After a 12-hour delay, pairings are out for the first foursomes session at the Walker Cup. With a stomach bug sweeping both teams – making some players’ status in the matches uncertain – officials bought themselves a little time by delaying the release of pairings to Saturday morning.
Both teams have dipped into their pool of two alternates, with the U.S. bringing in Mac Meissner to pair with Ricky Castillo in the second match out and Great Britain and Ireland using Jake Bolton in the final match.
It’s no surprise to see Alex Fitzpatrick, alongside Barclay Brown, in the GB&I lead-off spot. He was first out in every session two years ago when the matches were played at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, and picked up two points for his team then.
Hammer said Friday afternoon that he didn’t make any requests about the order, but starting off the day suits him.
“I haven’t asked to do anything this go-around, but I do like going out early, kind of setting the tone,” he noted.
Hammer and Hagestad provide anchors on both ends of Saturday’s foursomes for the U.S.. They’d be a good match together, but should also make for a tough matches with their respective partners.
Davis Thompson, a former top-ranked amateur in the world, will play alongside Hammer. Hagestad noted in March that Thompson was probably high on the list of preferable partners for many members of the team.
“I think everyone on the team is going to say Davis,” Hagestad said, “because he’s just such a stud.”
John Pak, the only other U.S. returner from 2019, is not in the opening lineup, nor is reigning U.S. Amateur champion Tyler Strafaci or Pierceson Coody. The U.S. could also pull in its second alternate, Cooper Dossey, in future matches if needed.
As for GB&I, Benjamin Schmidt, Ben Jones and reigning British Amateur champion Joe Long are absent the foursomes lineup.
Eight singles matches will follow Saturday morning’s foursomes matches.
Morning Foursomes
8:20 a.m. – Alex Fitzpatrick and Barclay Brown, GB&I vs. Cole Hammer and Davis Thompson, USA
8:35 a.m. – Mark Power and John Murphy, GB&I vs. Quade Cummins and Austin Eckroat, USA
8:50 a.m. – Jack Dyer and Matty Lamb, GB&I vs. Mac Meissner and Ricky Castillo, USA
9:05 a.m. – Angus Flanagan and Jake Bolton, GB&I vs. Stewart Hagestad and William Mouw, USA