LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Oct. 30, 2025) – The USGA Team Selection Committee has invited 18 players to attend a practice session Dec. 18-20 for the 2026 Walker Cup Match. The three days of practice will be held in Jupiter, Fla., at Seminole Golf Club, Jupiter Hills Club and McArthur Golf Club.

The following players have accepted invitations to the practice session (with college affiliation):

• Evan Beck, 35, of Virginia Beach, Va. (Wake Forest, class of 2013)
• Luke Colton, 18, of Frisco, Texas (high school class of 2026)
• Ethan Fang, 20, of Plano, Texas (Oklahoma State, junior)
• Josiah Gilbert, 20, of Houston, Texas (Auburn, junior)
• Stewart Hagestad, 34, of Newport Beach, Calif. (Southern California, class of 2013)
• Max Herendeen, 20, of Bellevue, Wash. (Illinois, junior)
• Mason Howell, 18, of Thomasville, Ga. (high school class of 2026)
• Jackson Koivun, 20, of Chapel Hill, N.C. (Auburn, junior)
• Michael La Sasso, 21, of Raleigh, N.C. (Ole Miss, senior)
• Bryan Lee, 21, of Fairfax, Va. (Virginia, senior)
• Bobby Massa, 37, of Dallas, Texas (UT Arlington, class of 2010)
• Jacob Modleski, 20, of Noblesville, Ind. (Notre Dame, junior)
• Miles Russell, 16, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla. (high school class of 2027)
• Lance Simpson, 22, of Knoxville, Tenn. (Tennessee, senior)
• Preston Stout, 21, of Dallas, Texas (Oklahoma State, junior)
• Cameron Tankersley, 22, of Dickson, Tenn. (Ole Miss, senior)
• Jack Turner, 21, of Orlando, Fla. (Florida, junior)
• Tyler Watts, 18, of Huntsville, Ala. (high school class of 2027)

Koivun, the 2025 McCormack Medal winner and current No. 1-ranked amateur, highlights the group of invites. Over the summer, he finished inside the top 15 three times on the PGA Tour, including T-5 at the Wyndham Championship, T-6 at the ISCO Championship and T-11 at the John Deere Classic. The junior at Auburn went 3-1 for the 2025 USA Walker Cup Team in September.
 
Hagestad, a three-time USGA champion (2016, 2021 and 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur) is the only player with more than one year of previous Walker Cup experience (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025) to be invited to the practice session. The USA has won in each of his appearances, where he has recorded a 7-1 singles record.

“Coming off an impressive showing at Cypress Point, we’re excited for the opportunity to take another step in the team selection process and continue the momentum for next year’s Match,” 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 again captain the USA Team for the 2026 Walker Cup Match. He has played in three Walker Cup Matches (2009, 2011, 2013) and 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.

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 players from the 2025 USA Walker Cup Team are set to attend December’s practice session.  Eight of the 16 players from the December 2024 Walker Cup practice session competed on the 2025 USA Team, when the USA defeated Great Britain and Ireland, 17-9, at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. Seven of the 16 players from the December 2022 Walker Cup practice session competed on the 2023 USA Team that defeated Great Britain and Ireland, 14.5 to 11.5, at The Old Course in Scotland.

The 51st Match will be played at Lahinch Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland, on Sept. 5-6, 2026. Beginning with the 2026 Match, the Walker Cup will be played in even-numbered years to avoid conflicts with the World Amateur Team Championships. The Match is played over two days with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes (alternate-shot) matches. The USA leads the overall series that began in 1922, 40-9-1, but it has been tremendously competitive over the last three decades, with the USA holding just a 12-7 advantage in the Match since 1989. The R&A will select the 10 members of the GB&I Team, which represents England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The practice session for the 2026 Curtis Cup Match, which will be held June 12-14 at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif., will be announced in late-November. This will be the first time since 1938 that both Matches will be held in the same year.