26 May 2008, St Andrews, Scotland: A preliminary Great Britain & Ireland squad has been selected for this year’s St Andrews Trophy, which will be played at Kingsbarns, Scotland on 29-30 August.
The squad contains sixteen players, varying from established GB&I representatives such as four-time Walker Cup player Nigel Edwards to newer players such as Matt Haines and Eddie Pepperell, who have only recently moved up from boys level competition. The R&A Selection Committee has been encouraged by the squad’s high quality play this season, and in particular by recent performances from some of the younger players.
“After the inevitable move to the professional game by the majority of last year’s Walker Cup Team, we are now seeing significant new talent emerging fast,” said Colin Dalgleish, GB&I Captain.
“We are hopeful this squad will provide the foundation of both our 2008 St Andrews Trophy Team and 2009 Walker Cup Team”
The group will be brought together at Kingsbarns for a two-day session on 9-10 June, giving players a chance to get to know both the course and each other. The players have been chosen with next year’s Walker Cup match at Merion, Pennsylvania, in mind and there is still a chance for other players to force their way into the team, and the selectors fully expect several other players to come into contention for a place in the final nine-man team to face the Continent of Europe in August.
The members of the squad are:
Wallace Booth Comrie
Jonathan Caldwell Clandeboye
Andrew Cooley Chobham
Nigel Edwards Whitchurch
Rhys Enoch Truro
Matthew Haines Rochester & Cobham Park
Sam Hutsby Liphook
Shane Lowry Esker Hills
Callum Macaulay Tulliallan
Keir McNicoll Carnoustie
Chris Paisley Stocksfield
Eddie Pepperell Drayton Park
Gareth Shaw Lurgan
Steven Uzzell Hornsea
Dale Whitnell Five Lakes
Chris Wood Long Ashton
Contact:
Colin Dalgleish, Captain of the GB&I team
Rhodri Price, Assistant Director – Championships
Malcolm Booth, Communications Manager
The R&A
Tel: +44 1334 460000
