S. Amateur Quarter Finals on the 19th hole just three weeks ago.

3. Mason Howell v. Luke Poulter
U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell made a mockery of his non-selection for the earlier Foursomes, in a seven birdie win over Luke Poulter. The loss was a little hard on Poulter who, despite an opening bogey 5, would have been very competitive with his scorecard against most of the other Americans in the afternoon series.

4. Ben James v. Connor Graham
Three birdies on the 13th, 14th and 16th helped Conor Graham to a 3&2 victory against Ben James. It was Graham’s second win of the day and despite bogeys on 8 and 9, which gave James some encouragement, he is increasingly looking like a star in the making. Small in stature but big in heart.

5. Stewart Hagestad v. Gavin Tiernan
Five-time Walker Cupper Stewart Hagestad, 34, was at his imperious best in the afternoon reeling off six birdies in a 7&5 thrashing of Ireland’s Gavin Tiernan. Whilst debutant Tiernan didn’t give too many holes away we know that stringing pars together is simply not going to be good enough for victories around this short course. This was mid-amateur Hagestad’s sixth singles win in seven games.

6. Ethan Fang v. Stuart Grehan
The Amateur champion Ethan Fang and re-instated Irish amateur Stuart Grehan played out an entertaining and very competitive half in Game 6 where neither player could break away from the other. Par golf was seemingly the order of the day with few mistakes being made. Grehan had an opportunity to win it on the 18th hole but couldn’t get his tricky downhill six foot putt to drop.

7. Preston Stout v. Charlie Forster
Preston Stout produced six match play birdies on his way to a comfortable 6&5 win against Charlie Forster. Stout’s excellent play and overall consistency was too much for Forster who bogeyed four of the 13 holes they played.

8. Jase Summy v. Eliot Baker
Jase Summy maintained his 100% win record, the only player on the USA side who can claim this, in a crucial win for USA. 1Down with three holes to play he benefitted from two late bogeys from Devonian Eliot Baker, on 16 and 18, to turn his match around. Stout holed an uphill four footer for his crucial par on the 18th after Baker had lipped out from 15 feet for his. It goes without saying that GB&I would have felt so much better going into Sunday if Baker could have held on for a win or even tied this match.

Session Score: USA 5.5 – 2.5 GB&I

Day 1 Score: USA 6.5 – 5.5 GB&I

Click here to view the – Walker Cup Scoreboard

Here is my summary of the Day 1 Individual Performances: –

All of the scorecards shown above are courtesy of the USGA / CISCO Scoring.

ME.

186. 2025 GB&I Walker Cup Team Is Announced

18th August 2025

The Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team was announced at 2.00pm today by The R&A and captain Dean Robertson.

In line with the stated team selection criteria Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #11, Cameron ADAM (SCO) #21, Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) #41 and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) #44 were automatically selected on the 6th August 2025 based on their World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) on that date.

As expected Eliot BAKER (ENG), Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Stuart GREHAN (IRL), Luke POULTER (ENG), Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) and Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) were invited to make up the remainder of the team. Unusually these six players have clearly separated themselves from the remainder of the pack in recent months so I believe the selection will have been a straight forward one.

Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL) will be the team’s reserve.

Robertson said “This talented team represents the very best in skill, unity, resilience and determination and each player is thoroughly deserving of the opportunity to compete in the Walker Cup for Great Britain and Ireland. I’ve been watching the players over a long period to understand their personalities and attributes to meet the demands presented by Cypress Point. We are underdogs but I’m confident we are equipped to compete at the highest level and will give it our best shot. We are travelling to Cypress Point to embrace the challenge, honour the legacy of the Walker Cup and aim to make history by reclaiming this famous trophy.”

GB&I Walker Cup Team (Graphic: The R&A)

GB&I Player Profiles

Cameron ADAM (22) – Royal Burgess, Scotland
Recently graduated from Northwestern University.
Left-handed.
Winner of the 2025 St. Andrews Links Trophy. Won all four of his games.
Qualified for the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush via The Open Amateur Series.
Member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team.

Eliot BAKER (22) – Tiverton, England
Led England to 2025 Men’s Home Internationals success (P6 W5 L1)
Winner of the 2025 Scottish Men’s Open Championship by 7 shots.
Winner of the 2025 Portuguese Int. Men’s Amateur Championship.
Member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team.

