With the 53rd annual Porter Cup starting a week from today on July 26th, I figured I could give a top-10 list of whom to keep an eye on throughout tournament play.

10- Bryden Macpherson
An Australian amateur that attends Georgia during the school year has a lot of fire under his belt. The 2011British Amateur champion comes to the Porter Cup having been the first Australian to win this title since 1954 and only the second Australian to do so. He missed the cut at the British Open by one-stroke. He is currently ranked No. 11 in the World Rankings.

9- Gavin Hall
After recovering from wrist surgery in early March and placing well at the AJGA’s Thunderbird International, Hall seemed to be ready to have a good summer. But unfortunately, he re-injured his wrist during his hometown Monroe Invitational, which has led him to only practicing his short game. Last week he withdrew from the U.S. Junior because he hasn’t practiced any part of his game, so hopefully by this week he has been practicing to make his return to the Porter Cup, after a tie for second last year.

8- James White
Though a quiet name, the rising Georgia Tech senior has had some pretty good finishes accredited to his name. During the collegiate season, White finished the year with All-American accolades, but what he did before getting honored was truly remarkable, as he finished in the top-10 at NCAA East Regional and NCAA Championships. He has continued to roll through the summer with top-10s at the Sunnehanna, Northeast and Players Amateurs.

7- Bank Vongvanij
Struggling through his sophomore and junior year, Vonvanij came back in his senior year with a vengeance. He was named to the All-American team, All-SEC team, and SEC Golfer of the Year. He made the Ben Hogan Watch List and had seven top-five finishes in the 2010-2011 season, including a win at one of the most prestigious collegiate tournaments, the Isleworth Collegiate.

6- Nathan Smith
A mid-amateur that always competes with the young guns. Smith will be making his eighth trip to the Porter Cup with fond memories at Niagara Falls Country Club. His best finish came during the 2005 tournament when he tied for fifth. A three-time U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion and 2009 Walker Cup team member, Smith looks to compete once again for the prominent title.

5- Corbin Mills
Another name no one really knew about until his name has been written on two trophies this summer, already. Mills won the match and stroke play tournament for the U.S. Amateur Public Links at Bandon Dunes and then came back the week after and won the Players Amateur in Hilton Head; two very different courses. No one will win bigger tournaments than him which makes him one of the hottest players of the summer, thus far.

4- Jake Katz
If you’re looking for a local to root for, then Katz is your man. Katz was tied for the lead after the third-round of play at the 2010 Porter Cup, but a final-round 74, put Katz into a tie for tenth. One of the most decorated golfers to come out of Binghamton, the recent graduate plans to go turn professional after his summer as an amateur and looks to build on more top-10s at the Porter Cup.

3- Harris English
Bulldog nation is looking stronger than ever. English is coming off a win at the Southern Amateur last week. During stroke play at the Public Links, he tied for third and also was a semi-finalist losing to the eventually winner, Mills. The recent UGA grad looks to continue his success at the Porter Cup as he finished tied for tenth in 2010 and tied for eighth in 2009.

2- John Peterson
The 2011 NCAA Individual Champion will look to make his second appearance at the Porter Cup. Peterson has not had the best summer, his spring was superb. He started off the year with a win at the Jones Cup, finished strong in his last year with LSU and put it all together at NCAAs. A round of 32 finish at the U.S. Pub Links and tie for 15th at the Players has kept him as a player to keep an eye on for the Walker Cup team.

1- Russell Henley
What more is there to say about him. Ever since his first year at the Porter Cup he has came and contended, especially last year as he went into the final-round of the tournament with a share of the lead. Henley won the Nationwide’s Stadion Classic at UGA becoming only the second amateur to win a Nationwide event. He competed in both the 2011 and 2010 U.S. Open, earning a tie for low amateur honors in 2010. He competed on the 2011 and 2010 Palmer Cup teams. During his senior year, he led the Bulldogs , to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships and tied for most victories in his career with seven. And in 2010, Henley was named Golfweek’s Player of the Year.

Be sure to check out the best amateurs in the world as they come and compete for the Porter Cup July 26-30 at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, New York.