Walker Cup 2003: On the eve of the last Walker Cup, at Sea Island, the then captain of the Britain and Ireland team, Peter McEvoy, remarked, "There's a danger in being too pious, (but) there is a certain purity in amateur golf that inevitably can't be found in professional golf where there are so many vested interests . . . in the Walker Cup, two teams play against each other and all we are trying to do is beat each other's brains out."
Into that competitive, non-monetary environment for the 39th Walker Cup match with the United States on September 6th-7th, at Ganton Golf Club, England, have been cast Ireland's top two amateurs, Colm Moriarty and Noel Fox. Although their selection was anticipated, the confirmation arrived yesterday when the 10-man team - to be captained by Garth McGimpsey - was officially announced.
Moriarty and Fox become the 29th and 30th Irish representatives to play Walker Cup since the match was first contested in 1922. The US lead the series with 31 wins to six, with one match halved. However, in recent times, B&I have been the dominant force, winning three of the last four matches, at Royal Portcawl in 1995, Nairn in 1999 and Sea Island in 2001.
On this occasion, B&I will be seeking an unprecedented third consecutive win. McEvoy, now the chairman of the R&A selection committee, said, "Only occasionally do you get the opportunity to create history. What a fabulous opportunity these exceptional golfers have to win the Walker Cup and to etch their names into the record books."
Moriarty, from Athlone, claimed his place on the team after strong early-season form that saw him win twice in Australia - the New South Wales Medal and the New South Wales Amateur strokeplay - and he followed that up with a runner-up finish in the Duncan Putter in Wales, a third place finish in the Lytham Trophy and a top-10 finish in the Irish Amateur strokeplay.
"Obviously, it's the top honour in amateur golf to play Walker Cup," Moriarty said yesterday. "It's confirmation that you have reached a pretty good level and I'm looking forward to taking it on from here.
"It's a great stepping stone into the professional game. Play the Walker Cup and then go on. Hopefully, it will go well for us and we'll win it and then we'll turn pro."
Portmarnock's Fox was in contention for a place on the team in 2001 but narrowly missed out. His form this season ensured he couldn't be left out: he won the Irish strokeplay impressively and also tied for fourth place in the St Andrews Links and the Lytham Trophy. He also won the Willie Gill award for topping the GUI's Order of Merit ranking, and has represented Ireland every year since 1996.
Fox had been a member of the training panel since 1996, but, having finally realised his dream, he knows the hardest part is yet to come.
"In ways it's a monkey off my back," Fox said. "Making the Walker Cup side has been my golfing dream, and so now my other golfing dream is to play well there and win matches.
"I knew that this year was my best shot. Obviously to win the Irish Strokeplay was a help, but to play well in Lytham and in St Andrews with the rest of the panel in action made a difference."
McGimpsey congratulated Fox on his selection but warned him not to celebrate too early.
Fox explained: "Garth said, don't get caught in the trap of thinking the achievement is making the team. The achievement is being a good Walker Cup player and winning matches."
Gary Wolstenholme, the British Amateur champion, and Nigel Edwards are the only surviving members of the 2001 team, only the second visiting team to win on American soil.
