Liberty Corner, N.J. — University of Iowa sophomore, Noah Kent was invited to the 2025 Walker Cup Practice Session on Monday, the USGA International Team Selection Working Group announced.
The three days of practice will be held in Jupiter, Fla., at McArthur Golf Club, Seminole Golf Club and The Bear’s Club. An invitation to the Walker Cup practice session does not guarantee selection to the team. Players not invited will also be considered for inclusion on the team.
Seven of the 16 players from the December 2022 Walker Cup practice session competed on the 2023 USA Team, when the USA defeated Great Britain and Ireland, 14.5-11.5, at The Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. Ten of the 16 players from the December 2020 Walker Cup practice session competed on the 2021 USA Team that defeated Great Britain and Ireland, 14-12, at Seminole.
Kent is currently ranked No. 71 in the NCAA Division I men’s golf rankings after registering four top-15 finishes this fall and stroke average of 71.1. This summer, he was the runner-up of the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship. Kent has earned invites to the 2025 Master’s and U.S. Open.
The following 16 players have accepted invitations to the practice session (with college affiliation):
– Noah Kent, 20, of Naples, Fla. (Iowa, sophomore)
– Evan Beck, 34, of Virginia Beach, Va. (Wake Forest, class of 2013)
– Parker Bell, 20, of Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida, junior)
– Blades Brown, 17, of Nashville, Tenn. (high school class of 2026)
– Luke Clanton, 20, of Hialeah, Fla. (Florida State, junior)
– Ethan Fang, 19, of Plano, Texas (Oklahoma State, sophomore)
– Stewart Hagestad, 33, of Newport Beach, Calif. (Southern California, class of 2013)
– Max Herendeen, 19, of Bellevue, Wash. (Illinois, sophomore)
– Ben James, 21, of Milford, Conn. (Virginia, junior)
– Jackson Koivun, 19, of Chapel Hill, N.C. (Auburn, sophomore)
– Michael La Sasso, 20, of Raleigh, N.C. (Ole Miss, junior)
– Bryan Lee, 20, of Fairfax, Va. (Virginia, junior)
– Tommy Morrison, 20, of Dallas, Texas (Texas, junior)
– Jase Summy, 20, of Keller, Texas (Oklahoma, junior)
– Brendan Valdes, 21, of Orlando, Fla. (Auburn, senior)
– Jackson Van Paris, 21, of Pinehurst, N.C. (Vanderbilt, senior)
“This serves as another step in the process of team selection and is an opportunity for all involved to become more familiar with each other and begin to build team camaraderie,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “These decorated amateurs represent a talented group of potential team members, but we expect others will also be considered as the selection process moves toward its conclusion.”
Nathan Smith, of Pittsburgh, Pa., will captain the USA Team for the 2025 Walker Cup Match. He has won four U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships (2003, 2009, 2010, 2012) as well as the inaugural 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, with partner and 2013 Walker Cup teammate Todd White.
“The amateur golf talent in this country is impressive, and I’m thrilled to gather with this group for a practice session next month,” said Smith. “We have a strong list of young men attending; a mixture of seasoned veterans as well as up-and-comers of the game. I’m excited to spend more time with this group.”
The 50th Match will be played at the Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif., on Sept. 6-7, 2025. The Match is contested over two days with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes (alternate-shot) matches. The USA leads the overall series that began in 1922, 39-9-1, but it has been tremendously competitive over the last three decades, with the USA holding just an 11-7 advantage since 1989. The R&A will select the 10 members of the GB&I Team, which represents England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Scottish professional and Walker Cup alum Dean Robertson has been chosen to captain the side.