Dominic CLEMONS (23) – Gog Magog, England
Member of the 2024 & 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy teams.
Member of the 2025 European Bonallack Trophy team.
Qualified for The 2024 Open Championship.
Runner-up in the 2024 Amateur Championship.
Won the 2024 Scottish Men’s Open Championship by 17 shots.
Won the Daytona Beach Intercollegiate and Folds of Honour Collegiate in 2024.

Charlie FORSTER (22) – Basingstoke, England
Recently graduated from Long Beach State.
Member of the 2024 & 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy teams.
Member of the International Team at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup.
Won the Lake Las Vegas Invitational and Wyoming Cowboy Classic in 2025.

Connor GRAHAM (18) – Blairgowrie, Scotland
Rising sophomore at Texas Tech University.
Member of the 2024 & 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy teams.
Qualified for the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.
Stroke play medalist in the 2024 and 2025 Amateur Championships.
Member of the International Team at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup.
Member of the 2023 GB&I Walker Cup, the youngest player ever
Member of the Europe Junior Ryder Cup Teams.

Stuart GREHAN (32) – County Louth, Ireland
Turned pro in Oct. 2017, reinstated as an amateur in Apr. 2025.
Winner of the 2025 Irish Open and Close Amateur Championships.
Member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team, having previously played in the 2016 match.

Luke POULTER (21) – Woburn, England
Rising junior at University of Florida.
Member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team.
Member of the International Team at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup.
Won the Schenkel Invitational U.S. collegiate event in 2025.

Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (20) – Meadow Club (California, USA), Scotland
Rising junior at North Carolina after transferring from Northwestern.
Semi-Finalist at the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship.
4th in this year’s St Andrews Links Trophy.
Qualified for the knockout stages of The Amateur Championship in 2024 and 2025.

Gavin TIERNAN (19) – County Louth, Ireland
Rising sophomore at East Tennessee State University.
Runner-up in the 2025 Amateur Championship at Royal St. George’s, England.
Best Irish player at the 2025 Men’s Home Internationals (P6 W4 H1 L1)
Member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team.

Tyler WEAVER (20) – Bury St Edmunds, England
Rising junior at Florida State University.
Played in the 2025 U.S. Open Championship.
Member of the victorious 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team.
Member of the International Team at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup.
Winner of the 2025 Cabo Collegiate event.

ME.

185. 2025 USA Walker Cup Team Is Announced

17th August 2025

Following the conclusion of the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship on Sunday 17th August the USGA’s International Team Selection Working Group (ITS) and captain Nathan Smith confirmed the 10 players who would represent the USA in the 2025 Walker Cup match.

Five players had already been selected in advance of the U.S. Amateur so today saw the five remaining players confirmed.

USA Walker Cup Team (Graphic: USGA)

JACKSON KOIVUN (20), BEN JAMES (22) and MICHAEL LA SASSO (21), who were ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) at the time, were selected on 18th June 2025.

ETHAN FANG (20) and PRESTON STOUT (21), who were WAGR ranked 3rd and 4th at the time, were added to the USA line-up on 25th July 2025 based on their recent form.

Mason HOWELL (18) earned automatic selection by winning the U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club on 17th August 2025.

Stewart HAGESTAD (34), Jacob MODLESKI (20), Tommy MORRISON (21) and Jase SUMMY (21) were selected by the ITS and also announced on 17th August 2025.

Miles RUSSELL (16) and Max HERENDEEN (20) will be the team’s alternates.

Hagestad secured the mid-amateur berth ahead of Evan Beck and will play his fifth consecutive Walker Cup match. He has won all four of his previous encounters and holds a P11 W6 H0 L5 record with 5 Singles wins to his name.

Ben James is the only other USA returner. His record at St. Andrews in 2023 was P3 W1 H0 L2.

USA Player Profiles – Courtesy of the USGA

ETHAN FANG (20) – Plano, Texas
The 2025 Amateur champion at Royal St. George’s, England.
Rising junior at Oklahoma State whom he helped to the 2025 NCAA Div I title.
Represented the USA in the 2025 Palmer Cup.

