World beaters to represent Ireland in Eisenhower
Jack Hume (AM)(IRL) on the 10th tee during the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
Picture: Eoin Clarke | Golffile
If in doubt, use WAGR.
On the face of it, that appears to be the default selection yardstick after Jack Hume, Stuart Grehan and Paul McBride were named by the GUI to represent Ireland in next month's Eisenhower Trophy.
Ireland's top three players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking are, of course, a formidable and deserving trio for the trip to Cancun in Mexico for the September 21-24 World Amateur Team Championship where the Eisenhower Trophy awaits the leading team.
But world No 5 Hume, No 57 Grehan and No 145 McBride are also the top three in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and the fact that Alex Gleeson, Irish Amateur Open winner Colm Campbell and St Andrews Links Trophy winner Conor O'Rourke all miss out, only serves to underline the strength in depth at the disposal of the selectors and the qualify of the lucky three.
Stuart Grehan of Ireland tees off during Round 1 of the Lytham Trophy, Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lancashire, England. 29/04/2016. Picture: Richard Martin-Roberts / Golffile
Hume, 22, was a Walker Cup winner with Great Britain & Ireland at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s last year and recently helped GB&I retain the St Andrews Trophy against the Continent of Europe, where Tullamore scholar Stuart Grehan also played a leading role.
At 23, Grehan is a member of the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship programme at Maynooth University and having earned his first senior cap for Ireland during a successful title-defence at the Home Internationals last year, this two-time major winner on the domestic circuit has gone on to help European retain this year's Palmer Cup in Formby.
At 20, McBride is the youngest member of the team but he has climbed inside the world’s top 150 after a stellar season at home and abroad.
A student at Wake Forest University, McBride has been a model of consistency in 2016. This year’s highlight was a superb run to the semi-finals of the Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl.
Paul McBride (IRL) during the Home Internationals singles matches supported by Fairstone Financial Management Ltd. at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Co.Antrim, Ireland. 12/08/2015.
Picture: Golffile | Fran Caffre
Team captain Tony Goode will travel with the squad to Mexico along with GUI National Coach Neil Manchip as Ireland aim to make their mark on the biggest stage.
A biennial event, Ireland finished tied 11th in Japan in 2104 with Gavin Moynihan, Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley, all of whom have since joined the professional ranks.
A fifth place finish at the 2010 championship in Argentina represents Ireland’s best result at the Eisenhower Trophy.
Ireland will host the men's and women's World Amateur Team Championships at Carton House in Co Kildare in 2018.