Amateur Scene/ Walker Cup: There was genuine hope that three Irishmen might make this year's Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, but yesterday's announcement by the R&A revealed just two home players as long-time certainty Rory McIlroy was joined by fellow Ulsterman Jonathan Caldwell in the 10-man team to take on the US at Royal County Down next month.
McIlroy's place on Colin Dalgleish's team had been assured for some time, for although he is still just 18 and will turn professional after the Walker Cup, there is little the Holywood golfer hasn't achieved in the amateur game. He returned home yesterday from a well-earned 10-day break in Dubai after securing the prestigious silver medal as the only amateur to play all 72 holes in the British Open at Carnoustie.
As the reigning European Amateur (individual) champion, McIlroy was also part of the Ireland side that won the European Team Championships for the first time in 20 years at Western Gailes Golf Club last month.
At the Ayrshire venue, McIlroy and Caldwell formed a strong partnership in the foursomes as they led Ireland in the top matches. Both players won four points from of a possible six during the week.
Selectors will also have taken note of Caldwell's course record 65 during the second round of qualifying in difficult conditions. Don't be surprised to see the Clandeboye member being paired alongside McIlroy once more when they take on George "Buddy" Marucci's American side at RCD.
"Johnny making the team was fantastic news," said GUI general secretary Seamus Smith. "That said, you've got to feel for Richard Kilpatrick, who must have been in with a great chance of making the team. It's great to have two Irish players on the team, but to have three would have been fantastic."
Kilpatrick won this year's East of Ireland championship by eight shots and was runner-up to Lloyd Saltman in the Irish Amateur at Royal Dublin. The Banbridge golfer also beat Gary Boyd in a thrilling semi-final singles encounter at Western Gailes, but the Englishman was still favoured as one of Dalgleish's two reserves.
Tony Disley, chairman of the R&A selection committee, said: "We have picked a strong team that is more than capable of defeating the Americans at Royal County Down. While a number of players will naturally feel disappointed at being left out of the team, we have no doubt that the 10 players selected can regain the Walker Cup for Britain and Ireland."
Saltman is one three players to return after being part of the 2005 side which narrowly lost 12½-11½ in Chicago. The Scot is currently the top-ranked amateur player from these islands at number three. Added to his Irish Amateur victory, the 24-year-old also won the Champion of Champions event and the Lytham Trophy.
Welsh duo Rhys Davies and veteran Nigel Edwards were also part of the 2005 team. Davies has won 10 events while attending East Tennessee State University and was an NCAA first team All-American from 2005-2007.
Edwards (38), will make his fourth consecutive appearance after being part of the winning team at Ocean Forest in 2001 and again in 2003 at Ganton, where Britain and Ireland secured an unprecedented third consecutive win.
US Amateur champion Richie Ramsay would have been assured a place, but he chose to make his professional debut in last week's Russian Open.
Yesterday Marucci named eight of his 10 players set for County Down on September 8th-9th. Current USGA champion Colt Knost and Trip Kuehne, who will make his third Walker Cup appearance, booked their place, while the final two selections will be made when the US Amateur Championship concludes at the Olympic Club on August 26th.
The Americans lead the biennial series 32 to 7, but a more positive slant reveals Britain and Ireland have won four of the last six encounters.
McIlroy and Caldwell will become the 32nd and 33rd Irishmen to compete in the Walker Cup since its inception in 1922. And as the song title goes: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad.
BRITAIN AND IRELAND
Jonathan Caldwell, 23 (Clandeboye)
Rhys Davies, 22 (Royal Porthcawl)
Nigel Edwards, 38 (Whitchurch)
David Horsey, 22 (Styal)
Llewellyn Matthews, 23 (Southerndown)
Rory McIlroy, 18 (Holywood)
Jamie Moul, 22 (Stoke-by-Nayland)
John Parry, 20 (Harrogate)
Lloyd Saltman, 24 (Craigielaw)
Daniel Willett, 19 (Rotherham).
Reserves: Gary Boyd, 20 (Cherwell Edge), Kevin McAlpine, 23 (Alyth).
PARTIAL USA TEAM
(remaining two to be selected after US Amateur)
Billy Horschel, 20, Grant, Fla
Dustin Johnson, 23, Myrtle Beach, SC
Chris Kirk, 22, Woodstock, Ga
Colt Knost, 22, Dallas, Tx
Trip Kuehne, 35, Irving, Tx
Jamie Lovemark, 19, Santa Fe, Ca
Jonathan Moore, 22, Vancouver, Wa
Webb Simpson, 21, Raleigh, NC
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