USA Walker Cup Captain Buddy Marucci (can still play!)
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.
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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