A group of elite amateurs has been selected for the traditional Walker Cup practice session, which will take place Dec. 17-20 at Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga. Among the 16 men invited to the session are five U.S. Golf Association champions and only one previous Walker cupper.

Invitees include (university name listed beside current college players):

• Charlie Danielson of Osceola, Wis. (Illinois)
• Bryson Dechambeau of Clovis, Calif. (SMU)
• Doug Ghim of Arlington Heights, Ill. (Texas)
• Scott Harvey of Greensboro, N.C.
• Rico Hoey of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (USC)
• Beau Hossler of Mission Viejo, Calif. (Texas)
• Kyle Jones of Snowflake, Ariz. (Baylor)
• Denny McCarthy of Rockville, Md. (Virginia)
• Lee McCoy of Clarkesville, Ga. (Georgia)
• Mike McCoy of West Des Moines, Iowa
• Maverick McNealy of Portola Valley, Calif. (Stanford)
• Byron Meth of San Diego, Calif. (Pacific)
• Robby Shelton of Wilmer, Ala. (Alabama)
• Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Hunter Stewart of Lexington, Ky. (Vanderbilt)
• Will Zalatoris of Plano, Texas. (Wake Forest)

Harvey, McCoy and Smith are mid-amateurs. At least two mid-ams must be be a part of each Walker Cup team, according to a USGA mandate.

Harvey (2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur), McCoy (2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Meth (2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links), Smith (2003, 2009, 2010, 2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur) and Zalatoris (2014 U.S. Junior Amateur) are USGA champions. Dechambeau, Hossler and McCarthy combined to win the World Amateur Team Championship in Japan earlier this fall.

Only Smith has past Walker Cup experience (2009, ’11, ’13). In fact, he won the clinching point for the American team in 2013 at National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.

An invitation to the practice session, of course, does not guarantee a spot on the team. The USGA’s International Team Selection Committee chooses the final 10-man squad.

“This is an insightful way to get to know these potential Walker Cup players in an informal setting and we have the opportunity to introduce them to the Match and its unique format,” U.S. captain Spider Miller said. “The good people at Frederica Golf Club have offered us their fine facility to start on the process. We appreciate their hospitality.”

The U.S. leads the overall series, 35-8-1.

Information from the USGA used in this report

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