Stewart HAGESTAD (34) – Newport Beach, California
Competing in his fifth Walker Cup match.
U.S. Mid-Amateur champion in 2016, 2021 & 2023.
Only invited U.S. Mid-Amateur champion to make the cut at The Masters (2017).
Works as a broker for investment bank BDT & MSD Partners in Palm Beach, FL.

Mason HOWELL (18) – Thomasville, Georgia
The 2025 U.S. Amateur champion at The Olympic Club, San Francisco.
Qualified for the 2025 U.S. Open by shooting a pair of bogey-free 63s in Atlanta.
Stroke-play medalist at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur.
Rising high school senior who has committed to play at Georgia in 2026.

BEN JAMES (22) – Milton, Connecticut
Member of the victorious 2023 USA Walker Cup Team at St. Andrews.
Rising senior at Virginia whom he helped to 2nd place at the 2025 NCAA Finals.
Has qualified for the last two U.S. Opens.
Member of the 2024 USA Palmer Cup Team.

JACKSON KOIVUN (20) – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
WAGR #1 and winner of the 2025 Mark H. McCormack Medal.
Rising junior at Auburn University who won the 2024 NCAA title.
Swept all the major collegiate golf awards in the 2023-24 season.
Member of the 2024 and 2025 USA Palmer Cup Teams.

MICHAEL LA SASSO (21) – Raleigh, North Carolina
Rising senior at Ole Miss who claimed the 2025 NCAA Division I individual title.
Competed in the 2025 U.S. Open.
Member of the 2024 and 2025 USA Palmer Cup Teams.

Jacob MODLESKI (20) – Noblesville, Indiana
Rising junior at the University of Notre Dame.
Reached the quarter finals of the 2024 and 2025 U.S. Amateur Championships.
Semi-finalist in the 2025 Western Amateur.
Won the 2024 Jones Cup Invitational.

Tommy MORRISON (21) – Dallas, Texas
Rising senior at the University of Texas.
The only American to win the European Amateur Championship (2024).
Victory earned him an exemption into The Open Championship at Royal Troon.
At 6 feet, 9 inches, he is one of the tallest players in the game.

PRESTON STOUT (21) – Richardson, Texas
Rising junior at Oklahoma State helping them to the 2025 NCAA Division I title.
Won the 2025 Northeast Amateur by eight strokes.
Represented the USA in the 2025 Palmer Cup.

Jase SUMMY (21) – Keller, Texas
Rising senior at University of Oklahoma
Won the 2025 Western Amateur.
Finished tied for third in 2025 Southern Amateur
Member of the 2025 USA Palmer Cup Team
Won the Maridoe Intercollegiate and was 2nd in Valspar Intercollegiate in 2025.

ME.

184. GB&I’s Four WAGR Picks Are Confirmed

6th August 2025

In line with The R&A’s stated team selection criteria Tyler WEAVER (ENG), Cameron ADAM (SCO), Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) have today automatically been selected for the 2025 Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) Walker Cup team.

The policy stated that ‘the top 5 GB&I players in the WAGR on Wednesday 6th August with a minimum divisor of 18’ would be selected for the team.

WAGR As At 6th August 2025 – Europe Only Extract

As can be seen above GB&I’s leading five players in WAGR today are :-

Tyler WEAVER (20) – Bury St Edmunds G.C., England #11
Cameron ADAM (21) – Royal Burgess G.C., Scotland WAGR #21
Luke POULTER (21) – Woburn G.C., England #29
Dominic CLEMONS (23) – Gog Magog G.C., England #41
Connor GRAHAM (18) – Blairgowrie G.C., Scotland #44

As Luke POULTER does not meet the ‘minimum divisor of 18.0000’ rule he has not earned automatic selection today. However, I don’t think he has anything to worry about as given his recent performances his selection must now be considered a formality.

Poulter’s WAGR place is not transferable to the sixth ranked GB&I player, namely Charlie FORSTER (ENG), and will now become an additional Captain’s pick.

The remaining six players will be selected by the Captain, Dean Robertson, and announced by The R&A on 18th August 2025.

Eliot BAKER (ENG), Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Stuart GREHAN (IRL), Luke POULTER (ENG) and Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) are clearly in the box seats for five of these spots. After all they were all picked by Robertson only last month for the St. Andrews Trophy match where GB&I beat Continent of Europe 16.5-8.5 in Madrid.

