Marucci named '07 Walker Cup captain

Associated Press

FAR HILLS, N.J. -- Buddy Marucci, who lost to Tiger Woods in the finals of the 1995 U.S. Amateur, was appointed Thursday as U.S. captain for the Walker Cup in 2007.

"It's a dream come true," said Marucci, a 53-year-old career amateur who co-owns four luxury car dealerships in the Philadelphia area. "I have some big shoes to fill in following Bob Lewis. It's going to be a challenge."

Lewis was captain of the American team of amateurs that beat Great Britain and Ireland last year. The '07 matches will be played Sept. 8-9 at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.

Marucci has qualified for 40 USGA championships and played on the Walker Cup in 1995 and 1997. But he is best remembered as a U.S. Amateur finalist in 1995 at Newport Country Club, where Woods defeated him, 2 up.

The United States has a 32-7-1 record in the Walker Cup, including a 12½-11½ victory last year at Chicago Golf Club.