Harman Selected to the 2009 Walker Cup Team

Savannah golfer Brian Harman has been selected to represent the United States at the 2009 Walker Cup to be played at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania September 12-13.

CLICK ON THE VIDEO LINK FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN HARMAN ON HIS SELECTION TO THE WALKER CUP TEAM.

The USGA has named eight of the 10 spots.  The final two will be announced after the United States Amateur at the end of August.  Beaufort golf Mark Anderson is another of our area golfers being considered to represent the U.S.

The eight players are:
Bud Cauley, 19, of Jacksonville, Fla.
Rickie Fowler, 20, of Murrieta, Calif.
Brendan Gielow, 21, of Muskegon, Mich.
Brian Harman, 22, of Savannah, Ga.
Morgan Hoffmann, 19, of Saddle Brook, N.J.
Adam Mitchell, 22, of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nathan Smith, 30, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Drew Weaver, 22, of High Point, N.C.

The captain of the USA Team is George “Buddy” Marucci Jr.,57, of Villanova, Pa., a playing member of the 1995 and 1997 USA Teams, as well as the captain of the victorious 2007 USA Team at Royal County Down in Newcastle, Ireland. Marucci is the reigning USGA Senior Amateur champion, though he will not be able to defend his 2008 title due to a scheduling conflict with the Walker Cup Match.

The biennial Walker Cup Match consists of 16 singles matches and eight foursomes (alternate shot) matches. The USA Team has won the last two Matches, posting one-point victories at Chicago (Ill.) Golf Club in 2005 and Royal County Down in 2007. The USA leads the series overall, 33-7-1.

Harman spent the past four years playing for the University of Georgia Bulldogs:

2008-09 (Senior Season):
• Selected as the recipient of the James R. Gabrielsen Endowed Scholarship.

2007-08 (Junior Season):
• Named a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association of America, the 10th player in Georgia history to receive the honor.
• Won the Howell Hollis Award as the Bulldog with the highest GPA.
• Chosen by Golfweek as an Honorable Mention All-American.
• Selected for the PING All-Southeast Region Team by the GCAA.
• Was the only Bulldog to go 4-0 at the Callaway Golf Match Play Championship.
• Named to the watch list for the 2008 Ben Hogan Award.
• Chosen as a team co-captain.
• Named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the Fall and Spring Semesters.

2006-07 (Sophomore Season):
• Named Second-Team All-American by PING and the GCAA.
• Named First-Team All-SEC by the league’s coaches.
• Selected to the PING All-Southeast Region Team by the GCAA.
• Helped the Bulldogs win the Puerto Rico Classic, the Schenkel Invitational, the U.S. Collegiate, the Linger Longer Invitational and the NCAA East Regional.
• Named to the 2007 Ben Hogan Award Watch List.
• Chosen for the Golf World Mid-Season All-American Team.
• Selected to the Athletic Director’s and the SEC Spring Academic Honor Rolls.

2005-06 (Freshman Season):
• Named Second-Team All-American by PING and the GCAA.
• Named the SEC Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-SEC.
• Named to the PING All-Southeast Region Team by the GCAA.
• Finished second at the SECs, leading Georgia to the title.
• Made his Georgia debut by tying for medalist honors at the NCAA Preview, leading the Bulldogs to the team title.
• Went 3-1-0 as Georgia captured the Hooters Match Play Championship.
• Named to the Mid-Season All-America Team and the Top Freshmen Team by Golf World.
• Chosen as a Hogan Award semifinalist.
• Named to the SEC Freshmen Academic Honor Roll.
• Won the Howell Hollis Award.

Amateur/Junior Highlights:
• Qualified for the 2008 U.S. Amateur, advancing to the Round of 32.
• Won the 2007 Porter Cup, shooting a tournament record 22-under-par 258.
• Went 4-0 as the 2007 United States Palmer Cup Team defeated Europe 18-6.
• Played on the 2006 Palmer Cup Team.
• Became the youngest golfer to represent the U.S. in the 2005 Walker Cup, going 2-0-1 to spark a 12.5-11.5 win.
• Won the 2005 Georgia Amateur.
• Named the 2003 and 2004 Rolex Player of the Year by the AJGA, joining Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Tracey Phillips as the only two-time honorees.
• Named a Rolex Junior All-American in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
• Claimed the AJGA record with three wins in majors.
• Won the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur.
• Was a member of the 2003 and 2004 Canon Cup teams.
• Won the Georgia Junior Amateur in 2002 and 2003, and became the first golfer to win both the Georgia Junior and Georgia Amateur crowns.
• Won the 2003 Tommy Barnes Award as the GGSA’s Overall Player of the Year.
• Named the GSGA Junior Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003.
• Has played in three PGA Tour events: the 2004 and 2006 Heritage and the 2004 Buick Championship.

High School:
• Graduated from Savannah Christian.
• Was the state medalist twice.