The 10-man team to face the USA the at Georgia’s at Reynolds Plantation Oconee Course from 21-23 September was decided following the recent Glenmuir Club Professional Championship at Royal Porthcawl which was won by Ireland’s John Dwyer.
One man set to play a key role will be Kedleston Park pro and PGA Cup veteran Paul Wesselingh, aged 45, who will be making his fifth successive appearance. He and Dwyer, 33, from Ashbourne in County Meath, who played in the 2000 and 2003 matches, are the only members of the team with experience of the contest.
Joining Derbyshire-based Wesselingh are two other Midland region pros, Ilkeston’s James Whatley, 24, (Morley Hayes) and Lichfield’s Danny Taylor, 33, (Swingers Driving Range) while the North region is represented by Clwyd’s Andrew Barnett, 37, (North Wales Golf Range), Newcastle’s Michael Nesbit, 30, (Westerhope GC) and Cumbria’s Craig Goodfellow, 32, (Carlisle Driving Range).
The West region supply two pros in the shape of 48-year-old George Ryall (Players Club, Bristol) and Jon Bevan, 40, from Wessex Golf Centre in Weymouth.
Italy-based 43-year-old Duncan Muscroft (Montecchia), son of a former European Tour player Hedley, completes the line up.
GB&I will be led by captain Gary Alliss who will be aiming to become the first man in history to mastermind a PGA Cup victory on American soil since the club pros‘ equivalent of the Ryder Cup was first played in 1973 at Pinehurst.
The weight of history might be against them but Alliss is confident his side can retain the famous Llandudno Trophy which GB&I reclaimed at The K Club two years ago.
“It’s a great mix of experience and youth with some strong characters,” he said. “With that blend of youth and experience, exuberance and calmness, I think we‘ve got every chance of retaining the Llandudno Trophy.”
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