November 1, 2011 USGAFar Hills,
N.J. Jim Holtgrieve, of St. Louis, Mo., whose stellar amateur career includes
a winning record as a member of three victorious USA Walker Cup Teams, the
captaincy of the USA Team at the 2011 Match and an individual triumph at the
inaugural U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 1981, has been appointed captain of
the 2013 USA Walker Cup squad by the United States Golf Association.
I am
indeed honored once again to be named to captain the 2013 United States Walker
Cup Team, said Holtgrieve, 63. The 2011 Walker Cup journey was an incredible
experience for me and one that I will never forget. Golf fans, friends and
family all over the United States as well as overseas were so supportive of me
during this experience that I was praying that I would have the opportunity to
captain the 2013 Walker Cup Team.
I want to
bring the Walker Cup back to the United States, but I also want to lead 10 men
to have one of the best golfing experiences they can ever imagine. I thought I
understood the true spirit of the game. However, the Walker Cup in Scotland
proved so much more to me about the real meaning.
Holtgrieve
will captain the United States of America team for the 44th Walker Cup Match, to
be held Sept. 7-8, at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton,
N.Y.
"Jim has
an exceptional grasp of the meaning of the Walker Cup Match and conveyed that
very well to the members of the 2011 USA Team in Scotland, said USGA President
Jim Hyler. So it is fitting that he uses that well-developed perspective as a
player and a captain to lead the USA squad in 2013 at The National Golf Links,
which was the site of the first Match in 1922."
Holtgrieve
was one of the country's top amateur players during the 1970s and '80s and
played on winning Walker Cup Teams in 1979, 1981 and 1983, where he had a
combined record in singles and foursomes (alternate shot) of 6-4. He also
represented the USA on two victorious World Amateur Team Championship squads, in
1980 and 1982. A semifinalist at the 1980 U.S. Amateur and runner-up at the 1983
British Amateur, Holtgrieve has won numerous state and district amateur titles
in Missouri.
Holtgrieve
played in five Masters Tournaments as an amateur making the cut three times
and also qualified for the 1978 U.S. Open Championship.
Holtgrieve
turned professional in 1998 and played on the Champions Tour from 1999 to 2005,
where his top finish was a tie for second at the 1999 Home Depot Invitational.
He has played in four U.S. Senior Opens and a total of 42 USGA
championships.
The USGA
reinstated Holtgrieve's amateur status in 2007 after he played in 122
professional events. He currently serves as a member of the U.S. Mid-Amateur
Championship Committee for the USGA.
The
biennial Walker Cup Match is an international amateur team competition between
10 players from the United States of America and 10 from Great Britain and
Ireland. The Match consists of 18 singles matches and eight foursomes
(alternate-shot) matches over the two days of competition. The Great Britain and
Ireland Team won the 2011 Match in September at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in
Scotland by a score of 14-12. The USA leads the series,
34-8-1. ________________________________
"On
behalf of the Missouri Golf Association Board of Directors I would
like to congratulate Jim Holtgrieve for being selected as the Walker Cup again
for the 2014 matches. Mr. Holtgrieve is a great representative and leader for
the United States Team and we wish him all the best with bringing back the
Walker Cup to the USA" .Scott Hovis, MGA Executive Director
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