The 46th Walker Cup got underway yesterday at LA Country Club with Ireland’s representative, Paul McBride, playing twice on the opening day.
GB&I sides have only won twice in the 95 year history of the event when the matches are played in the USA so the trend is on their side and after the opening day result which sees the USA lead 8-4 it will be an uphill battle today.
After the opening foursomes the matches were split 2-2 with GB&I taking the two middle matches while the USA took the opening and closing matches in comfortable fashion. McBride and his playing partner Connor Syme earned a good point against Doc Redman and Will Zalatoris with a 3&2 victory, Scott Gregory and Jack Singh Brar also got off to a winning start with a 3&2 victory against Scottie Scheffler & Gordon Champ after some uncharacteristic errors for Scheffler let the GB&I team in and they never let go.
It was a tough morning for Harry Ellis & Alfie Plant through as they were handed an 8&7 drubbing by Collin Morikawa and Norman Xiong andDavid Boote and Jack Davidson were also given a lesson with a 5&4 loss to Maverick McNealy and Doug Ghim.
In the afternoon singles McBride, fresh from his win faced off against Collin Morikawa in match four and unfortunately wasn’t able to match his opponent who was six under par for the 16 holes played in the match and while McBride pulled a 4 down after 7 deficit back to only one down after 12 he wasn’t able to keep pace with the American down the stretch.
In fact it looked at one point as is the GB&I side might take the advantage in the singles with many of their matches showing their way but in the end the USA marched on with 6 points from the possible 8 available going their way. Jack Singh Brar was the star of the GB&I team having played his role and captured two points on the opening day.
Today it’s foursomes again, followed by the deciding singles but the USA need only find 5½ points from the available 14 to win the biennial trophy.
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