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Fisher left stunned by Walker Cup call-up at age of 16

Tuesday 05 July 2005 00:00 BST
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The Essex teenager will make his debut in the competition on 13-14 August, and his reaction was "wicked - unbelievable".

Fisher made his senior international debut last week and helped England win the European team title. A semi-finalist in the British Amateur Championship a month ago and runner-up in the English Stroke Play Championship in May, he will be one month and 10 days younger than Justin Rose was when he played in 1997.

"I can't wait. This is brilliant for me," the plus-three handicapper, who has just taken nine GCSE exams between competitions, said. Not 17 until September, he will be part of a team going for an unprecedented fourth successive victory.

Three in a row had never been done until the Americans were defeated at Ganton two years ago. The Britain and Ireland captain Garth McGimpsey said: "Oliver is very mature for his age and as good a young player as I have ever seen. He hits the ball like a pro and putts well - he just has class stamped all over him.

"It was an easy team to pick, which is a good sign. There were no late changes at all."

There are two survivors of the 2003 victory. The 44-year-old Gary Wolstenholme, conqueror of Tiger Woods in 1995, earns a sixth cap and Welshman Nigel Edwards, 36, earns a third.

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