Jack BIGHAM (ENG), Oliver CAGE (ENG), Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG), Daniel HAYES (ENG), Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) and Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) seem to have the best chance of breaking into the discussion as they are amongst the 14 GB&I players who are competing at next week’s U.S. Amateur Championship in San Francisco.

ME.

183. Ethan Fang and Preston Stout Added To USA Team

25th July 2025

Ethan FANG and Preston STOUT have today been added to the 2025 USA Walker Cup Team by the USGA’s International Team Selection working group (ITS).

They join Jackson KOIVUN, Ben JAMES and Michael LA SASSO, who earned automatic selections to the 10-man team on 18th June as the three highest-ranked American players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

Ethan FANG (WAGR #3), 20, of Plano, Texas, captured the 130th Amateur Championship at Royal St. George’s, in England, becoming the first American in 18 years to win the oldest amateur competition. He is a rising junior at Oklahoma State who helped his university claim the 2025 NCAA Division I title earlier in the summer.

Ethan Fang (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

Preston STOUT (WAGR #4), 21, of Dallas, Texas, recently won the 2025 Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett Country Club, in Rumford, Rhode Island, by eight strokes. Like Fang Stout is a rising junior at Oklahoma State University and helped the Cowboys to victory in the 2025 NCAA Division I Championship. Stout won the 2024 and 2025 Big 12 Conference individual titles and finished third as an individual at the 2025 NCAA Division I event.

Preston Stout (Photo: Oklahoma State University Golf Team)

“Ethan and Preston are excellent additions to further solidify this year’s team,” said Nathan Smith, captain of the USA Team. “These two players have worked tirelessly to put themselves in a position to be selected to this team and I’m thrilled to see their hard work rewarded. I look forward to having them on our side at Cypress Point.”

The USGA’s ITS will name the remaining members of the USA Walker Cup Team immediately following the U.S. Amateur Championship in San Francisco on 17th August.

ME.

182. GB&I Win The 2025 St. Andrews Trophy Match

25th July 2025

Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) won The 35th St. Andrews Trophy match against Continent of Europe by 16.5-8.5 points at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro in Madrid, Spain.

GB&I now have 27 wins in the 35 matches played with Europe having seven and there being one tie in 2016.

The GB&I Team (Photo: Aitor Alcalde / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

In a confidence boosting performance ahead of the Walker Cup match against USA in September Cameron ADAM (SCO) was the star man for GB&I winning all four of his games. Eliot BAKER (ENG), Connor GRAHAM (SCO), Luke POULTER (ENG) and Tyler WEAVER (ENG) also strongly contributed to GB&I’s victory with three wins each.

Captain Dean Robertson will have been pleased to see GB&I go unbeaten in Foursomes, his team winning both sessions by 3.5-0.5. Tyler WEAVER (ENG) & Connor GRAHAM (SCO) and Cameron ADAM (SCO) & Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) won both of their games whilst Luke POULTER (ENG) & Charlie FORSTER (ENG) and Eliot BAKER (ENG) & Stuart GREHAN (IRL) won one and tied the other.

Dominic CLEMONS (ENG), Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Stuart GREHAN (IRL) and Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) weren’t as convincing in their play as Robertson would have liked. Stuart GREHAN (IRL) and Charlie FORSTER (ENG) lost both of their Singles and Dominic CLEMONS (ENG), left out of the Day 1 Singles line-up, lost his Day 2 game. Gavin TIERNAN (IRL), who was rested during both sets of Foursomes, lost one and won one of his two Singles outings.

It will be interesting to see how Robertson assesses the above performances when it comes to finalising his Walker Cup team next month. The Walker Cup, being a 10-man competition, will require a new team member to be added but I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one, possibly two, new faces at Cypress Point. There is still plenty to play for in the coming weeks for those players who missed out on this selection.

Click here to view the – 2025 St. Andrews Trophy Match Results

Great Britain & Ireland Team (Photo: RFEG)

ME.

181. The R&A Select The 2025 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy Team

4th July 2025

The R&A and Captain Dean Robertson have announced the nine players who will represent Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) in the 2025 St Andrews Trophy match against the Continent of Europe.

The match will take place on 24-25 July at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro in Madrid, Spain.

