Dunbar targets Walker Cup place

Amateur ace Alan Dunbar reckons he can seal his Walker Cup place with a top show in the British Amateur Championship.

The Rathmore teen, 19, continued Ireland’s golden run of victories when he became the first Irishman to capture the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy on Sunday.

Now he’s hoping to get the call up for September’s Walker Cup matches and believes a good performance at Formby and West Lancashire next week could seal it.

Amazed by his win, Dunbar said: “It still hasn’t sunk in. It’s a great feeling. Most of my wins have been in team events so to win an individual title like the Links Trophy is very special to me.

"Both courses, the Old and New, and particularly the new, reminded me a lot of Royal Portrush and that sort of helped."

Dunbar only got into the event as a reserve but he got a call from shock Irish Open winner Shane Lowry within minutes of sealing his one stroke win with a birdie at the last.

It was the third big win by an Irish amateur in the space of a few weeks following Lowry’s Irish Open win and Niall Kearney’s victory in the Brabazon Trophy.

Dunbar said: “I'll be looking forward to catching up with Shane when we see each other again and it'll be nice to have a pint together to celebrate.”

Lowry turned down the chance to play in the Walker Cup in Pennsylvania in September when he turned professional just days after winning on the European Tour as an amateur.

But Dunbar is determined to make Colin Dalgleish’s side before he thinks about joining the pro ranks.

He said: “I may go to the Qualifying School but I’ve got other goals and the Walker Cup is top of the list.

“I'm in the squad so this win should be a big step towards selection and a good result in the British Amateur should do the trick. I’ve never played the Amateur before because my ranking wasn’t high enough but I’m looking forward to it now.”

Dunbar only got into the St Andrews Links Trophy as a late reserve but took full advantage to impress the Walker Cup selectors.

He said: “I got there late on the Wednesday night and it was getting dark, around about 10pm but I was out on the Old Course just walking down the first and then over to the Swilcan Bridge and then up the 18th. It’s just an unbelievable place.

"But to start my last round with a birdie the first hole and then also to birdie the last was something else. To win has made St Andrews an even more unbelievable place."