USA wins Walker Cup 2013

The USA completed a resounding 17-9 victory over Great Britain and Ireland to regain the Walker Cup at the National Golf Links of America on Long Island.

The American amateur side led by 8-4 when play resumed on Sunday and, after tying the morning foursomes 2-2, the home team was left needing just three and a half points from the 10 singles contests to secure the trophy.

Team GB&I needed a fast start in the singles to have any sort of chance but, unfortunately, it didn't happen. In the top match, Neil Raymond bogeyed four of his first five holes against Bobby Wyatt to go four down, and eventually lose 4&3.

The story was no better for Kent's Max Orrin in match two. He suffered a 6&4 loss at the hands of Justin Thomas. US Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick kept vague hopes alive for GB&I with a 3&2 win over Michael Weaver. But the USA's experience told when mid-amateur players Todd White and Nathan Smith secured their matches to complete the win.

Callum Shinkwin and Kevin Phelan were the other point scorers for GB&I in the singles, but with three more points added for the USA, the final score was 17-9 for the home players.

After GB&I had achieved a superb win in the event two years ago at Royal Aberdeen, team captain Nigel Edwards was remaining philosophical about the defeat.

"They holed out a little bit better and the short shots, the distance control, is where they beat us," he said. "One weekend doesn't make them bad golfers, hopefully we'll have a few available for two years' time, the ones who turn pro I'm sure they'll learn from this."

This was the 44th Walker Cup to be contested and the USA has now won 35 of them. The next matches will be played at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2015.

Sunday Results

Foursomes: C Whitsett/B Wyatt (USA) beat N Kimsey/M Orrin (GB & I) 2&1

M Weaver/T White (USA) lost to M Fitzpatrick/N Raymond (GB & I) 3&2

M Homa/M Kim (USA) beat G Porteous/R Pugh (GB & I) 1up

P Rodgers/J Niebrugge (USA) lost to G Moynihan/K Phelan (GB & I) 2up

Singles: Bobby Wyatt (USA) beat Neil Raymond (GB & I) 4&3

Justin Thomas (USA) beat Max Orrin (GB & I) 6&4

Michael Weaver (USA) lost to Matt Fitzpatrick (GB & I) 3&2

Todd White (USA) beat Rhys Pugh (GB & I) 4&3

Nathan Smith (USA) beat Nathan Kimsey (GB & I) 4&3

Cory Whitsett (USA) lost to Callum Shinkwin (GB & I) 2up

Michael Kim (USA) beat Garrick Porteous (GB & I) 4&2

Max Homa (USA) lost to Kevin Phelan (GB & I) 2&1

Jordan Niebrugge (USA) beat Jordan Smith (GB & I) 6&5

Patrick Rodgers (USA) beat Gavin Moynihan (GB & I) 1up

Where next? European Tour - Thomas Bjorn wins European Masters