Junior Ryder Cup: Wilson’s high hopes for juniors

FORFAR’S Stuart Wilson has the chance to draw first blood for Europe in Illinois this week when he captains the visiting team in the Junior Ryder Cup.

It starts today at Olympia Fields Country Club and features players such as Matthias Schwab, the Austrian teenager who reached the final of this year’s Amateur Championship at Royal Troon. The American side includes Beau Hossler, last year’s junior world champion who also finished in the top 30 in this year’s US Open in San Francisco.

An added incentive for Wilson is that a win would give him the chance to defend the trophy on home soil as Blairgowrie is staging the 2014 match. “We have a strong team in the match-play format,” said the former Amateur champion and 2003 Walker Cup player. “We are also fortunate that a lot of these juniors are performing well at senior [amateur and professional] level.”

The Scot’s opposite number over the two days – the players will also take part in a Friendship Match at Medinah on Wednesday – is Roger Warren, president of Kiawah Island Golf Resort. His players also include Alison Lee, a 17-year-old who has already played in three US Women’s Opens and was a member of the 2011 Junior Solheim Cup team. “This is a great life experience for all of these juniors,” added Wilson. “The friendships they will make and the opportunity of playing in this event are absolutely incredible.”