The 2013 Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team will be an entire squad of rookies after the line-up for the biennial battle with the United States was finalised following the conclusion of the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.
A tense final day at the championship staged at De Vere Slaley Hall, which saw heartbreak for a number of players over the course of the last round, completed the two-year qualification process to get in the team to take on their United States counterparts at the same venue in September.
Those celebrating their inclusion in Russell Weir’s side were newly-crowned Glenmuir champion Dan Greenwood of Forest Pines in Lincolnshire, David Callaway (Milford Golf Club), Benn Barham (Kings Hill), Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf), Nicholas Brennan (Bowood G&CC) and Jon Barnes (Ampfield Par 3).
They join Richard Wallis (Walmer & Kingsdown), Scott Henderson (Kings Links) and Gareth Wright (West Linton), who made the squad via the Titleist PGA Play-Offs. Wright was called into the team this week after David Higgins withdrew.
The final spot in the team was the Captain’s pick, which saw Russell name former PGA No 1 player Grieg Hutcheon (Banchory).
Hutcheon, who has European Tour and Challenge Tour experience, was the highest placed PGA Professional at last month’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Weir, after meeting the majority his team present at Slaley Hall, said: “We have a very strong team and I’m looking forward to seeing them all. It’ll be a great week and a tough week.
“The Americans always have a strong team but I believe we have one too. We’re looking forward to coming back to Slaley Hall in September to take on the might of the USA.”
On his captain’s pick, he added: “Grieg has been a top player for a long time and put in a great performance at Wentworth, playing four rounds and finishing the PGA’s top player.
“He’s played on the main tours and has been a strong player in Scotland for a number of years and will bring vast experience.”
The two teams will go head to head between September 20-22 for the Llandudno Trophy, which is currently held by the Americans following their victory at CordeValle, California, two years ago.