USA Completes Fifth Successive Walker Cup Win Over Great Britain & Ireland After Dominant Sunday Singles

Nathan Smith's team won 8.5 of the 10 points available at the singles session to claim an overall victory of 17-9 at Cypress Point

Preston Stout

(Image credit: USGA/Chris Keane)

Nathan Smith’s Team USA has won the Walker Cup following a dominant singles session against Great Britain & Ireland at Cypress Point.

However, even if that advantage was slender, Saturday’s singles, which the US won 5.5-2.5, hinted at the daunting task facing Dean Robertson’s visitors, needing to reach 13.5 points to win the title for the first time in a decade.

There was a confident enough start with Tyler Weaver taking an early lead in his match against Jackson Koivun, but it wasn’t long until the hosts began making inroads, first with Tommy Morrison going 1 up in his match against Niall Shiels Donegan, and then with Koivun hitting back against Weaver.

By the time half the 10 matches were in progress, the US had the lead in three, while it was tied in two, setting the tone for a long afternoon for the underdogs.

If there was a saving grace for Great Britain & Ireland, it was that all the matches remained tight 90 minutes after the first of the 10 began.

Briefly, it got even better for the visitors, with Connor Graham going 1 up over Mason Howell, Charlie Forster with a 1 up lead on Ben James and Gavin Tiernan 1 up on Michael La Sasso, while the US only held the lead in two matches.

However, any dreams the team had of winning just its third Walker Cup on US soil were soon tempered as the hosts began turning the screw in its quest for the 13 points it needed to retain the trophy as defending champions.

Ethan Fang was the first to go 2 up in a match, against Stuart Grehan, with Stewart Hagestad soon following suit against Eliot Baker, and it was no surprise when the US claimed the first point when Koivun claimed a 3&2 win over Weaver.

That opened the floodgates, with Morrison bringing the team closer to victory with a 3&2 win over Shiels Donegan.

The fog then began rolling in off the Pacific, but it did nothing to stall the US charge, with the team going 5 up in two matches, 2 up in two more and 1 up in another as more points seemed inevitable.

The next soon came via Fang’s 5&4 win over Grehan to take the team to 11.5 points overall, before Graham’s match with Howell was halved to finally get Great Britain & Ireland on the board for the session, albeit leaving the US needing just one to retain the trophy.

Perhaps fittingly, it was Hagestad, playing in his fifth Walker Cup, who claimed the decisive point. He did it with a long birdie putt at the 15th to beat Baker 4&3, but the incentive was still there for the hosts to win it outright.

Stewart Hagestad at the Walker Cup

(Image credit: Getty Images)

That came moments later when Preston Stout beat the dogged resistance of Luke Poulter 2&1.

That left the visitors with just pride to play for, but the next two points also went to the US as it took a 16-8 lead overall following Ben James’s 1 up win over Charlie Forster and Jase Summy’s 3&1 triumph over Cameron Adam.

With just two matches remaining, Great Britain & Ireland’s Tiernan led 1 up over La Sasso, with teammate Dominic Clemons having an identical advantage over Jacob Modleski.

Could Great Britain & Ireland get some respectability into the scoreline after a humbling afternoon?

The answer was yes, as Tiernan’s 2&1 win over La Sasso brought the score to 16-9. However, it was the US who had the last laugh when Modleski edged out Clemons 1 up to bring the score to 17-9 and cap a dominant victory for the hosts.

Walker Cup Scores

  • Tyler Weaver 3&2 > Jackson Koivun
  • Niall Shiels Donegan 3&2 > Tommy Morrison
  • Connor Graham Tied Mason Howell
  • Luke Poulter 2&1 > Preston Stout
  • Stuart Grehan 5&4 > Ethan Fang
  • Eliot Baker 4&3 > Stewart Hagestad
  • Charlie Forster 1 up > Ben James
  • Cameron Adam 3&1 Jase Summy
  • Gavin Tiernan < 2&1 Michael La Sasso
  • Dominic Clemons 1 up > Jacob Modleski

Team GB&I 9 - 17 Team USA

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WELCOME!

