Chris Paisley has become the first Northumberland golfer to be selected for Great Britain & Ireland's Walker Cup squad since Prudhoe's David Curry 22 years ago. Chris, a member of Stocksfield Golf Club, is one of an unprecedented seven England players who will represent the 10-man GB&I team against America at the Merion club in Pennsylvania on September 12 and 13.

He has just completed a four-year spell at the University of Tennessee - a stint that brought him a string of college titles.

He is one of only three members of the British team with extensive experience of American conditions and this may have helped him overcome a moderate record on the British amateur circuit this season.

"I was telling myself before the team was announced that I may not make it," said Chris. "I think that was to prepare myself if the worst happened, although, deep down, I felt I had done enough.