Sam Horsfield has withdrawn from the Walker Cup squad

Ewen Ferguson has come into the fold as ‘a more than adequate replacement’

Amateur Sam Horsfield has withdrawn from the Walker Cup squad. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images
Amateur Sam Horsfield has withdrawn from the Walker Cup squad. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Sam Horsfield has withdrawn from the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team for personal reasons and been replaced by Ewen Ferguson.

Team captain Nigel Edwards would not elaborate on the reasons for Horsfield's withdrawal, but has confidence in Ferguson slotting in seamlessly.

Edwards said: “It’s disappointing that Sam isn’t going to be there. However, Ewen is more than an adequate replacement (and) unlucky not to get in in the first instance.

“I’m sure Ewen will do a great job in stepping in and I’m sure he’ll love the Walker Cup.”

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The Walker Cup, a biennial 10-man amateur team competition between GB and Ireland and the United States takes place on September 12th and 13th at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Ferguson won the Boys Amateur Championship in 2013 and became the first player to hold that title along with the Scottish Boys and Scottish Boys Stroke Play trophies which he won last year.

The 19-year-old from Bearsden, near Glasgow has won the Scottish Champion of Champions event and the Craigmillar Park Open this year.

Asked if Horsfield would be considered in the event of another withdrawal and if his personal circumstances changed, Edwards added: “Sam has withdrawn for personal reasons and I don’t see that changing.”

The 17-year-old Bradley Moore, from Derbyshire's Kedleston Park club, becomes the first reserve.