Walker Cup team to benefit from amateurs' success at the Open

Welshman Nigel Edwards captained GB and Ireland to Walker Cup victory in 2011

Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards hopes the experiences of amateur golfers in the 144th Open Championship at St Andrews will benefit his side.

GB and Ireland take on the USA at Royal Lytham in September, for which Welshman Edwards finalises his team next month.

It is likely to feature Ireland's Paul Dunne, who was joint 30th, and England's Ashley Chesters who tied in 12th place at St Andrews.

"They both loved it but I think they were both disappointed," said Edwards.

"They felt that they could have got a little bit more from themselves, probably I guess Paul more so than Ashley simply because of the position Paul was in after three rounds."

English amateur Ashley Chesters was joint 12th in the Open Championship at St Andrews

Dunne was leading the tournament after three days, but had a tough final round as he slipped down the field to finish 30th on six under.

That was three shots behind Shropshire's Chesters, who, a year on from missing the cut at his first Open at Hoylake, this time made it to the weekend to shoot rounds of 67 and 69.

"Ashley would have liked to have got into the top 10," added Edwards. "He played pretty well all week.

"Obviously Paul going into the final round in the last group and teeing off last felt that he could have done a lot better.

"He was disappointed finishing with a 78 and I guess it shows the standard of amateur golf that these players are thinking like that and performing how they are."

Edwards has captained Great Britain and Ireland twice before, his team winning at Royal Aberdeen in 2011 before losing over on Long Island in 2013.

He has had his provisional Walker Cup squad at Royal Lytham this week in preparation for September's competition.

Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards (back row centre left) invited his squad, including Ashley Chesters and Paul Dunne, to a pre-planned two-day get-together this week at Royal Lytham & St Annes