Dunbar hits out at ‘stupid’ Trophy snub

RATHMORE’S Alan Dunbar believes his hopes of making this year’s Walker Cup team have been damaged by what he described as a “stupid” decision by the Golfing Union of Ireland not to take up its option of four exemptions for this weekend’s prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy.

The 21-year-old, who won the title two years ago, heads the betting for the East of Ireland Championship at Baltray today.

“I think it’s stupid. You would think (the GUI) would want their players to play Walker Cup and have the best chance possible, but clearly not.”

Portstewart’s Paul Cutler is the only Irish Walker Cup candidate in the field in Scotland, having entered as an individual for an event ranked second only to the British Amateur Championship in terms of its importance.

Dunbar, who plays off plus 2.4, narrowly failed to make the plus-2.5 handicap cut off for St Andrews and ended up as fourth reserve for an event that began yesterday.

“The St Andrews Links Trophy is the second biggest tournament and if you have a good week there, it is always going to boost your Walker Cup chances. A top-five or a top-10 there would be almost bigger than winning here (at Baltray).

“I entered it and one of the St Andrews Links people saw me on the reserve list and rang the GUI and asked them if they wanted to use their exemptions and they still said no.”