The United States will bid to protect its stellar record on home soil by sending seven rookies and three veterans to face Great Britain & Ireland for the 27th PGA Cup, at CordeValle in San Martin, California, Sept. 18-20.
The 10-member team, which will represent the U.S. in the premier international showcase for PGA Club Professionals, was determined following the 97th PGA Championship. The selection process includes a two-year points system that is comprised of the past two PGA Professional National Championships and two PGA Championships. Two players – Sean Dougherty of Leawood, Kansas; and Omar Uresti of Austin, Texas – made the team after Sunday's final round of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
They will join the following eight members who secured berths on July 1, at the 48th PGA Professional National Championship at The Philadelphia Cricket Club: reigning PGA Professional National Champion Matt Dobyns of Glen Head, New York; 2014 PGA Professional National Champion Michael Block of Aliso Viejo, California; 2004 PGA Professional National Champion Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio; Jamie Broce of Ottawa Hills, Ohio; Stuart Deane of Arlington, Texas; Alan Morin of Royal Palm Beach, Florida; Ben Polland of Manhasset, New York; and Grant Sturgeon of Port Chester, New York.
Dobyns, Morin and Sowards have played in four overall PGA Cups and own a combined 9-5-3 record. They will face a Great Britain & Ireland Team composed of eight rookies and two returnees from the 2013 GB&I Team that battled the U.S. to a 13-13 draw at Slaley Hall in Hexham, England. The U.S. owns a 17-5-4 advantage in the competition that began in 1973, including an 11-0-2 record at home. The United States last surrendered possession of the Llandudno International Golf Trophy in 2005, in Ireland.
"We have an outstanding mix of talent and experience, and now will focus on blending as a team," said U.S. Captain and Honorary PGA President Allen Wronowski of Bel Air, Maryland, who returns for a second time to guide the team. "The PGA Cup is a very special experience for players to represent their country and to do what is rare in golf – to work as a team. It is an opportunity of a lifetime."
Jon Bevan of Llandudno, North Wales, will debut as Captain for Great Britain & Ireland in a bid to upset the Americans on a layout where the U.S. dominated in 2011, posting a 17 1/2 to 8 1/2 triumph.
Bevan is a PGA Teaching Professional at Rhos on Sea Golf Club in the northern Welsh port bearing the namesake for the PGA Cup trophy.
"I feel we have a stellar team, that we have all the tools in place, and now look for our players to play to their potential," says Bevan, who watched his team compete in inclement weather in June in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship. "I was impressed with the character the lads showed in that weather. Now, I want to be giving them all the help that they need. It's going to be a grand battle."
GB&I continued a selection process to feature two past National Championships, the season-ending Titleist Playoffs, and a Captain's Pick. The 2015 Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship, played in June, determined the bulk of the GB&I PGA Cup Team.
The PGA Cup will be contested on CordeValle's 7,252-yard, par-72 layout that was designed in 1999, by Robert Trent Jones Jr. CordeValle was the site of the Frys.com Open from 2010-2013; and will host next year's U.S. Women's Open.
The Great Britain & Ireland Team is led by Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional National Champion Paul Hendriksen of Devon, England. He is joined by Cameron Clark of West Midlands, England; Lee Clark of Nottinghamshire, England; David Dixon of Somerset, England; Graham Fox of Glasgow, Scotland; Niall Kearney of Dublin, Ireland; Jason Levermore of Little Waltham, England; Michael Watson of Dorset, England; Gareth Wright of Peeblesshire, England; and Alex Wrigley of County Durham, England. Fox and Wright competed on the 2013 GB&I Team.
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