Walker Cup

GB&I step up Walker Cup preparations in St Andrews

The R&A

08 Jun 23

3 mins

Great Britain and Ireland continued their preparations for the Walker Cup with a second squad session in St Andrews this week.

With players competing in the Links Trophy at the home of golf (9–11 June), GB&I Captain Stuart Wilson took the chance to look at those aiming for selection in the team to play the United States of America in the 49th staging of the historic match. The biennial encounter will be played over the renowned Old Course on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September, marking 100 years since the match was first played in St Andrews. After ten home-based players gathered in March, Wilson was this week able to also welcome those who compete on the US college circuit for practice over the New Course and Old. They included Irishman Mark Power, part of the GB&I side who narrowly lost 14–12 at Seminole in the 2021 staging of the Walker Cup.

Power driven

“It was definitely the highlight of my golfing career so far,” said the 22-year-old, who recently graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Communications. “It was unbelievable. “People didn’t give us much of an opportunity that week, but we gave it a really good effort. Ever since then I really wanted to play in another one and when I heard it was on in St Andrews it gave me extra incentive to try and make this team. I feel like we have a good squad, some young, fearless players and when it comes to match play that is what you want – to be aggressive.” The Kilkenny member has special memories of St Andrews after winning the Wee Wonders competition over the Balgove Course in 2009 – but is now looking to increase his knowledge of the Old. “I’ve been in the US the last number of years when the Links Trophy has been on, but luckily the dates have worked out for me this year,” he added. “I’ve never played the Old Course so I’m really excited. It’s going to be fun to play it but it’s also a prestigious event and with the year ahead it’s going to be important. I want to learn as much about the course as I can, although I’ve seen a lot of it on TV like in The Open last summer.”

Mark Power - Ireland

"I feel like we have a good squad, some young, fearless players and when it comes to match play that is what you want – to be aggressive.”

Open exemption

There is an extra carrot for players going into the Links Trophy and the weeks ahead. A new exemption has been added for elite amateur golfers in which the player who accumulates the most points awarded by the World Amateur Golf Ranking® in the St Andrews Links Trophy, The Amateur Championship (19 – 24 June) and European Amateur Championship (28 June – 1 July) will earn a place in The Open. “It’s a great incentive and adds a little bit of extra significance to each event,” said Power of the Royal Liverpool chance. “It’s a great opportunity for guys playing in all three events. All of us would love to play in The Open so there is a focus on these events and trying to put three good weeks together. Fair play to The R&A and The Open for co-ordinating it as it’s a great opportunity.” Englishman Frank Kennedy, who won the Lytham Trophy in April, is also excited at The Open exemption. “I think it’s really cool,” he added. “To have another chance of getting into The Open is great. It gives you a lot of motivation to go and do well these next few weeks.” Since its inception in 1989, the St Andrews Links Trophy has attracted the world's top amateurs, many of whom have gone on to enjoy success on the PGA and DP World Tours, notably Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari.

In-form Kennedy

Kennedy, 17, is keen to continue his form and boost his Walker Cup hopes. He added, “I’ve played in the Links Trophy the last two years. I’ve spent a lot of time here and know the courses well. Winning the Lytham Trophy has hopefully helped me but there are still a few events to come. If I do what I need to do, then obviously it’s down to the selectors. “With the Walker Cup being on a links course and at the home of golf, and with the support being with the GB&I team, that will help. The lads just have to work hard and grind it out as the US always have a good team.” Kennedy, who plays out of Prestbury GC in the UK, has Fanny Sunesson, former caddy to Sir Nick Faldo, on the bag for a fourth time this week having already won together at Royal Lytham & St Annes. “She has a good record round the Old Course,” added Kennedy of her Open triumph with Faldo in 1990. “It’s good to have her and pick her brain going round the course. We’re just building that bond together.”

Frank Kennedy - England

“I’ve played in the Links Trophy the last two years. I’ve spent a lot of time here and know the courses well. Winning the Lytham Trophy has hopefully helped me but there are still a few events to come."

Sunesson return

“It’s a long time ago, 1990!,” smiled Sunesson. “But it’s nice to have those memories. Golf is in the air here. You walk down the high street and you see a young girl carrying three clubs and then there is a guy walking with a bag. It’s just such a special space, golf-wise. “I love coming back to St Andrews. It’s one of my favourite golf places in the world. Coming here, I have a lot of memories. There is a lot of history here, driving past the ruins where the graves are, like Old Tom Morris. It’s a place definitely in my heart, it’s wonderful to be back.” On her partnership with Kennedy, she added, “We met here last year at The Open. We had a talk about me helping Frank and we decided we were going to work together. I’m sort of coach/caddy and it’s fun. “He is a very, very nice young man and he’s an impressive player. It gets the juices flowing again. I’d never before caddied in an amateur event. The Lytham Trophy was great, an Open venue, a difficult golf course, and I love the home of golf so I’m looking forward to this week too.” More information and tickets for the Walker Cup can be found here.

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