Five Irish golfers have been named in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to face the USA at Royal Lytham & St Annes next month.
Captain Nigel Edwards has picked Gavin Moynihan, who's earning his second cap, along with Paul Dunne, Cormac Sharvin, Gary Hurley and Jack Hume who will make their debuts on September 12th and 13th.
Having five representatives in the Walker Cup team is a record for Ireland, and caps off a successful year for the nation’s top amateurs golfers.
Moynihan secured his second Irish Amateur Open title in May while Sharvin was victorious in the Brabazon Trophy, and 22-year-old Greystones golfer Dunne grabbed the attention of the world when he threatened the elite in the British Open at St Andrews.
Great Britain and Ireland are looking to win the Walker Cup for the first time since 2011 after they were beaten in the States two years ago, and Edwards will be captaining the side for the third time.
He said: “We have selected a talented group of players who compete at the highest levels of amateur golf and, in some cases, have played in Major Championships and Tour events. The Walker Cup offers these players a tremendous opportunity to display their abilities and gain invaluable experience of playing in international team competition.
“I know there will be players who are disappointed not to have made the team and it has been a difficult decision to make with such strength in depth in the British and Irish game at the moment but we believe we have selected the best players for the team and are very much looking forward to the match.”
The previous record for irish representatives in the Walker Cup team came in 1949 and 1951 when the quartet of Joe Carr, Jimmy Bruen, Cecil Ewing and Max McCready were selected.
But 2015 will see the Irish contingent surpass that figure and GUI National Coach Neil Manchip believes this is a reflection of the rude health of Irish golf, he said: "What an outstanding achievement for these 5 players to make the Walker Cup team. Each one has played their way on to the team through brilliant performances this season.
“With Irish players making up half of the team the strength of Irish Amateur golf is well reflected. The GUI can be very proud to have such a strong representation. I am really looking forward to watching the lads play at Royal Lytham next month.”
Making up the other half of the Walker Cup team are England's Ashley Chesters, Sam Horsfield and Jimmy Mullen, and Scottich duo Grant Forrest and Jack McDonald.
2015 Walker Cup team to play USA:
Ashley Chesters, 26, Hawkstone Park, England
Paul Dunne, 22, Greystones, Ireland
Grant Forrest, 22, Craigielaw, Scotland
Sam Horsfield, 18, Davenport, Florida, USA
Jack Hume, 21, Naas, Ireland
Gary Hurley, 22, West Waterford, Ireland
Jack McDonald, 22, Kilmarnock (Barassie), Scotland
Gavin Moynihan, 20, The Island, Ireland
Jimmy Mullen, 21, Royal North Devon, England
Cormac Sharvin, 22, Ardglass, Ireland
