USGA names four to U.S. Walker Cup squad

Patrick Cantlay at the Travelers Championship

Ten years ago, Harris English attended the Walker Cup at Ocean Forest Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga. He remembers being inspired by the camaraderie and competition.

“Ever since then, it’s been something I’ve dreamed of playing,” said English, 22, a recent Georgia graduate from Thomasville, Ga. “It really lit a fire in me.”

English and three other top amateurs were named July 31 to the U.S. Walker Cup team. Oklahoma State’s Peter Uihlein, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion; UCLA’s Patrick Cantlay, Golfweek’s college player of the year who made waves in several PGA Tour starts this summer; and Georgia graduate Russell Henley, winner of this year’s Stadion UGA Classic on the Nationwide Tour, also will represent the U.S. on Sept. 10-11 at Royal Aberdeen (Scotland) Golf Club.

English locked up his roster spot by winning the Southern Amateur and Nationwide Tour’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational in consecutive weeks last month.

The competition for the U.S. team’s final six spots narrowed with victories last week by Patrick Rodgers at the Porter Cup and Chris Williams at the Pacific Coast Amateur. Players considered outsiders at the beginning of the summer – including Rodgers, Williams and U.S. Amateur Public Links champion Corbin Mills – have had strong summers, while others considered favorites have struggled.

Many deserving players, too few spots. This much is certain: four players are guaranteed of making the trip to Scotland.