NO US PLAYERS IN SEMIS OT/-Pick last five of Team USA-2013 Walker Cup

[Ronald Montesano]

ADDED 8/16/2013...HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE? TWO AUSSIES, A BRIT AND A CANUCK IN THE US AMATEUR SEMIFINALS.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J75XFQW

The architecturally-venerated National Golf Links of America will welcome the Walker Cup in three point five weeks. If you have been following the summer amateur tour, you know what's what. The link above will take you to a survey box where you can type in your name and five selections to complement the five already on the team (http://www.golfwrx.com/119220/walker-cup-five-named-by-usga/)

It's just for giggles. Remember that two of the remaining five must be mid-ams.

[Jeff Bertch]

Isn't one mid am pick pretty easy? Nathan Smith

[Ronald Montesano]

Excepting the fact that he has been absolutely terrible in competition this summer...terrible is relative, but he doesn't deserve a spot based on anything other than age.

[PCCraig]

Excepting the fact that he has been absolutely terrible in competition this summer...terrible is relative, but he doesn't deserve a spot based on anything other than age.

The guy has played in 4 or 5 Masters and won the Mid-Am last year. He deserves a spot more than most of the college kids.

[PCCraig]

Excepting the fact that he has been absolutely terrible in competition this summer...terrible is relative, but he doesn't deserve a spot based on anything other than age.

The guy has played in 4 or 5 Masters and won the Mid-Am last year. He deserves a spot more than most of the college kids.

I disagree, Pat. I would imagine an uber-talented college player, such as Bobby Wyatt, would be more deserving of a spot on the team than Mr. Smith. The idea that the most important criteria for the two mid am players to make this team is their respective birthdays is tough to swallow.

I guess veteran experience isn't worth much? Hasn't Smith played in 2 or 3 Walker Cups in the past? At that point he's like a playing assistant captain...that's valuable if you're a coach.

[Jeremy Rudock]

If the mid Am picks were based solely on merit, Scott Harvey would easily make the team.

They aren't, and he likely won't make the team.

The mid-Ams will be Nathan Smith and Todd White. 

[Phil McDade]

Wisconsin's own Jordan Niebrugge.

Plays at OK State, and has won the Publinx, Wisc. State AM, and Western AM this season. Lost today in the first round of match play 1 down at the US Am, but he's been on a pretty good roll -- I think he's got to be considered a pretty good bet.

An interesting article about him that suggests much of his improvement in the last year has come from focusing on his short game:
http://onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/jordanniebrugge.html?34768

[Michael Ryan]

The guy has played in 4 or 5 Masters and won the Mid-Am last year. He deserves a spot more than most of the college kids.
[/quote]

I want to make sure I set context on my comments here.  I'm a golf fan like all of you and an American who would like to see my country win the Walker Cup.  I have the utmost respect for Nathan Smith and think he is one of the most successful Mid Am's in history.  

Having said all of that, if you know anything about the talent level in amateur golf-the US would be best served with no mid am's on the team.  Yes he has won multiple mid ams and played in multiple Masters.  He has played on Walker Cup teams.  Over the course of amateur competitions against college kids, he doesn't stack up.  That is a fact.  

Mike

[John Blain]

Niebrugge is a no-brainer. The guy who wins the US AM (assuming it's an American) will get a spot. Nathan Smith and Todd White will get the Mid Am spots. That leaves one spot for a collegian. It could go to the other finalist in the US AM or maybe Bobby Wyatt from Alabama who has quietly played well this summer.

[John Blain]

If the mid Am picks were based solely on merit, Scott Harvey would easily make the team.

They aren't, and he likely won't make the team.

The mid-Ams will be Nathan Smith and Todd White. 

What exactly has Scott Harvey done to "easily make the team?"

[Ronald Montesano]

1983 US Team
Bob Lewis Jr.
William Hoffer
Jim Holtgrieve
Playing Captain, Jay Sigel

Back in the 1980s, the US routinely had four QUALIFIED mid-ams on the team. That's not the case this year. Zero mid ams made it to match play at the US Amateur, at least not the ones that the WC committee had pinpointed.

[David Bartman]

If the mid Am picks were based solely on merit, Scott Harvey would easily make the team.

They aren't, and he likely won't make the team.

The mid-Ams will be Nathan Smith and Todd White. 

I wouldn't count out Mike McCoy just yet

[Ronald Montesano]

Guy who should NOT make the team:

Steven Fox (has done nothing since US Amateur win last year)

[David_Tepper]

Golf Digest blog on US Am/Walker Cup:

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/blogs/college-golf/2013/08/walker-cup-on-minds-of-many-at.html

[Ronald Montesano]

Dark Horse for Team USA

Brandon Hagy. Inexplicably long off the tee. One of those guys who could give an advantage in team events with bombs to the edges of par fours, reiigning in par fives in two. Won his first-round match at TCC today. If he makes quarters or semis, might bump Michael Weaver from team.

[Jeremy Rudock]

If the mid Am picks were based solely on merit, Scott Harvey would easily make the team.

They aren't, and he likely won't make the team.

The mid-Ams will be Nathan Smith and Todd White.  

What exactly has Scott Harvey done to "easily make the team?"

He's been the top ranked mid am in the world most of the last 2 years.

[Bill_McBride]

I would pick whoever from the talent pool has the most experience playing NGLA in competition.  It's a unique challenge, and not all those kids have any local knowledge.  

[Ronald Montesano]

I would pick whoever from the talent pool has the most experience playing NGLA in competition.  It's a unique challenge, and not all those kids have any local knowledge.  

That would be Patrick Mucci.

What competitions has NGLA held since the first Walker Cup?

[Ronald Montesano]

Five of the eight semifinalists at The Country Club are ineligible for the USA side. Only one has a title of significance this summer (USGA Junior, won by Scottie Scheffler, who goes up against the strongest player left, Brady Watt of Australia.) Ball plays for VCU and Matthews, for Temple.

Last year, despite Steven Fox's prior anonymity, he still made the USA side for the World Amateur team championships. Could the USGA leave off Ball or Matthews from the Walker Cup side, despite a win at the Am? I can't see them leaving off Scheffler, if he could somehow become the first to win Junior Am and Am in the same year.

[Jeremy Rudock]

I think Schefller might have done enough to make the team right now, without winning the Am.  They could groom him for the 2015 matches as well.

[Mark McKeever]

Wild Card pick:  Brian Colbert  

MM

[Jeremy Rudock]

Last year, despite Steven Fox's prior anonymity, he still made the USA side for the World Amateur team championships. Could the USGA leave off Ball or Matthews from the Walker Cup side, despite a win at the Am? I can't see them leaving off Scheffler, if he could somehow become the first to win Junior Am and Am in the same year.

They left Drew Weaver off the 2007 team in spite of his win in the British Amateur.

[Ronald Montesano]

Wild Card pick:  Brian Colbert  

MM

Better pick Steven Colbert instead.

[Ronald Montesano]

ADDED 8/16/2013...HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE? TWO AUSSIES, A BRIT AND A CANUCK IN THE US AMATEUR SEMIFINALS.

[Brian Colbert]

Wild Card pick:  Brian Colbert  

MM

There are literally 3,000 amateurs I could name off the top of my head that would better represent the US at the Walker Cup this year than I would.

But I would gladly accept a spot on the team.