United States name strong team for PGA

Cup match at Carrick on Loch Lomond

Mike Small will spearhead a strong-looking American team to defend the PGA Cup against Great Britain & Ireland in Scotland later in the summer.
The University of Illinois coach will be joined in the 10-man US team by fellow members of the victorious 2007 side, Ryan Benzel and Lee Rinker, who will be attempting to retain the Llandudno Trophy at The Carrick on Loch Lomond from September 18-20.
Small earned his third successive appearance for his country with his second US PGA Professional National Championship title at the Twin Warriors Golf Club in New Mexico on Friday.
Benzel, meanwhile, who fought back from three down with three to play in a titantic tussle with Paul Wesselingh two years ago at Reynolds Plantation, Georgia, summed up the signifcance of the contest by calling his PGA Cup appearance the "highlight of his career" even though he made the cut at the 2007 US PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
"Something about having a red, white and blue golf bag and knowing you're playing for your country just puts it above all else," says Benzel
The US team, captained by Brian Whitcomb - the Honorary President of The PGA of America - also includes 2008 PGA Professional National Champion Scott Hebert, who makes his first PGA Cup appearance, and 1995 National Champion Steve Schneiter.
Hebert, the PGA head professional at Grand Traverse Resort in Michigan, clinched a berth by his victory a year ago, and Schneiter, a PGA assistant professional Schneiter's Pebblebrook Links in Utah, earned his second-career berth by finishing tied for second in the National Championship.
They will be joined by Mark Sheftic (Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania), Sonny Skinner (River Pointe Golf Club, Georgia), Kyle Flinton (Quail Creek Golf and Country Club, Oklahoma), Eric Lippert (Del Monte Golf Course, California), and Craig Thomas (Metropolis Country Club, New York).
"When I look at the 10 players we have on this team, one couldn't ask for more," said Whitcomb. "We have a good mix of youth, veterans with major championship experience and two great Champions [Hebert and Small].
"We have six rookies, but I think back to the six rookies that competed on the 2008 Ryder Cup Team, and we all know how they performed. I think our young players will do very well. One of the 'rookies' is Craig Thomas, but that is misleading. He has always been around the lead, is a great player for many years and though he has yet to play in a PGA Cup, I believe that he will be a leader.
"I look forward to (meeting) the team that Great Britain & Ireland will bring. [Captain] Gary Alliss, a true professional, is someone I very much respect and he will again be leading a very talented group of players. It's going to be a great event and I will do my best to uphold the tradition of serving as Captain."