Great Britain and Ireland Takes Early 3-1 Lead After Saturday Morning Foursomes

Great Britain and Ireland Takes Early 3-1 Lead After Saturday Morning Foursomes

Ganton, North Yorkshire, England – Americans Bill Haas of Greer, S.C., and Trip Kuehne of Dallas, Texas, rallied to win holes 13 and 16 to defeat Englishmen Gary Wolstenholme and Michael Skelton in the top foursomes match Saturday morning, but Great Britain and Ireland won the other three foursomes matches and took a 3-1 lead in points heading into the eight afternoon singles matches on the first day of the Walker Cup Match at Ganton Golf Club. Haas and Kuehne won their match, 2 and 1.

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 ever-other-year series that dates back to 1922. A point is award for each win. There are 24 total points available.

Great Britain and Ireland closed strong to win each of its three matches.

Stuart Wilson and David Inglis won holes 15 and 16 with pars to overtake the American team of Lee Williams of Alexander City, Ala., and George Zahringer of New York, N.Y., 2 up. The American duo had held a 3-up lead through seven holes.

Nigel Edwards and Stuart Manley combined to beat Chris Nallen of Hackettstown, N.J., and Ryan Moore of Puyallup, Wash., 3 and 2. The Welch teammates never trailed and sealed the outcome by also winning holes 15 and 16.

Noel Fox and Colm Moriarty also rallied to win the final three holes to beat the U.S. team of Adam Rubinson of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Casey Wittenberg of Memphis, Tenn., 4 and 2.

The team of Wolstenholme and Skleton was on top early as well. They two led 3-up after just eight holes before Haas and Kuehne won the next three to pull square. Haas and Kuehne made four birdies in the match.

Fox and Moriarty also made four birdies in winning their match.

Ganton, North Yorkshire, England, -- Results of Saturday’s foursomes (alternate shot) and pairings for Saturday’s 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)

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

7:50 a.m. – Bill Haas, Greer, S.C., vs. Gary Wolstenholme, England.

8:00 a.m. – Trip Kuehne, Dallas, Texas, vs. Oliver Wilson, England.

8:10 a.m. – Brock Mackenzie, Yakima, Wash., vs. David Inglis, Scotland .

8:20 a.m. – Matt Hendrix, Aiken, S.C., vs. Stuart Wilson, Scotland.

8:35 a.m. – George Zahringer, New York, N.Y., vs. Nigel Edwards, Wales.

8:45 a.m. – Chris Nallen, Hackettstown, N.J., vs. Colm Moriarty.

8:55 a.m. – Adam Rubinson, Ft. Worth, Texas, vs. Noel Fox, Ireland.

9:05 a.m. – Casey Wittenberg, Memphis, Tenn., vs. Graham Gordon, Scotland.