Welsh trio make provisional Trophy squad

REIGNING Welsh Amateur champion Jason Shufflebotham and Walker Cup sensation Rhys Pugh feature in Great Britain & Ireland’s preliminary 12-man squad for this year’s St Andrews Trophy.

Shufflebotham and Pugh are joined in the provisional squad, which will be cut to nine by the time the tournament starts, by Truro-based Welsh international Rhys Enoch.

GB & Ireland, led by Walker Cup-winning captain Nigel Edwards, take on Europe at Portmarnock in the Republic of Ireland over two days on August 31 and September 1.

Edwards and his fellow selectors have picked a largely new look squad for the match with Pugh and Irishman Alan Dunbar the only to have previous Walker Cup experience.

Shufflebotham’s inclusion is reward for his form on the US college scene where he plays while studying at the University of Alabama.

The GB & Ireland group features others that have enjoyed success across the globe, including Neil Raymond, winner of the recent New South Wales Medal, and Paul Shields, who shot a 61 at the Gauteng North Open in South Africa.

The dozen-strong squad will meet for the first time at Portmarnock from July 4-6 in a match play team environment consisting of two series of foursomes and singles matches.

However, just because a player hasn’t been selected in the initial squad it doesn’t mean they won’t feature at Portmarnock as selectors take into account performances throughout the year.

And Edwards, back to lead a St Andrews Trophy side for a second time, is delighted with the talent at his disposal.

“We have based our preliminary selection on performances throughout 2011 and will look to add to this squad following the Amateur Championship at Royal Troon in June,” said the Welshman, who played on winning teams in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

“A number of players have started the season well in Australia, South Africa and on the US college circuit.

“My message to the squad, and those players who narrowly missed out, is to keep playing well through the spring and summer and prove that you should be in the final nine.”

GB&I Squad

Alan Dunbar - Rathmore

Rhys Enoch - Truro

Ben Loughrey - Wrag Barn

Dermot McElroy - Ballymena

Kevin Phelan - Waterford Castle

Garrick Porteous - Bamburgh Castle

Rhys Pugh - Vale of Glamorgan

Neil Raymond - Corhampton

Paul Shields - Kirkhill

Jason Shufflebotham - Prestatyn

Ben Taylor - Walton Heath

James White - Lundin