US beat GB&I to retain Walker Cup

The US team celebrate winning the Walker Cup

The United States held off a spirited challenge by Great Britain and Ireland to retain the Walker Cup by 12½-11½ at Royal County Down.

With the teams level at 6-6 after the opening day, the US won all four of Sunday morning's foursomes ties to take a commanding lead into the singles.

GB&I played some great golf to win the singles by 5½ to 2½ but an eagle by Jonathan Moore sealed the US victory.

The American amateurs had won by the same margin in Chicago two years ago.

Interview: US Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci

Interview: Britain and Ireland captain Colin Dalgleish

GB&I won the first three points in Sunday's singles through Rory McIlroy, Rhys Davies and Lloyd Saltman and then Danny Willett sank a 20-foot putt on the last for a half with US champion Colt Knost.

I've never seen such naked courage on a golf course Former GB&I skipper Peter McEvoy

Jamie Lovemark beat Jamie Moul for the first of the two points the US needed.

And after Ireland's Jonny Caldwell had got the better of Kyle Stanley to cut the gap to one again, Moore beat Nigel Edwards after firing a 252-yard four-iron to the par five 18th to set up an eagle and the win.

"There's not a lot you can do about that," said GB&I skipper Colin Dalgleish. "I am absolutely gutted for the team.

"Even at 10-6 down every single member felt they could go out there and win. We were painfully close to doing it."

The contest was over by the time David Horsey defeated Webb Simpson by one hole in the final match.

Former GB&I captain Peter McEvoy said of the Britain and Ireland effort: "I've never seen such naked courage on a golf course."

The US had taken control of proceedings before the eight singles ties began.

In the top game, Irish pair McIlroy and Caldwell lost 2&1 to Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler after being four up after five holes.

Welsh duo Davies and Edwards were one up with six to play but lost on the final green to Knost and Johnson.

Moul and Willett went down 4&2 to Trip Kuehne and Jonathan Moore, while Horsey and John Parry, another English pair, lost by one hole to Chris Kirk and Jamie Lovemark.

On Saturday, the morning foursomes were shared 2-2 before GB&I won the last three singles to share the spoils 4-4 and go into Sunday tied.

The Americans now lead the series 33-7.

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Sunday singles:

Rory McIlroy (GB&I) beat Billy Horschel (US)4&2
Rhys Davies (GB&I) beat Rickie Fowler (US) 3&2
Daniel Willett (GB&I) halved with Colt Knost (US)
Lloyd Saltman (GB&I) beat Trip Kuehne (US) 2&1
Jonathan Caldwell (GB&I) beat Kyle Stanley (US) by 2 holes
Nigel Edwards (GB&I) lost by 1 hole to Jonathan Moore (US)
Jamie Moul (GB&I) lost 4&3 to Jamie Lovemark (US)
David Horsey (GB&I) beat Webb Simpson (US) by 1 hole

Sunday foursomes:

Rory McIlroy/Jonathan Caldwell lost 2&1 to Billy Horschel/Rickie Fowler
Rhys Davies and Nigel Edwards lost by 1 hole to Colt Knost and Dustin Johnson
Jamie Moul and Danny Willett lost 4&2 to Trip Kuehne and Jonathan Moore
David Horsey and John Parry lost by 1 hole to Chris Kirk and Jamie Lovemark

Saturday singles:

Rory McIlroy lost by 1 hole to Billy Horschel
Lloyd Saltman lost to Rickie Fowler 5&4
Rhys Davies beat Justin Johnson 5&4
Danny Willett lost to Colt Knost by 2 holes
Llewellyn Matthews lost to Jamie Lovemark 5&4
Nigel Edwards beat Kyle Stanley by 1 hole
Jamie Moul beat Chris Kirk by 1 hole
David Horsey beat Webb Simpson by 1 hole

Saturday foursomes:

Lloyd Saltman/Rhys Davieslost 4&3 to Billy Horschel/Rickie Fowler
Rory McIlroy/Jonathan Caldwell halved with Colt Knost/Dustin Johnson
John Parry/David Horsey beat Trip Kuehne/Kyle Stanley 2&1
Jamie Moul/Danny Willett halved with Webb Simpson/Jonathan Moore