Gore Earns Spot for Walker Cup

Jason Gore confirmed Saturday that he was selected by the USGA to represent the United States in the Walker Cup, ending two months of speculation.

He fills one of two remaining spots on the 10-man amateur team that will play against counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland on Aug. 9-10 at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. It is one of the highest honors for an amateur golfer.

“It’s almost a relief to find out. My mind is at ease now,” Gore said.

Gore had planned to turn professional in June, but delayed it in hopes of making the Walker Cup team. He has been one of the hottest amateurs in the nation over the last year--a year in which he has won four tournaments.

In the last two months he won the California Amateur, the California Open and finished third in the NCAA championships while leading Pepperdine to the team title. He is currently tied for the lead in the SCGA Amateur.

But despite his strong play, he feared he might not make the team because of traditional East Coast bias by the Far Hills, N.J.-based USGA.

“I thought that could work either way,” Gore said. “There was only one other player from west of the Mississippi. I figured they would take one more, but then there is that bias.”

Gore found out about his selection Friday after the second round of the SCGA Amateur at Lakeside Country Club.

SCGA President Jim Vernon summoned Gore away from the scorers table, led him into a clubhouse office and shut the door.

“He brought me in through this little secret door,” Gore said. “Then he sat across from me and gave me this stern look. I thought I did something wrong. Then he said, ‘We’re waiting for a phone call,’ and I knew what was going on.”

When Gore took the call, he said he was surprised at what the voice on the other end said.

“It was Fred Ridley of the USGA and he asked me if I wanted to be on the team,” Gore said. “And I said, ‘Are you kidding?’ ”

Gore accepted without hesitation.

“I’ve had a lot of support to get on the team,” Gore said. “A lot of people have been writing letters and making calls and I think that’s made the difference. [The decision to not turn pro] was well worth it.”

Gore joins eight others named to the team June 27: Jerry Courville Jr., of Milford, Conn.; Duke Delcher of Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Brad Elder of Overland Park, Kan.; John Harris of Edina, Minn.; Joel Kribel of Pleasanton, Calif.; Randy Leen of Dayton, Ohio; Steve Scott of Coral Springs, Fla.; and Chris Wollmann of Parma, Ohio.