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USA Comeback Clinches Walker Cup

Almost 11,000 fans descended upon the Hoylake links to witness the 47th Walker Cup and the USA’s first victory in 12 years on GB&I turf - in 2007 the Americans were winners at Royal County Down.

Their 2019 triumph was due to an impressive Sunday performance which overturned Saturday’s deficit of 7-5. On Day 2, the USA team captained by Nathaniel Crosby secured 10 ½ of a possible 14 points.

The final tally of 15 ½ - 10 ½ is the most decisive winning margin for a visiting USA team since the 16 ½ - 7 ½ victory in 1987 at Sunningdale.

The USA retains the impressive trophy after their 19-7 win at Los Angeles Country Club two years ago, and now leads the overall series 37-9-1.

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On Sunday, while the USA team performed well during the morning foursomes matches, securing 2 ½ points to trim the GB&I lead to just one point, it was the afternoon singles that truly made the difference. The Americans won 8 out of 10 singles matches – equaling their Sunday singles performance from two years ago – to turn away any thoughts of a nail-biting finish to the most prestigious team competition in men’s amateur golf.

“The singles were amazing,” said Nathaniel Crosby. “The guys played great.”

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John Augenstein, the 2019 U.S. Amateur runner-up, had a bookend performance of hitting the opening tee shot of the competition on Saturday morning, and then securing the clinching point when he won his Sunday afternoon singles match against Thomas Plumb, 4 and 3.

“I did not know that my match this afternoon was the clinching point,” said Augenstein. “I mean, it really doesn't matter who clinches it. The fact is that we're a team and we won the Walker Cup for each other and for the United States.”

John Pak of the USA team was the only player on either side to not lose a match, going 3-0 in his one foursomes and two singles matches. The Florida State junior buoyed the USA side late on Saturday by coming back from a late deficit to James Sugrue, winning the last two holes to defeat the reigning Amateur champion, 1-up.

“Yesterday afternoon with John Pak, that was a really pivotal match,” said Crosby, a member of the victorious 1983 USA Walker Cup Team at Royal Liverpool. “I think that really made a big difference in our psychology. We could have been two points or even worse down going into today.

“These guys are inseparable,” added Crosby. “They’ve got a great memory now.” 

Other notable performance from the USA team include Brandon Wu and Alex Smalley, each of whom played in all four sessions and earned three points.

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The only returning player on either side, Stewart Hagestad, had a sparkling final day, winning two matches. He and foursomes partner Akshay Bhatia – at 17 the youngest player in USA Walker Cup history – bounced back from their foursomes defeat to Harry Hall and Conor Gough yesterday, exacting revenge in the rematch with a 3 and 2 victory on Sunday morning. Hagestad and Bhatia then both won their singles matches in convincing fashion, 5 and 3, and 4 and 2, respectively.

“Obviously the boys are disappointed,” said GB&I captain Craig Watson. “It didn't go quite to plan but they can be proud of their achievements to get in the team first of all and of their performance this weekend. I'm proud of all of them.”

Sandy Scott claimed the first point of the afternoon singles for GB&I after an impressive 4 and 3 win over Wu. The 21-year-old from Nairn found himself 5 up after eight holes, only to lose the next three holes to the American. Scott responded with birdies on the 12th and 14th to go 4 up and the match was closed out shortly afterwards when the 15th hole was halved in par.

The other GB&I singles victory came courtesy of Tom Sloman, who salvaged some pride for the home side by beating Steven Fisk, 2 up, to leave the final score at 15½-10½.

After losing his first two matches, world number one and Mark H. McCormack Medal winner, Cole Hammer, notched the most convincing victory of this Walker Cup, a 6-and-5 victory in Sunday singles against Conor Purcell.

U.S. Amateur champion Andy Ogletree won his singles match over Conor Gough, 2 and 1.  

Royal Liverpool Golf Club wishes to thank everyone who made the 47th Walker Cup a memorable and special event on a links steeped in the history of the amateur game; and special thanks to the 11,000 golf enthusiasts who came along to enjoy some great golf played in fine weather in stark contrast to the high winds of the practice days.

The 48th Walker Cup Match will be held May 8-9 at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. 

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