Britain & Ireland takes 7-5 lead over United States in Walker Cup

Facing a two-point deficit at the start of Sunday, the Americans picked up a point in morning foursomes and then overwhelmed Great Britain & Ireland by taking eight of 10 singles matches for a 15 1/2-10 1/2 victory at Royal Liverpool.

GB&I had a 7-5 lead going into the final day at Royal Liverpool. Having pulled back in the morning foursomes, the visitors "won" the singles 8-2.

On the other hand, the last time the USA trailed after Day 1 and came back to win was 1963 at Turnberry.

Alex Fitzpatrick and Conor Purcell embrace after scoring the first point of the day beating US during day one of the 2019 Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake.

John Pak completed a flawless week and John Augenstein delivered the clinching point as the American rallied from a two-point deficit Sunday and won the Walker Cup for the first time away from home in 12 years.

It was left to Tom Sloman to salvage some pride for the home side and he delivered GB&I's second point of the singles by beating Steven Frisk by two holes to leave the final score at 15½-10½.

Team USA Beat Greece With Defense
The rest of the American players have had to hear for weeks that they don't have the star power of other teams like his. Jock Londale impressed with 13 points on five-of-six shooting, while Chris Goulding added 15 and Aron Baynes put up 10.

Gough and Harry Hall edged Stewart Hagestad and Bhatia Akshay 2 and 1, and Gough beat Isaiah Salinda 2 up in singles. Smalley missed that putt, but the Americans still took the hole and their first lead.

Any hopes of a fightback for GB&I were extinguished when John Augenstein defeated Thomas Plumb 4&3 to clinch the winning point and leave the US in an unassailable position at 13½-9½.

Cole Hammer finally got a point with the shortest match. They were 4-up by the 7 and despite dropping one hole back at the 8, a birdie at the 14 followed by a concession by the Americans at the 15 gave Watson's side a point.

Rafferty was unable to complete the comeback and his defeat, coupled with Hall's 5&3 loss to Hagestad meant the United States were just two points away from victory.

United States of America captain Nathaniel Crosby, who played in the Walker Cup the last time it was held at Hoylake back in 1983, said:"I think we were a little slow getting started this morning".

As for the presence of his brother, Fitzpatrick added: "I saw him sneak under the ropes on one of the tees and I was tempted to go and tell him to get back with everyone else but I let him off with that one". Augenstein beat Purcell 2 and 1, Pak edged James Sugrue 1 up, and Wu beat Sloman 4 and 2.