East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State men’s golfer Ashton McCulloch gets the chance to represent his country this week when he begins play with Team Canada in the World Amateur Team Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
McCulloch and his teammates from Canada play in the men’s tournament starting on Wednesday, Oct. 18 and running through Saturday, Oct. 21.
McCulloch is one of two Michigan State golfers representing their country at the World Amateur Team Championships, as freshman women’s golfer Ana Sofia Murcia is part of Team Colombia and will be playing from Wednesday, Oct. 25 to Saturday, Oct. 28.
The winner of the 2023 Canadian Amateur title, this is the first time McCulloch has represented his country on an international stage.
“Representing your country in anything is a special honor,” McCulloch said. “This is something I’ll remember forever.”
McCulloch departed East Lansing for Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning, not only his first time visiting the UAE, but his first trip outside of the region. He left campus at 3:30 a.m. and flew from Detroit to JFK Airport in New York City before a direct, 13-hour flight to Abu Dhabi.
“This is my first time venturing outside of North America, so it’s a big deal for me,” McCulloch said via text from Abu Dhabi. “It’s a trip that’s filled with new experiences for me and hopefully some great memories.”
McCulloch will team up with a pair of his countrymen who have played collegiate golf in the United States, Piercen Hunt, a current senior at Illinois, and Brady McKinlay, who played at Utah Valley.
A junior and the 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, McCulloch missed MSU’s last event of the Fall season, but had been the team’s top finisher in two of the four events, including a tied for 15th place at the Fighting Irish Classic on Oct. 2.
“My game has been progressing slowly, but I think really well,” McCulloch said. “It’s great getting the chance to work with Coach (Casey) Lubahn to get my game ready to compete at any level, not just the amateur.”
Team Canada has enjoyed past success with the men’s team winning one gold medal (1986), five silver medals (2014, 2006, 1978, 1964, 1962) and one bronze. The biennial international amateur event is held by the International Golf Federation. Each team features three players and they will play 72 holes of…
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