Great Britain and Ireland's Walker Cup team announced

Gary Wolstenholme and Graham Rankin, both members of the 1995 and 1997 Walker Cup teams, have again been selected for the match against the United States at Narin Golf Club on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September.

Wolstenholme, 38, has played at international level since his first cap for England in 1988 and last year represented GB&I in the team which won the Eisenhower Trophy in Chile. Rankin, 33, has been Scotland's top player over the last three years, this being underlined by his win in the 1998 Scottish Amateur at Prestwick and this year's Scottish Stroke Play at St. Andrews.

Luke Donald, Paddy Gribben and Loren Kelly, the other members of the Eisenhower Trophy team have also been selected.

Donald, 21, is an art major at Northwestern University in Chicago and earlier this year won the individual title in the NCAA Championships at Hazeltine National with a four under par total of 284. He was voted 'Player of the Year' and topped the scoring averages for the college season.

Gribben, 30, is the current European Individual Amateur Champion and the holder of the North of Ireland title. Kelly, 25, played for GB&I in last year's St. Andrews Trophy match and has many tournament wins to his name including the Lytham Trophy and the Scottish Stroke Play.

Amateur Champion Graeme Storm, 21, is also selected for the 10 man team following his win at Royal County Down in June. He is joined by newly crowned English Champion Paul Casey, 22, and Simon Dyson, 21, whom Casey beat in the 36 hole final at St. Mellion. Casey has been based at Arizona State University for the past two years where he has had numerous successes.

The sixth English player in the team is Philip Rowe, 20, a quarter finalist in the English Amateur for whom the selection adds to his previous representation at Boys level when he was the captain.

Completing the side is Mortonhall's David Patrick, 24, who earlier this year had wins in the Scottish Champion of Champions at Leven and in the St. Andrews Links Trophy. In 1998 he represented GB&I in the St. Andrews Trophy in Italy.

Chairman of Selectors, Peter Benka said, "We have a very solid looking team. As holders of the Eisenhower Trophy, we go into this match as World Champions and I am very excited about our prospects. What counts now is to produce the right performance on the day and I am confident that our experienced captain, Peter McEvoy can achieve this for the team".

The Walker Cup was first contested in 1922 when the R&A sent a team to play against the USA at the Golf Links of America, New York. The United States lead the series with 31 wins to 4 with 1 match halved.

Wire