CORHAMPTON’S Scott Gregory could barely draw breath after his experience in the 145th Open Championship at Troon.

After missing the cut on Friday, Gregory will be fully focused this week on helping Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) secure the St Andrews Trophy by beating the Continent of Europe in the series of four foursomes and eight singles over two days starting today (Wednesday).

The match marks Gregory’s debut for GB&I.

The British Amateur champion joins the likes of Lee-on-the-Solent’s Sam Hutsby, Rowlands Castle’s Darren Wright and fellow Corhampton member Neil Raymond in appearing in the St Andrews Trophy – which is played biennially in non-Walker Cup years.

Gregory’s victory in the British Amateur at Royal Porthcawl a month ago set in motion a train of events that are pushing the former Waterlooville Golf Club junior closer to following Hutsby, Raymond and Justin Rose as Hampshire amateurs who have risen to play in their equivalent of the Ryder Cup against the Americans.

GB&I – rather than Europe – have contested the Walker Cup since 1922 and the best combined team from the Home Nations have only managed to win it nine times in the 45 contests since. But retaining the St Andrews Trophy won at Barseback in Sweden two years ago will keep the best English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish players in a good mood working towards next year’s Walker Cup clash at the Los Angeles Country Club.