Connor Graham will revel in Walker Cup experience, says former competitor and fellow Perthshire golfer Gavin Dear

dailyrecord.co.uk:

There can be few better people to shed light on the magic of the Walker Cup than Gavin Dear.Trace back 14 years and the Scone golfer - alongside fellow Perthshire talent Wallace Booth - was pulling on the Great Britain and Ireland colours at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.The prestigious amateur event against the United States of America heads across the pond every couple of years but, this week, the latest instalment of the historic match will tee-up right here in Scotland at St Andrews Old Course.Gavin will be attending as a former player, to watch some terrific golf and, in particular, to follow the fortunes of the latest local lad to have earned team selection.Connor Graham, the 16-year-old rising star from Blairgowrie, has been named in the 10-man squad to tackle the best amateur players America can offer.“My experience was a bit different to Connor as it was the end of my amateur career and capped that part of my golfing life off,” said Gavin, who was 25 when he played in the contest.“It was also an away match so there was the travelling and we went and spent two nights at Pine Valley, which boys from Perthshire don’t really get to go and do.“We had been away for seven or eight days before the match element.“But I really enjoyed it and Merion Golf Club was a phenomenal host in terms of condition of course and type of course.“I knew I was in the team from the March of that year so had a long time to plan.

You were able to really prepare but, for the guys announced just this time, I understand it has been a much closer battle for spots.“It will have been a bit of a rollercoaster but the advantage is that they all know the environment they are going into.