The GB&I St. Andrews Trophy Team (Graphic: The R&A)

The GB&I team consists of : –
Cameron ADAM (21) – Royal Burgess, Scotland WAGR #29*
Eliot BAKER (22) – Tiverton, England #134
Dominic CLEMONS (23) – Gog Magog, England #41*
Charlie FORSTER (22) – Basingstoke, England #58
Connor GRAHAM (18) – Blairgowrie, Scotland #40*
Stuart GREHAN (32) County Louth, Ireland #845
Luke POULTER (21) – Woburn, England #49
Gavin TIERNAN (19) – County Louth, Ireland #652
Tyler WEAVER (20) – Bury St Edmunds, England #14*

*Adam, Clemons, Graham and Weaver all received automatic selections based on their 2nd July 2025 WAGR rankings. The other players were Captain’s Picks.

Dominic Clemons, Charlie Forster and Connor Graham all played in the 2024 match at Royal Porthcawl G.C.. Stuart Grehan played eight years ago in the tied 2016 match at Prince’s G.C.

Cameron Adam, Eliot Baker, Stuart Grehan, Luke Poulter, Gavin Tiernan and Tyler Weaver will all make their GB&I debuts.

Whilst certainly worthy of being in the mix the selections of Irish pair, Grehan and Tiernan, are a little surprising as respectively there are 47 and 37 GB&I players ranked above them in the current WAGR. Grehan, who turned pro in October 2017, only regained his amateur status in April 2025 whilst Tiernan has clearly been given considerable credit for reaching the Final of The Amateur Championship.

With the GB&I selectors having now shown their hand it appears that their other leading players, such as Jack BIGHAM (ENG), Seb CAVE (ENG), Thomas HIGGINS (IRL), Zach LITTLE (ENG), Tom OSBORNE (ENG) Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) and Freddie TURNELL (ENG), will need to produce some good results in the next six weeks to force their way into the Walker Cup picture.

The St. Andrews Trophy (Photo: Suomen Golfliitto / Finnish Golf Union)

The re-jigging of the amateur calendar means that the normally biennial contest is being played just a year after Europe beat GB&I 16.0-9.0 in Wales.

The timing of the match is advantageous to GB&I, at least in theory, as it comes just over a month before the Walker Cup match against USA and will give the players the opportunity to get to know each other better and to compete as a team.

ME.

180. USA’s Three WAGR Picks Are Confirmed

18th June 2025

In line with the USGA’s International Team Selection Working Group’s (ITS) guidance we now know the first three members of USA’s 2025 Walker Cup team.

The three highest ranked American players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) on 18th June 2025, namely Jackson KOIVUN (20) #1, Ben JAMES (22) #2 and Michael LA SASSO (21) #3, have all secured automatic selections for the upcoming match at Cypress Point Club.

USA players occupy seven places in this WAGR top 10 and fourteen in the top 20.

Click here to view the current – WAGR Men’s Ranking

WAGR Top 10 As At 18th June 2025 (Graphic: WAGR)

All three team members play in the U.S. college system. Next season Koivun will be a junior at Auburn, James a senior at Virginia and La Sasso a senior at Ole Miss.

On 26th May 2025 Jackson Koivun became the third player to earn PGA TOUR membership via the PGA TOUR University Accelerated ranking. He plans to complete his junior year at Auburn before taking up his PGA TOUR status in June 2026.

Ben James has been a top USA player since his junior days and was a member of the victorious USA team at St. Andrews in 2023.

Michael La Sasso won the Individual title at the NCAA Division I National Championship in May 2025 and as a result joined Koivun and James in the U.S. Open Championship field at Oakmont C.C.

“Jackson, Ben and Michael are fantastic additions to the team” said USA Captain Nathan Smith. “Not only have all three of these young men had impressive seasons, resulting in these automatic selections, but they are future stars of our game who bring immense talent, enthusiasm and camaraderie to the team’.

All three selectees attended the USA’s Squad practice session in Jupiter, Florida in December 2024.

The ITS will name a second set of additional players to the 10-man team in late July and then round things off following the completion of the U.S. Amateur Championship on 17th August 2023.

Click here to read more information on the – 2025 USA Walker Cup Team Selection Process and Timetable

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179. Prince’s G.C. To Host The 2030 Walker Cup Match

8th May 2025

Prince’s G.C. in Sandwich, Kent, England will stage the 53^rd Walker Cup match in 2030.

