Golf-Fowler and Stanley earn US Walker Cup spots

NEW YORK, Aug 27 (Reuters) Teenagers Rickie Fowler and Kyle Stanley will make their Walker Cup debuts against Britain and Ireland next week after being selected by the United States Golf Association today.

Fowler, 18, and Stanley, 19, complete a 10-man team that also includes US amateur champion Colt Knost, Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Chris Kirk, Trip Kuehne, Jamie Lovemark, Jonathan Moore and Webb Simpson.

Knost, who won the US amateur public links championship last month, is on a golden run after clinching the US amateur crown yesterday with a 2&1 victory over Michael Thompson at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

''It's been an amazing last month-and-a-half,'' Knost told reporters after becoming only the second player, after fellow American Ryan Moore in 2004, to win the US amateur and public links titles in a single season.

''Walker Cup next week, that's what I'm ready for. That would top off the best summer in my life if we go over there and win that one.'' The biennial amateur team competition will be held at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland on September 8 and 9.

The US hold the trophy after winning the 2005 edition in Chicago by 12-1/2 points to 11-1/2 to end a run of three consecutive victories by Britain and Ireland.

REUTERS SY KP2240