Aug. 12, 2005
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech All-American Nicholas Thompson and his United States teammates begin Walker Cup competition against Great Britain and Irelend Saturday.
The matches, including foursomes and singles competition Saturday and Sunday, are being contested at the Chicago Golf Club, a 6,782-yard, par 70 layout in Wheaton, Ill. Coverage can be seen on The Golf Channel from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, and from 4-6 p.m. Sunday.
For more information and live scoring, go to the Official Walker Cup site.
Thompson, who graduated from Tech with his management degree in May, is seventh Tech alumnus to represent the United States in the Walker Cup matches, joining Bobby Jones (1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930), Watts Gunn (1926, 1928), Charlie Yates (1936, 1938), David Duval (1991), Matt Kuchar (1999) and Bryce Molder (1999, 2001).
He also is one of three current and former Tech players who have or may compete in major international events this year. Rising junior Roberto Castro, a first-team All-American in 2005, played in the Palmer Cup in June for the winning U.S. team, and 1995 graduate Stewart Cink currently stands among the top 10 in points to play on the U.S. team in the President’s Cup.
A native of Coral Springs, Fla., Thompson delayed his professional career for an opportunity to play in the Walker Cup and has had a very successful summer of amateur competition. He captured the William C. Campbell Trophy for lowest aggregate score (14-under-par) from the Northeast Amateur, the Players Amateur and the Porter Cup. Thompson finished fifth at the Players Amateur, tied for fifth at the Porter Cup and tied for 18th at the Northeast Amateur. He also tied for first at the Sunnehanna Amateur but lost in a playoff to Anthony Kim, and won the Jones Cup in a playoff back in February.
Thompson also has qualified, by virtue of his spot on the Walker Cup team, to play in his fifth U.S. Amateur Championship (Aug. 22-28, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y.).