It will be the first time that the Club has staged the biennial team contest played between Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) and the United States of America.

The final dates, expected to be in early September, will be confirmed at a later date.

Prince’s has undergone a significant redevelopment programme since 2017, including upgrades to the clubhouse and to the 27 holes on offer. The Shores and Dunes nines make up the championship course.

Prince’s famously staged The Open in 1932 won by Gene Sarazen and has more recently hosted Final Qualifying for The Open between 2018 and 2022. It also hosted The Women’s Amateur Championship in 2023.

Rob McGuirk, General Manager at Prince’s, said, “It’s an absolute privilege to be invited to host the Walker Cup in 2030. To be among the esteemed hosts of what is perhaps the most revered men’s amateur competition in the game is a source of immense pride for everyone associated with Prince’s Golf Club. We have worked closely with The R&A on a number of championships in the past and we look forward to continuing that relationship in the years ahead to ensure a great match is held.”

From a sentimental perspective it is disappointing that the neighbouring Royal St. George’s G.C. hasn’t been selected for 2030, 100 years after Bobby Jones led USA to victory there before commencing his Grand Slam journey. Having last hosted The Open Championship in 2021 I assume its planned return hampered this potential Walker Cup appointment.

In the recently announced 2025 Top 100 Golf Courses GB&I Ranking the three leading Kent links courses were ranked as follows: Royal St. George’s 7th, Royal Cinque Ports 29th and Prince’s 87th.

ME.

178. Jay Sigel Has Died Aged 81

23rd April 2025

Jay Sigel, one of the most distinguished amateur golfers in the history of the game, died on 19th April 2025 at the age of 81.

Born in Pennsylvania on 13 November 1943 Sigel had to wait until he was 35 before winning his first major title, the Amateur Championship in 1979. He beat compatriot Scott Hoch in the 36-hole final at Hillside G.C. in England.

He went on to win the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1982, in his 16th appearance, and 1983 and three U.S. Mid-Amateur titles in 1983, 1985 and 1987. 1983 saw him become only the eighth player to win consecutive U.S. Amateurs. He is the only player to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in the same year and one of just five players to win multiple USGA championships in the same year.

This is not to say that he had no success as a younger player. Sigel lost in the Final of the 1961 U.S. Junior Amateur to 16-year-old Charles S. McDowell by 2 Holes.

He represented the University of Houston (one semester) before transferring to Wake Forest, where he played on the Arnold Palmer Scholarship. Sigel had aspirations of turning professional but after an accident on campus during his sophomore year, which required 70 stitches in his wrist and arm, decided to pursue a career in insurance when he graduated in 1967.

No one has represented USA more than Sigel who played in seven World Amateur Team Championships (Eisenhower Trophy) and nine Walker Cup matches between 1977 and 1993, both individual appearance records.

In the Walker Cup, where he served as playing captain in 1983 and 1985, he holds the records for the most matches played (33) and the most victories (18). His overall record being W18-H10-L5 in both singles and foursomes. USA won eight of the nine matches he was involved in, the only exception being at Peachtree G.C., Atlanta in 1989.

He additionally won ten Pennsylvania Amateurs, four Pennsylvania Opens, three Porter Cups, Sunnehanna Amateurs and Northeast Amateurs.

Sigel competed in numerous major championships and was the low amateur in the 1984 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, one of five he competed in. He also earned low-amateur honours three times (1980, 1981 and 1988) in his 11 Masters appearances and at the 1980 Open Championship, one of two he played in.

Jay Sigel (Photo: First Tee Philadelphia)

When he turned 50 Sigel turned pro and joined the Senior Tour (now PGA Tour Champions). He was named the circuit’s 1994 Rookie of the Year, thanks to 14 top-10 finishes and one win. During his seniors career he recorded eight wins in total and earned over $9.0m.

Sigel received the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honour, in 1984, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and was named the Philadelphia Sportswriters Professional Athlete of the Year for 1994.

A significant philanthropist Sigel was a past president of The First Tee of Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association. His annual Sigel Charity Invitational, played for over 30 years at Aronomink G.C., also raised in excess of $5.3m for the University of Pennsylvania Abrahmson Cancer Center.

A legend of the game Sigel is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty, three daughters, Jennifer, Amy and Megan, and six grandchildren.

ME.