U.S. Rallies in Singles to Take Lead at Walker Cup
The United States team overcame a morning deficit to build a 6 1/2-5 1/2 lead over Great Britain & Ireland after the first day of the Walker Cup at Cypress Point.
U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell delivered a clutch performance in the afternoon singles, birdieing both oceanside par 3s to close out his match against Luke Poulter. The 18-year-old high school senior from Georgia, who earned his spot on the team with his U.S. Amateur victory last month at Olympic Club, admitted to early nerves.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t super nervous on the first tee,” Howell said. “But what a day. What a beautiful day out here. It’s been awesome.”
Howell’s victory included a spectacular 45-foot birdie putt on the iconic 16th hole, which requires a tee shot over the ocean.
GB&I had built a 3-1 lead in the morning foursomes session, renewing hopes they might win on American soil for the first time since 2001. But the Americans responded by winning five of eight singles matches and halving another.
“We just knew we had to have a good session and they delivered,” said U.S. captain Nathan Smith.
The marine layer that had blanketed the Monterey Peninsula lifted for the afternoon session, revealing the majestic views that make Cypress Point one of golf’s most picturesque venues. The Walker Cup’s return to Cypress Point for the first time since 1981 drew notable spectators including Hal Sutton (who played in those ’81 matches), Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Kuchar, and Juli Inkster.
Jase Summy won twice for the Americans, including a crucial final match where his opponent Eliot Baker missed a 12-foot par putt on the 18th hole that would have earned GB&I a tie.
Similarly, Stuart Grehan had a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th against Ethan Fang that would have won his match, but it grazed the right edge, resulting in a halve.
For GB&I, Connor Graham was a standout, winning both his matches. He teamed with Tyler Weaver in foursomes to defeat top-ranked amateur Jackson Koivun and Tommy Morrison, then took down Ben James in singles.
Niall Shiels Donegan, a Scot who grew up in San Francisco, also delivered a point for GB&I by beating Jacob Modleski – the same player he defeated in 19 holes during the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals.
Shiels Donegan noticed American momentum building on the leaderboard during his match.
“I saw the board left of 11 as I was walking down and saw we weren’t performing the best in singles,” he said. “I think for me in that situation I got a bit more like I have to do my job, let’s really focus on getting my point for the team and see what we can do for the rest of the week.”
The Americans have won the last four Walker Cups and have historically dominated the series that began in 1924. GB&I’s last victory away from home came at Ocean Forest on the Georgia coast in 2001.
Sunday’s final session features four foursomes matches in the morning followed by all 10 players competing in singles.
