Undefeated Haas and Kuehne Lead USA To Saturday Lead At Walker Cup Match, 7-5

The sun set on the Americans' slim lead after Saturday's play, 7-5.  (John Mummert/USGA)

Undefeated Haas and Kuehne Lead USA To Saturday Lead At Walker Cup Match, 7-5

Ganton, North Yorkshire, England – Americans Bill Haas of Greer, S.C., and Trip Kuehne of Dallas, Texas, combined to win 3½ of a possible four points Saturday, leading the United States team to a slim 7-5 lead after the first day of play at the Walker Cup Match at Ganton Golf Club. The U.S. rallied in the afternoon, winning five of the eight singles matches and halving two more.

Haas beat reigning British Amateur champion Gary Wolstenholme of England in his singles match, 1 up, and teamed with Kuehne in foursomes (alternate shot) to beat Wolstenholme and Michael Skelton of England, 2 and 1. Haas won holes 15 and 16 to make the difference in his singles match.

Trip Kuehne was one of two undefeated golfers for USA on day one.  (John Mummert/USGA)

Together, Haas and Kuehne pulled away with wins at holes 13 and 16. However, Great Britain and Ireland closed strong to win each of the other three foursomes matches, taking a 3-1 lead in points at the break.

“I’m just glad I’m helping the team, said Haas, the 22-year-old son of PGA Tour pro Jay Haas . “But, if I go 4-0 and we don’t win the Cup, it will be disappointing.”

In his afternoon singles match, Kuehne made a six-footer for par on the last hole to gain a half in his match against Oliver Wilson of England . Both Kuehne and Wilson were 3-under with the usual concessions.

The Walker Cup Match is contested between two 10-man squads of amateur golfers, one from the United States and the other from Great Britain and Ireland . Great Britain and Ireland has won the last two Matches in the every-other-year series that dates back to 1922. A point is awarded for each win. There are 24 total points available.

Play concludes Sunday with four more foursomes matches and eight more singles matches.

Other American winners in singles were U.S. Amateur runner-up Casey Wittenberg of Memphis, Tenn., 5 and 4; Brock Mackenzie of Yakima, Wash., 3 and 2; Adam Rubinson of Ft. Worth, Texas, 3 and 2; and Chris Nallen of Hackettstown, N.J., 1 up. Matt Hendrix of Aiken, S.C., halved his match with Stuart Wilson of Scotland.

Casey Wiittenberg never lost a hole in winning his singles match, 5 and 4. (John Mummert/USGA)

Wittenberg won 3 of the first 4 holes en route to the easiest U.S. win. He never lost a single hole and finished 4-under-par. Mackenzie was 4-up through 10 holes and finished the equivalent of 3-under-par. Rubinson won two of the last three holes to close out his match and Nallen’s margin of victory was a winning par on the 17 th hole.

Only Nigel Edwards of Wales, who was a member of the 2001 winning team, went 2-0 on the day for Great Britain and Ireland . Wolstenholme, who is playing in his fifth consecutive Match, went 0-2.

Ganton, North Yorkshire, England, -- Results of Saturday’s foursomes (alternate shot) and singles matches at the Walker Cup Match, played at the par 35-36—71, 6,894-yard Ganton Golf Club:

Foursomes (alternate shot)

Bill Haas, Greer, S.C., and Trip Kuehne, Dallas, Texas, def. Gary Wolstenholme, England, and Michael Skelton, England, 2 and 1.

Stuart Wilson, Scotland, and David Inglis, Scotland, def. Lee Williams, Alexander City, Ala., and George Zahringer, New York, N.Y., 2 up.

Nigel Edwards, Wales, and Stuart Manley, Wales, def. Chris Nallen, Hackettstown, N.J., and Ryan Moore, Puyallup, Wash., 3 and 2.

Noel Fox, Ireland, and Colm Moriarty, Ireland, def., Adam Rubinson, Ft. Worth, Texas, and Casey Wittenberg, Memphis, Tenn., 4 and 2.

Singles

Bill Haas, Greer, S.C., def. Gary Wolstenholme, England, 1 up.

Trip Kuehne, Dallas, Texas, and. Oliver Wilson, England, halved.

Brock Mackenzie, Yakima, Wash., def. David Inglis, Scotland, 3 and 2.

Matt Hendrix, Aiken, S.C., and Stuart Wilson, Scotland, halved

Nigel Edwards, Wales, def. George Zahringer, New York, N.Y., 3 and 2.

Chris Nallen, Hackettstown, def. Colm Moriarty, Ireland, 2 up.

Adam Rubinson, Ft. Worth, Texas, def. Noel Fox, Ireland, 3 and 2.

Casey Wittenberg, Memphis, Tenn., def. Graham Gordon, Scotland, 5 and 4.

Ganton, North Yorkshire, England, -- Pairings for Sunday’s foursomes (alternate shot) and singles matches at the Walker Cup Match, to be played at the par 35-36—71, 6,894-yard Ganton Golf Club (All times EDT ):

Foursomes (alternate shot)

3:30 a.m. – Bill Haas, Greer, S.C., and Trip Kuehne, Dallas, Texas, vs. Gary Wolstenholme, England, and Oliver Wilson, England.

3:45 a.m. – Brock Mackenzie, Yakima, Wash., and Matt Hendrix, Aiken, S.C., vs. Noel Fox, Ireland, and Colm Moriarty, Ireland.

4:00 a.m. – Casey Wittenberg, Memphis, Tenn., and Adam Rubinson, Ft. Worth, Texas, vs. Stuart Wilson, Scotland, and David Inglis, Scotland.

4:15 a.m. – Lee Williams, Alexander City, Ala., and George Zahringer, New York, N.Y., vs. Nigel Edwards, Wales, and Stuart Manley, Wales.

Singles

8:25 a.m. – Bill Haas, Greer, S.C., vs. Oliver Wilson, England.

8:35 a.m. – Casey Wittenberg, Memphis, Tenn., vs. Gary Wolstenholme, England.

8:45 a.m. – Adam Rubinson, Ft. Worth, Texas, vs. Michael Skelton, England.

8:55 a.m. – Brock Mackenzie, Yakima, Wash., vs. Colm Moriarty, Ireland.

9:10 a.m. – Matt Hendrix, Aiken, S.C., vs. Stuart Wilson, Scotland.

9:20 a.m. – Ryan Moore, Puyallup, Wash., vs. David Inglis, Scotland.

9:30 a.m. – Lee Williams, Alexander City, Ala., vs. Nigel Edwards, Wales.

9:40 a.m. – Trip Kuehne, Dallas, Texas, vs. Stuart Manley, Wales.