Earlier in the day, the US and Great Britain & Ireland competed in a session of foursomes, where it finished 2-2 to leave the hosts with a slender 8.5-7.5 lead.

First to 13.5 points wins it, although as holders, the US just needs 13 to retain the cup, so there's all to play for with the final session of singles to go.

STATE OF PLAY

Of course, there are lots of factors at play in the final session, not least nerves, so let's see how things play out over the next few hours.

SINGLES MATCHUPS

4.40pm/9.40pm: Niall Shiels Donegan vs Tommy Morrison

4.50pm/4.50pm: Connor Graham vs Mason Howell

5.00pm/10.00pm: Luke Poulter vs Preston Stout

5.10pm/10.10pm: Stuart Grehan vs Ethan Fang

5.20pm/10.20pm: Eliot Baker vs Stewart Hagestad

5.30pm/10.30pm: Charlie Forster vs Ben James

5.40pm/10.40pm: Cameron Adam vs Jase Summy

5.50pm/10.50pm: Gavin Tiernan vs Michael La Sasso

6.00pm/11.00pm: Dominic Clemons vs Jacob Modleski

EARLY BREAKTHROUGH FOR GB&I

At the par-4 first, he's made it in 3 to take 1 up lead.

COMEBACK KINGS

At one point they were 4 down against Ethan Fang and Preston Stout before coming back to win. How crucial will that point prove?

Time will tell, but with only a tie needed to retain the trophy, the US only needs 4.5 of the 10 points on offer in the final session, so the onus is on the visitors to force the issue.

EARLY US SUCCESS

Meanwhile, Jackson Koivun has levelled things up against Tyler Weaver in the other match out on the course at the moment. Advantage the US.

GRAHAM OFF TO A FLIER

MORE RED THAN BLUE EARLY ON

Elsewhere, Tommy Morrison leads Niall Shiels Donegan by one with GB&I's Connor Graham 1 up over Mason Howell.

TOUGH PROSPECT FOR VISITORS

US IN THE ZONE

We know the US team is full of talent, but how about his from Mason Howell earlier on to clinch his and Jacob Modleski's win over Eliot Baker and Stuart Grehan?

AS THINGS STAND...

Currently, the US is 1 up in three, with two matches tied. There'll be no panicking for the visitors just yet, of course, but the players on the course will need to hang in there over the next few holes to prevent the US getting too much breathing space.

OMINOUS SIGNS

US NUDGING IT

Elsewhere, the US is 1 up in two more matches, with three all-square.

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FOR GB&I

FOG IN THE FORECAST

WEAVER HITS BACK

On the plus side for the hosts, Ethan Fang now has a 1 up lead on Stuart Grehan.

WHAT THE VISITORS NEED

TOP FANG

Ethan Fang at the Walker Cup

(Image credit: Getty Images)

WEAVER ON HIS WAY BACK

TIGHTENING UP

All 10 matches are now on the course, and it's a close call at the moment, with the US up in two and GB&I up in three.

LAST MATCH UNDERWAY

Now, the US is up in four, GB&I in three, with three tied.

STATE OF PLAY

Thankfully for the visitors, it's not ending now. It ends in a few hours, and, right now, there's still plenty in each of the 10 matches for things to go either way.

US TURNS THE SCREW

It's by no means unsalvageable for GB&I, but you wouldn't want the situation to get a lot worse from here.

And just like that, it does. The US is now up in seven after Jase Summy goes 1 up through four against Cameron Adam.

GB&I UP AGAINST IT

There's an uncharacteristic missed putt from Jackson Koivun in his match against Tyler Weaver at the 11th. Weaver responds by making par. Can Koivun respond in kind to remain 2 up? He can.

GB&I needs to hang in there at the moment or this could quickly get away from them.

