Whaley added to GB&I Walker Cup squad after US Amateur success

Jack Whaley has been named in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team two days after winning the US Amateur Championship, defeating Jay Leng Jr 4&3 in the final at Merion, Pennsylvania on Sunday. His inclusion is part of the 10-man squad named for the upcoming match.

Whaley became just the third Englishman to lift the trophy since 1911. The 22‑year‑old is one of four players included in the GB&I squad for the first time, alongside Ben Bolton, Sam Easterbrook and Josh Hill. Dean Robertson, 56, will captain GB&I for a third time, having previously led the team against the US at Cypress Point in 2025 and guided them to victory over the Continent of Europe in The St Andrews Trophy in Madrid last month.

Robertson said: "We have a really exciting blend of players who have experienced the Walker Cup before and others who have earned their first opportunity through some excellent performances over the last year. "We have players who have won important championships, performed at the highest level in amateur golf and demonstrated that they can deliver results in international matchplay."

The Walker Cup is a biennial match contested between the leading amateurs from GB&I and the US across 18 singles and eight foursomes. The tournament, traditionally held in odd‑numbered years, has now moved to an even‑year cycle, starting with this edition, and GB&I are aiming to win the famous trophy for the first time since 2015. The US won the 50th staging of the Walker Cup at Cypress Point in 2025 with a 17-9 triumph and lead the overall series 40-9 with one halved match.

Eliot Baker (Tiverton), Ben Bolton (Enville), Sam Easterbrook (Olton), Connor Graham (Blairgowrie), Stuart Grehan (County Louth), Josh Hill (Fox Den), Luke Poulter (Woburn), Niall Sheils Donegan (Meadow Club), Tyler Weaver (Bury St Edmunds), Jack Whaley (Rotherham). Reserves Thomas Higgins (Roscommon) David Howard (Fota Island).

Luke Poulter, son of Ryder Cup player Ian Poulter, is in the 10-man squad for a second successive time after an impressive season with the University of Florida.

The Walker Cup match will take place at Lahinch on the County Clare coast in western Ireland on 5 and 6 September. GB&I will face the United States for the trophy on those dates.