PGA CUP MATCH at The Carrick at Loch Lomond

Skipper Alliss hopes he's in wonderland

at end of morning foursomes

By NAT SYLVESTER, PGA Press Officer
GB& I captain Gary Alliss has opted for experience after revealing his opening pairings for the 24th PGA Cup Match against the USA at The Carrick at Loch Lomond.
All four previous PGA Cup players - Paul Simpson, Jon Bevan, Andrew Barnett and Paul Wesselingh - will all partner rookies in Friday morning foursomes as GB&I begin their bid to regain the Llandudno Trophy over three days.
That opposes the selections made by Alliss's opposite number Brian Whitcomb, who has named two rookie pairings.
GB&I rookie Jamie Harris, who will partner long-time friend Simpson, will make GB&I's first competitive shot when the first match gets underway at 7.45am.
They will take on US rookies Kyle Flinton and Sonny Skinner.
The US's experienced pairing of Ryan Benzel and Lee Rinker, part of the 2007 victorious side, are up against Bevan and Will Barnes.
Third out will see GB&I's all Welsh duo of Barnett and James Lee, who have played together both at amateur level and professional level for their country, take on the rookie pairing of Scott Hebert and Craig Thomas.
The final pair out sees Wesselingh, playing in his sixth successive PGA Cup match, teaming up with former European Tour and Walker Cup player Jeremy Robinson. They are up against Mike Small Mark Sheftic.
Sitting out the foursomes are GB&I's two youngest players - Scot Craig Matheson and Barry Taylor.
"I thought about it obviously a fair bit as it's important to get off to a good start and I tried to get some experience," said Alliss."Everybody will play tomorrow bar accidents but with those first foursomes I felt we had a very strong four pairings."
Paul and Jamie have blended well, they wanted to play together, they know each other's games and there's a bit of banter that goes on with them so I thought let them come out of the traps first.
"Will wasn't well today but hopefully he will be fine now. He and Jon practised together and their partnership has blossomed this week. Jon's passionately encouraging for everyone and with Will's first match I felt they would make a good pairing.
"Jimmy and Andrew played boys golf, are good friends and were a natural pairing. Then I opted to put out two seriously experienced campaigners in Paul and Jeremy who get on well together. I think they will be a fairly strong pairing that hopefully won't give anything away and it was fun that they came out against such a strong American pairing to play Mike Small and Mark Sheftic."
He added: "It is everything to get a good start but you can't win on the first morning. You can put yourself a bit on the backfoot if you lose all four but I hope we will have a lead. Whatever happens as day unfolds, we won't panic."

*For scores, reports and a full preview of the 24th PGA Cup log onto www.PGA.info