Past Amateur Champion Stuart Wilson has been named the Captain of the European team for this year’s Ryder Cup Junior Match at Olympia Fields, Illinois, USA, this September.
Wilson, who won the Silver Medal as the leading amateur at The Open Championship in 2004, takes over from Austrian Gary Stangl and will be assisted by Kristin Gunhildrud. Wilson will also take charge for the 2014 match, which will be held in Scotland.
Wilson, 34, has an impressive CV as an amateur, participating in the Walker Cup in 2003, the Bonallack Trophy in 2002 and 2004, the St Andrews Trophy and the Eisenhower Trophy in 2004, and the European Team Championship in 2003. The Scotsman also won the Amateur Champion in 2004, the Lytham Trophy in 2003 and represented his country between 2000 and 2005. He captained the Scottish Boys’ team in 2010 and 2011.
Wilson said: “I am thrilled to be appointed as the Ryder Cup Junior Match Captain and delighted to have Kristin as Assistant Captain.
“Hopefully I can bring my years of experience as both a player and captain in a team environment to pass on to the juniors selected.
“This format of match play golf has always been my favourite and one that has given me successful moments in my golfing life and created many great friendships and memories. I look forward to working with all involved and watching the results closely over the next few months and to build towards a team that will have a good chance of winning in America.”
The event, like its senior counterpart, features teams from Europe and the United States, but here each team comprises six girls and six boys. Previous competitors include Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy, who have gone on to represent Europe in The Ryder Cup, 2009 Amateur Champion Matteo Manassero as well as R&A Working for Golf Ambassador Suzann Pettersen.
The Ryder Cup Junior Match takes place from September 24-25, a few days before The 2012 Ryder Cup is contested at Medinah Country Club, also in Illinois.
