JUNO BEACH, Florida – Just when it appeared the United States was going to take a healthy lead in the 48th Walker Cup Match after Saturday morning’s foursomes at Seminole Golf Club, Great Britain and Ireland rallied to earn a 2-2 tie.
The Americans had sizable leads in three matches and were tied in the other on the back nine, but GB&I found their form on Seminole’s devilish closing holes.
This Walker Cup may go the distance; it certainly did in the morning session. It’s the first time since 1983 that all four matches went to the 18th hole.
Both teams had to go to alternates for the first time in the Walker Cup’s 99-year history because of a stomach virus that ran through both teams the last few days. The only reason the alternates were on site this year was due to COVID-19 precautions.
GB&I alternate Jake Bolton made a 30-foot par putt on Seminole’s treacherous 17th hole to lift him and partner Angus Flanagan to a 1-up victory over Stewart Hagestad and William Mouw.
Bolton then hit an approach shot from Seminole’s range to 10 feet at the 18th hole to clinch the victory and enable GB&I to not lose any ground against the heavily-favored Americans who are trying to win on home soil for the fifth consecutive time.
“Obviously, our point is hugely important now,” said England’s Bolton. “I think the guys have a lot of self-belief, and I don’t see why that should change. We’re all good players, and we all deserve to be here, so we’re going to give it our best shot.”
As it was, one of the U.S.’s two wins came when Cole Hammer, well, hammered home a 35-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to help him and partner Davis Thompson eke out a 1-up victory over Alex Fitzpatrick and Barclay Brown. Hammer and Thompson had led by three with five holes left.
“What a wild match,” Hammer said. “It was a lot of up-and-downs, and we just had to stay in there and try to do our thing. I was just lucky enough to be able to roll in that putt.”
Irishmen Mark Power and John Murphy of GB&I fought back from a 3-down deficit after 10 holes to win four of the last five holes to win 1-up over Quade Cummins and Austin Eckroat. Power and Murphy didn’t lead until the 17th hole, squaring the Walker Cup at 1-1.
“We got a couple bad breaks early on, but we just had to not force anything,” Murphy said. This is a golf course of mistakes so let’s let them make the mistakes.”
Cole Hammer of Team USA putts on the 18th green as teammate Davis Thompson looks on during Day One of The Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club on May 08, 2021, in Juno Beach, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
American alternate Mac Meissner, inserted because of John Pak’s illness, teamed with Ricky Castillo to help the U.S. to a 2-up victory over Jack Dyer and Marty Lamb.
“It’s been a whirlwind of emotions, from being sick on Thursday night to being able to play this morning,” Meissner said. “I was so nervous on that first tee ball that I hit on that second hole, but after that, we calmed down and we played some awesome golf coming in.”
Because of the stomach virus affecting both teams, the USGA changed its rules so the captains could delay announcing their foursomes and singles lineup until late Friday night and midday Saturday, respectively.
“It’s been bizarre for a lot of reasons,” said U.S. captain Nathaniel Crosby Jr., a Seminole member. “I think we have a one-up lead on guys who got sick this week (eight U.S. players to seven for GB&I).
“Hats off to the USGA for being flexible. You don’t want to put guys out there who are sick and ask them to play 36 holes.”
There are eight singles matches Saturday afternoon. Seminole is hosting the Walker Cup for the first time in history.
Afternoon Singles
(All times ET)
2:30 p.m. – Alex Fitzpatrick, GB&I vs. Pierceson Coody, USA
2:41 p.m. – Mark Power, GB&I vs. Davis Thompson, USA
2:52 p.m. – Ben Schmidt, GB&I vs. Ricky Castillo, USA
3:03 p.m. – Ben Jones, GB&I vs. Tyler Strafaci, USA
3:14 p.m. – Joe Long, GB&I vs. Quade Cummins, USA
3:25 p.m. – Angus Flanagan, GB&I vs. Austin Eckroat, USA
3:36 p.m. – Barclay Brown, GB&I vs. John Pak, USA
3:47 p.m. – John Murphy, GB&I vs. Cole Hammer, USA