Following the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur Championship and the Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championships at Fulford and Ganton, the R&A have confirmed the eight remaining players to make up the GB&I squad for St Andrews. The R&A’s announcement can be seen here.
James Ashfield (22) – Wales, WAGR: 71st
Wales’ highest-ranked player, winner of the 2022 Welsh Amateur Championship. 2nd place finishes in this year’s Lytham Trophy and European Amateur Championship. Strong performance in the recent Home Internationals at Machynys Peninsula. Loves matchplay.
Jack Bigham (19) – England, WAGR: 88th
Another player to perform well with a 4th place finish at the European Amateur Championship in Estonia at the end of June. Plays his college golf for Florida State and has a very consistent record. A 12th place finish at this year’s Links Trophy shows he knows how to plot his way around St Andrews, too.
Connor Graham (17) – Scotland, WAGR: 184th
The youngest ever winner of the Scottish Men’s Open at Meldrum House in June, Graham is one of the most talked about talents to be coming through currently in Scotland. He won it by a comfortable four strokes. At just 17, he is the youngest member of the squad, but knows St Andrews well, being coached by Fintan Bonner of the St Andrews Links Trust. A 5th place finish at the Scottish Am at Royal Dornoch and Tain sees him come in with solid form. Exciting talent.
Alex Maguire (22) – Ireland, WAGR: 149th
It has been a breakout year for Maguire, who stormed to a five stroke victory at the St Andrews Links Trophy. This win came just a week after he became the first player in 30 years to successfully defend the East of Ireland Amateur title at County Louth. These wins sit within an impressively consistent Collegiate record from Florida Atlantic, a 5th place finish at the Amateur Championship and a debut appearance at The Open in 2023.
Matthew McClean (30) – Ireland, WAGR: 52nd
One of just two players to make it to the knockout stages of last week’s U.S. Amateur, however, was beaten in the Round of 64. His US Mid-Am win last year earned him starts in the Masters and US Open this year, adding to a consistent 2023 performance. Top 10’s in the South African Strokeplay, South African Amateur, English Amateur and East of Ireland have helped cement his spot. With easily the most experience on the team, he will likely play a key role at St Andrews.
Liam Nolan (23) – Ireland, WAGR: 143rd
One of a four-strong Irish cohort making the Walker Cup team, Nolan has an excellent record over the last two years in particular. His playoff-win over Sunningdale’s New Course at the Brabazon Trophy was likely the deciding factor for his selection. A win at the South American Amateur in Ecuador and top 5 finishes at last year’s North and South Ireland Ams have also helped secure his place.
Mark Power (23) – Ireland, WAGR: 94th
Apart from Barclay Brown, the only other play in the squad who represented GB&I in 2021 at Seminole. Power won 3 out of a possible 4 points for his side last time out, however he won’t have his good friend John Murphy to play alongside this time. His collegiate from Wake Forest has been strong, with a win coming at Briar’s Creek in February. A 13th place finish at the European Amateur brings him some recent form, too.
Calum Scott (20) – Scotland, WAGR: 35th
The only member of the squad to make it through to the last 32 of the U.S. Amateur last week. A strong performance which pitted him against a stern field full of American talent. He was only beaten on extra holes by finalist Neal Shipley. The young Scot has a very consistent collegiate record and finished 3rd in this year’s Links Trophy. He will be a key player for GB&I next weekend.
These players join John Gough and Barclay Brown who qualified automatically on the 16th of August as GB&I’s two highest WAGR ranked players.
John Gough (24) – England, WAGR: 11th
Earning his spot automatically, Gough is expected to be a stalwart of this GB&I side. His win at the Irish Am shows he knows how to play proper links golf. After a successful college career with the Charlotte 49ers, the man from Slough is destined for big things in the game. He earned a start at the British Masters in July and finished 39th.
Barclay Brown (22) – England, WAGR: 25th
One of just two players who played at Seminole in 2021, the Stanford man has had an exceptional amateur record to this point. Qualifying for the 150th Open at St Andrews, Brown already has experience of playing in front of a big crowd over the hallowed Old Course. Although he only picked up one point at Seminole, his experience and personality will likely be of great importance for the team.
Reserves:
Tyler Weaver (17) – England, WAGR: 269th
Caolan Rafferty (30)- Ireland, WAGR: 60th
