2009 Walker Cup: Marucci back as captain
FAR HILLS, N.J. – George “Buddy” Marucci, a 55-year-old career amateur who was runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1995 U.S. Amateur, has been selected for a second time as captain of the USA Walker Cup squad in 2009.
Marucci was captain of the 2007 squad that secured an exciting one-point victory over a 10-man squad from Great Britain and Ireland in September at Royal County Down Golf Club in Northern Ireland. The next Walker Cup Match will be played at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., Marucci’s home club, from Sept. 12-13, 2009.
“Being the captain of the 2007 team was the most fulfilling experience in my golfing life,” said Marucci. “I am honored to have this opportunity again, especially at Merion.”
The co-owner of Pennmark Auto Group, a luxury automotive company in the Philadelphia area, Marucci has qualified for more than 45 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. 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 Villanova, Pa.
--Courtesy USGA
ABOUT THE The Walker Cup
The Walker Cup Match is a biennial 10-man
amateur
team competition between the USA and a team
composed of players from Great Britain and
Ireland
and selected by The R&A. It is played over two
days
with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes
(alternate-shot) matches.
The first United States Walker Cup Team, which
in
1922 defeated the GB&I side, 8-4, at the
National Golf
Links of America, is considered among the best
teams
ever and included Francis Ouimet, Bob Jones,
Charles
“Chick” Evans and Jess Sweetser. Many of the
game’s
greatest players have taken part in Walker Cup
competition, including U.S. Open champions
Jack
Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth for
the
USA
and Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Justin
Rose
for Great Britain and Ireland.
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