Walker Cup captain Marucci pledges Western U.S. consideration for 2007 Walker Cup team; urges players to be role models

SAN FRANCISCO, August 1 — In a speech at the players’ welcome dinner during the 40th Pacific Coast Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club, George “Buddy” Marucci, the 2007 U.S. Walker Cup captain, reaffirmed the United States Golf Association’s commitment to consider Western U.S. golfers when selecting next year’s team.

In the same speech, Marucci urged the 90 players in this year’s tournament — many of whom are collegians or high school players — to thank and appreciate the associations and volunteers who make championships such as the Pacific Coast Amateur possible, and to serve as role models for those who will follow in their footsteps.

“Many of us travel to and play in many of these great championships,” said Marucci, “but none of them would take place without the associations and volunteers who put in countless numbers of hours to make all of this work. Never fail to appreciate that effort and take the time to thank them.”

Moreover, continued Marucci, “Just as you have all had role models — people you have looked up to who have mentored and supported you in your quest to be the best golfer possible — so, too, will golfers in years to come look up to you as their mentors and role models. You’re carrying on a great tradition and with that comes the responsibility to maintain and nurture this game we all love so much.”

Despite the fact that just six of the 60 golfers who have comprised the last six U.S. Walker Cup teams have come from western states, Marucci pledged to look carefully at golfers from the west when making his selections for next year’s team. The 2007 Walker Cup matches, with the 10-man U.S. team competing against a team from Great Britain & Ireland, will take place September 8-9 at Royal County Down Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

The 53-year-old Marucci — a career amateur who was runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1995 U.S. Amateur and played on the 1995 and 1997 Walker Cup teams with a combined record of 3-0 in foursomes (alternate shot) and 1-1-1 in singles — noted that in recent years two players were selected the year after winning the Pacific Coast Amateur: Brock Mackenzie, who won the championship in 2002 and played on the 2003 Walker Cup team; and Michael Putnam, who represented the United States last year after winning the Pacific Coast Amateur in 2004.

In addition, Jason Gore played on the 1997 Walker Cup team the same year he won the Pacific Coast Amateur, and Ryan Moore, who played in the 2002 and 2003 Pacific Coast Amateurs, joined Mackenzie on the U.S. Walker Cup team that year. The other west coast representatives were Jeff Quinney of Eugene, Ore., who played in several Pacific Coast Amateurs, and Anthony Kim of La Quinta in 2005.

“The western part of the country is very important to the USGA,” said Marucci, “and the Pacific Coast Amateur is the premiere championship in this part of the nation.”

2007 U.S. Walker Cup captain George "Buddy" Marucci
Photo by Robert D. Thomas