George "Buddy" Marucci Will Lead Team USA to Cup Defense in Ireland
Far Hills, N.J. (Feb 2, 2006) -– George “Buddy” Marucci, a 53-year-old career amateur who was runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1995 U.S. Amateur, has been chosen to be captain of the 2007 USA Walker Cup squad.
The next Walker Cup Match, a 10-man amateur team competition between the USA and a joint team from Great Britain and Ireland, will be played from Sept. 8-9 at Royal County Down in Newcastle, Ireland.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Marucci. “I have some big shoes to fill in following Bob Lewis (2005 USA captain). It’s going to be a challenge, and I’m looking forward to it.”
The co-owner of Pennmark Auto Group, a company with four luxury car dealerships in the Philadelphia area, Marucci has qualified for 40 USGA championships, including 23 U.S. Amateurs.
As runner-up in the 1995 Amateur, he earned an invitation to play in the 1996 Masters. He continued to be one of the country’s top amateur players, and reached the quarterfinals of the 1996 Amateur later that year. As a result, he was selected to consecutive USA Walker Cup teams, in 1995 and 1997. He has a combined record of 3-0 in foursomes (alternate shot) and 1-1-1 in singles.
A 1974 graduate of the University of Maryland, Marucci resides in Wayne, Pa.
July 7, 2006 Update: Marucci qualified for the US Senior Open at Prairie Dunes and posted a very solid first round of 71 before slipping to a second round 82 and failing to survive the 36-hole cut.
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Northern California