Walker Cup Teams: US Amateur Champion Jack Whaley Set For GB&I Debut Against Formidable US Line-Up

Jack Whaley, Preston Stout and the Walker Cup — The 51st edition of the Walker Cup comes from Lahinch

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The 10-man Great Britain & Ireland and USA teams for the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch have been confirmed.

The historic amateur match takes place in County Clare, Ireland, on September 5th and 6th, with the USA defending its title.

At Cypress Point last year, Nathan Smith’s hosts beat Dean Robertson’s GB&I 17-9 for the USA’s fifth consecutive title.

Both captains remain at the helm in 2026, where GB&I is looking for its first win since the 2015 edition, a 16.5-9.5 triumph at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The host team is made up of the top five eligible players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, The Amateur Champion and the US Amateur Champion, as well as three captain’s picks.

Six of the GB&I team from last year’s match are in the 2026 team.

One is former pro Stuart Grehan, who beat Matt Moloney to claim the 131st Amateur Championship title at Royal Liverpool in June.

Another survivor from the 2025 line-up is Connor Graham, who makes his third consecutive Walker Cup appearance.

Eliot Baker, Luke Poulter, Niall Sheils Donegan and Tyler Weaver are all making their second consecutive Walker Cup appearances.

Luke Poulter at the Walker Cup — Luke Poulter is one of six GB&I survivors from the 2025 Walker Cup

That leaves four preparing for their Walker Cup debuts, including Jack Whaley, who beat Jay Leng Jr 4&3 at Merion to secure the US Amateur title.

Ben Bolton, Sam Easterbrook and Josh Hill are the other GB&I Walker Cup debutants.

Robertson said: “We have a really exciting blend of players who have experienced the Walker Cup before and others who have earned their first opportunity through some excellent performances over the last year.

“We have players who have won important championships, performed at the highest level in amateur golf and demonstrated that they can deliver results in international match play.”

While Robertson is confident of his team’s chances, GB&I will face a formidable US line-up featuring seven of the world’s top 10 amateurs.

Ethan Fang, Miles Russell, Preston Stout and Tyler Watts were confirmed in the team in July.

Miles Russell at the US Amateur — Miles Russell makes his Walker Cup debut

They will be joined by Kihei Akina, Ryder Cowan, Josiah Gilbert, William Jennings, Stewart Hagestad and Jay Leng Jr.

Smith said: “These six players have earned their spots and are terrific additions to this year's team.

“I couldn't be more pleased to see their hard work pay off with this opportunity. With the roster now complete, I'm excited to turn our full attention to getting ready for Lahinch Golf Club.”

Standout names among the 10 include Fang, who was the 2025 Amateur Champion. Elsewhere, teenage prodigy Russell is one of the most exciting prospects in the amateur game, while Stout is the current World No.1 amateur.

Hagestad will be making his sixth Walker Cup appearance, while Cowan earned low amateur honors at the 2026 US Open.

Walker Cup Team GB&I

Eliot Baker, 23, England, Tiverton
Ben Bolton, 19, England, Enville
Sam Easterbrook, 21, England, Olton
Connor Graham, 19, Scotland, Blairgowrie,
Stuart Grehan, 33, Ireland, County Louth
Josh Hill, 22, England, Fox Den
Luke Poulter, 22, England, Woburn
Niall Sheils Donegan, 21, Scotland, Meadow Club
Tyler Weaver, 21, England, Bury St Edmunds
Jack Whaley, 22, England, Rotherham
Reserves: Thomas Higgins, 23, Ireland, Roscommon; David Howard, 27, Ireland, Fota Island

Walker Cup Team USA

Kihei Akina, 19, Alpine, Utah
Ryder Cowan, 21, Edmond, Oklahoma
Ethan Fang, 21, Plano, Texas
Josiah Gilbert, 21, Millbrook, Alabama
William Jennings, 20, Greenville, South Carolina
Stewart Hagestad, 35, Newport Beach, California
Jay Leng Jr., 20, San Diego, California
Miles Russell, 17, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Preston Stout, 22, Dallas, Texas
Tyler Watts, 18, Huntsville, Alabama
Alternates: Max Herendeen, 21, Bellevue, Washington; Logan Reilly, 19, Lovettsville, Virginia

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.

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Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.

Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.