USGA picks Simpson

Wake golfer to play for United States in Walker Cup

Webb Simpson believed he had the proper golf credentials. The Raleigh native and rising senior at Wake Forest is among the top-rated amateurs in the country and recently won the prestigious Southern Amateur.

But being named to the U.S. Walker Cup team, Simpson conceded, is never a given.

"I thought my chances of making the team this year were as good as a lot of guys," he said Monday. "But it's hard to tell."

Well, the suspense is over. The U.S. Golf Association announced Monday that he was one of eight players chosen for the 10-man team, with the final two selections to be made later this month after the U.S. Amateur.

"It's a relief to be named," Simpson said. "It means everything to me. It's something I've always wanted to do. It's the ultimate goal in amateur golf -- making the Walker Cup team."

The Walker Cup, against an amateur team from Great Britain and Ireland, are set for Sept. 8-9 at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Ireland.

Also named to the U.S. team were: Oklahoma State star Jonathan Moore, the 2006 NCAA champion; Southern California golfer and 2007 NCAA winner Jamie Lovemark; three-time Walker Cup member Trip Kuehne; Florida All-America Billy Horschel; former Coastal Carolina golfer Dustin Johnson; Georgia All-America Chris Kirk; and Colt Knost, the 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion.

Simpson, who turns 22 on Wednesday, was named to the 2006 U.S. World Amateur Team. But a hand injury in October, just before the event, prevented him from making the trip to South Africa.

"That was really disappointing," said Simpson, who starred at Broughton High. "I really wanted to represent the U.S. And I've never played overseas."

Kirk, the 2007 Ben Hogan Award winner as the nation's top collegiate golfer, is No. 1 and Simpson No. 2 in the most recent Golfweek/Titleist men's amateur rankings. Simpson, who has been ranked No. 1, reached the semifinals of last year's U.S. Amateur and notched his first college win in April at the U.S. Collegiate Championship in Alpharetta, Ga.

Simpson followed with victories in the Azalea Amateur and then the Southern Amateur.

HOCH, STRANGE, BECK TO PLAY AT SAS: Raleigh native Scott Hoch and former Wake Forest teammate Curtis Strange have committed to play in the SAS Championship, a Champions Tour event set for Sept. 21-23 at Cary's Prestonwood Country Club.

Event organizers also said Monday that Chip Beck, a Fayetteville native, would compete.

Hoch, in his first full year on the seniors tour, won the FedEx Kinko's Classic in May and is 16th on the money list with more than $650,000. Strange will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in November.

JIMMY V PLAYING SPOTS SOLD OUT: All playing spots and sponsorship opportunities for the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic have sold out, the classic announced Monday.

The event will be played at courses No. 2, No. 4 and No. 8 at Pinehurst Resort on Aug. 26 and will be open to the public.

A limited number of tickets remain and are $10 each. They are available at Kroger grocery stores, online at www.golfclassic.org or by calling (919) 463-5678.

FROM CLASSIC NEWS RELEASE

MONDAY'S RESULTS

U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR: Candace Schepperle, 19, of Birmingham, Ala., holds the clubhouse lead after firing a 5-under-par 67 in the first round of stroke play at the 6,497-yard Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind.

Play was suspended twice by lightning before it was called for the day at 7:15 p.m. with 78 players still on the course.

Jennifer Song and Mi Jung Hur, both of South Korea, shared the lead at 5 under with three holes left in their rounds.

Four Duke players are in the event. Junior Jennie Lee shot a 2-over 74, sophomore Alison Whitaker is even par through nine holes, sophomore Rebecca Kim is 2 over through nine and junior Amanda Blumenherst is 4 over through 12.

Mina Harigae, a Blue Devils recruit, is 1 under through 14.

Katie Miller, a senior at UNC last season, finished her first round at 1-over 73.

Stroke play is scheduled to finish today, with the top 64 golfers advancing to match play.

FROM USGA, DUKE NEWS RELEASES