US HAMMERS HOME ADVANTAGE

Connor Graham was one of just two bright lights for the team with a 1 up lead over Mason Howell. Can he set the example with a par putt to maintain it? He can't. Howell makes no mistake though and ties things up.

A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR WEAVER

RED ALERT

The glimmers of hope at the moment rest with Connor Graham, who is tied with Mason Howell, and Gavin Tiernan, who has a 1 up lead on Michael La Sasso. Everywhere else you look on the leaderboard, it's red.

UNLUCKY FOR HOWELL

US IN CHARGE

GB&I UP AGAINST IT

However, for the visitors, it's all a bit like Whac-A-Mole at the moment, where one player drags himself back into it while another falls further away. Case in point? Stewart Hagestad has now gone 3 up on Eliot Baker.

To rub salt into GB&I wounds, Ethan Fang restores his 2 up lead over Stuart Grehen.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

The last thing his team needs is to fall behind in another match, but the 21-year-old is coolness personified as he pops it in to remain in one of just three matchups where GB&I isn't behind.

HOPE FOR GB&I

TOP-DRAWER GOLF

Jackson Koivun

(Image credit: Getty Images)

MORRISON MAGIC

Making matters worse for the visitors, Ethan Fang goes 4 up on Stuart Grehen, although one ray of hope sees Dominic Clemons take a 2 up lead on Jacob Modleski.

FIRST POINT IN THE SUNDAY SINGLES GOES TO THE US

The US now needs just 3.5 points to retain the Walker Cup.

GOLDEN GRAHAM

TOMMY MORRISON WINS SECOND US POINT

Here come the nerves, though... his first putt goes further beyond the hole than he'd like, but he has another chance coming back. Can he steady himself? Yes, he can. He makes par and with it, wins the match 3&2

A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER

We've gone from bright sunshine and blue Californian skies to something decidedly more moody, seemingly in the blink of an eye.

The fog is rolling in fast off the Pacific, as predicted earlier. The increasing gloom likely suits the mood of the GB&I camp at the moment, which is yet to make a dent on the scoring in this session, with the US now seemingly destined to retain the trophy.

US IN CHARGE

The two big leaders are Ethan Fang over Stuart Grehen and the veteran of the team, Stewart Hagestad, over Eliot Baker.

ANOTHER US POINT AS TEAM CLOSES IN ON TITLE

One hope for something is Connor Graham, who has just teed of on the 18th tied with Mason Howell. Let's see how he gets on.

In the meantime, it's a third point for the US who move onto 11.5 points with Ethan Fang beating Stuart Grehen 5&4.

BRYSON LENDS SUPPORT

GB&I GET ON THE BOARD

It's unlikely to make much of a difference to the destination of the title, but it's something to take from a difficult afternoon session for Dean Robertson's team.

A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB FOR GB&I

GB&I PLUGGING AWAY

US RETAINS WALKER CUP

Stewart Hagestad is the first to have a chance to clinch it at the 15th in his match against Eliot Baker. It's a long birdie putt, and he makes it! The US retains the cup!

HOW IT STANDS

US WINS WALKER CUP!

GB&I PLAYING FOR PRIDE

Currently, just four matches remain to conclude, with the US up in three.

PLAYING ON IN THE FOG

One notable moment has just come from Gavin Tiernan, who has just gone 1 up over Michael La Sasso on the 14th.

TWO MORE POINTS FOR THE US

TWO MATCHES TO COMPLETE

SLIP UP FROM DOMINIC CLEMONS, BUT A POINT FOR GB&I

Moments later, though, GB&I finally does get the full point when Michael La Sasso concedes to Gavin Tiernan at the 17th.

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE...

Both players miss the green at the 17th. Clemons is first and leaves a long but makeable par putt. Modleski is next from the back bunker. That's even better. He'd expect to make par from this.

Clemons makes his par confidently. Modleski follows suit and we go to the 18th.

FINAL US POINT GOES TO JACOB MODLESKI

UNTIL NEXT YEAR

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