A few weeks ago we looked at some of the up and coming golfers from Great Britain and Ireland. But they aren’t the only ones who are making waves in the golfing world. Here we look at part two in our “ones to watch” series.

Of course, young golfers can come from anywhere, but as we said in the last blog, the real acid test to see if a player has got what it takes is whether or not they have competed at the highest amateur level and been called up to the Walker Cup (men’s) or Curtis Cup (women’s) squads. These tournaments take the same format as the professional Ryder and Solheim Cups. Where, in the amateur ranks, a team from Great Britain and Ireland take on the American team. The four players being looked at here have experienced the pressure those tournaments can bring and hope that can stand them in good stead when they make the leap to the professional game.

Name: Angus Flanagan

Age: 22

Born: Woking

Studying: University of Minnesota

Flanagan is quickly becoming one of the hottest prospects in British golf. On home turf at the age of 16 he shot a low round of 68 at the 2016 Duke of York Championship. He followed this in the same year by winning the 2016 Carris Trophy as the English boys’ U18 open stroke play championship. He continued his successful 2016 by being part of England’s winning team at the 2016 Boys’ Home Internationals. In more recent years though, Flanagan has been crafting his golfing skills at the University of Minnesota, where he has recorded a scoring average of 72.24 which is 10th best in the University history. Last year he also led the team in birdies (73), eagles (1), rounds under par (8). Looking at those stats we would be surprised if Angus wasn’t in the winning circle on the professional tour within a few years.

Name: Lauren Walsh

Age: 21

Born: Dublin

Studying: Wake Forest University

A two-time Curtis Cup player, Walsh is already well known in her home country of Ireland as one of the brightest prospects in the sport. Having represented Ireland internationally at 2016 and 2017 Irish Girls International Home Internationals and the 2017 European Girls Team Championship she really made a name for herself. She also represented Team Ireland at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A tremendous achievement and great experience that will help her going forward. Now at Wake Forest University she is performing well and has recorded six top 25 finishes with her best coming at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate to open the season where she finished T8 with a three-under. We look forward to watching Lauren in her rise through the ranks.

Name: Joe Long

Age: 25

Born: Bristol

Joe is one of the more established up and coming golfers who currently plays on the Challenge Tour and has played in some of the biggest golf tournaments in the world. Long won the 2020 Amateur Championship, this gave him entry into the 2021 Masters Tournament, U.S. Open and The Open Championship, provided he remained an amateur. Although Long failed to make the cut at any of those tournaments the experience alone of rubbing shoulders with some of the games greats will have been invaluable.

Name: Emily Toy

Age: 25

Born: Longdowns, Cornwall

Like Long, Emily Toy has won one of the most prestigious tournaments you can win as an amateur when she won The Women’s Amateur Championship in 2019. This meant that in 2019 and 2020 she was able to participate in the U.S. Women’s Open, Evian Championship and Women’s British Open. She unfortunately failed to make the cut in these events but hopes to be back playing amongst the worlds best players soon. She turned professional at the start of the 2022 season, so we are sure it won’t be long until she starts to make inroads in the women’s game.

As we can see, there are so many talented players that are ready to take British and world golf to the next level. With Long and Toy already competing in major championships it will only be a matter of years before one of them win one!

Let us know who you feel are some of the other up and coming golfers and don’t forget, you can get out on the golf course and join a club with PlayMoreGolf. Explore your local course here or join now.