Cutler eyes a Walker Cup slot

PAUL CUTLER will hold many lasting memories from his tripto the Irish Open in Killarney.

The 22-year old Portstewart native, who took up golf at the age of 10, captured the silver medal as leading amateur after he carded a brilliant aggregate score of five-under par.

His goal now is to go to Tour Q-School and turn professional.

“I feel I am ready. This week has been an eye opener but it has been great. I got more comfortable as every round went by. Obviously, it is natural to be nervous but I felt I handled myself well. I’ve done a lot of good work with my coach (Johnny Foster). I’ve known Johnny a couple of years but I have started working seriously with him a couple of months ago. I’ll work on improving my swing and every other aspect.”

And Cutler sees room for improvement. He explained: “My score could have been better, but I suppose that is golf. I am not going to complain. It has been good. Getting the medal is another highlight. It definitely gives me a taste for the big time. I’d like to do this a lot. I learned I can compete with these guys and learned how to play my own game.

“I came here with the intentions of making the cut but as the week progressed I felt I could do a bit more. It was great from start to finish, the crowd were always cheering you on and giving encouragement. It was a bit different looking up and seeing my name up there. There were a lot of big names on the board, I’m sure they didn’t play their best. But, I am happy to have finished ahead of them.”

Cutler hopes his tremendous form will continue at this week’s European Amateur Championship in Sweden.

He flies to Halmstad today and later in the month he will endeavour to leave his mark at the prestigious Home Internationals at County Sligo Golf Club.

The Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup hopeful definitely showed he has the game to take on the USA in September. He followed last year’s Lytham Trophy with the Irish Amateur Close Championship and the West of Ireland this year.

“I hope the Walker Cup selectors are watching,” he admitted. “The team will be picked in about three weeks’ time and I’d say I have a fair chance. But, I don’t pick the team, they have their own choices. I hit a lot of greens this week. That was my key. I converted a lot of chances. I will turn Professional as soon as possible after the World Cup.

“Last year (he didn’t make the cut at the Irish Open) I didn’t really feel like a professional. I was looking around me a bit more. But this year I played my own game. My long term goal is to be on Tour, winning tournaments, and it would be great to win an Irish Open.”