USA 4.5 – 7.5 GB&I

 (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Walker Cup Saturday from St Andrews will live long in the memory. Glorious September sunshine lit up the Old Course for the most historic of matchups. Play got underway at 08.30, with Dylan Menante sending one down the middle alongside Gordon Sargent and taking on Barclay Brown and Mark Power.

Menante and Sargent got off to a quick start, birdieing the first and giving the American fans a huge fist pump to get them going. Not only were they off to a quick start, but they were also setting a formidable pace of play at the top of the order. Sargent, the World #1 and his unassuming partner played some excellent golf, including an eagle to a very tough pin on 12 to seal victory 3&2. The dash of red first to go up on the leaderboard.

Behind them, the Scottish pair of Calum Scott and Connor Graham were putting on a fabulous display of golf. With huge cheers for both the whole way around, they made six birdies in 16 holes; good enough to beat Caleb Surratt and Ben James 3&2. The young Connor’s selection is one of the stories of the week and it was magical to see so many friends, family and fans out their cheering him on.

What felt like the most important morning battle was between Preston Summerhays & David Ford and Matthew McClean and John Gough. Seriously close fought throughout, it felt like the game that would swing momentum either way. A superb birdie on 16 put the GB&I duo up by one with just two to play. The match felt all but gone when Summerhays found the Road Hole Bunker on 17 but a superb up and down took it to 18. But sadly, for the Americans, the chance of half a point was relinquished in front of the Hamilton Grand as Summerhays missed a short putt down the hill. Advantage GB&I.

In the final match of the morning, which sadly we did not see much of, Alex Maguire and James Ashfield held on for victory down the last. After 9, they were three up on in-form Nick Dunlap and Walker Cup journeyman Stewart Hagestad. They did very well to hold their nerve after receiving some back 9 pressure to leave GB&I with a two point margin before lunch.

For much of the afternoon singles, it felt as though the Americans would come right back into the battle. With scoreboards dotted around the course showing plenty of red, it seemed GB&I’s early lead might soon vanish. However, the afternoon saw the home team come up clutch in several moments to extend their lead.

Barclay Brown did not quite get going against Caleb Surratt in the top match, who with three birdies put a 4&3 win in red up on the board. Calum Scott, fresh from the success of the morning foursomes put in another tremendous display to edge out Nick Gabrelcik in a match that was always very tight. The big celebrations on 17 in front of many of his Nairn-based supporters was very fun to watch.

It could have been worse for the US side, Jack Bigham was behind for most of his match against Gordon Sargent but took a lead on the 13^th. However, the game swung back in the way of the big-hitting American with a birdie on 18, for him to win 1up.

Liam Nolan, who missed the morning session came through a tight encounter to see off Austin Greaser, whilst fellow Irishman Mark Power also earned victory in a hugely entertaining and high-quality game against David Ford.

Matthew McClean halved with Preston Summerhays in a game that saw 13 birdies. Hagestad earned a strong win over Alex Maguire but in the final game, John Gough showed his class to see off US Amateur Champion Nick Dunlap 6&5. The young man from Berkshire was 5 up through 5 and never looked back.

It was an exhibition of golf; with everyone I have spoken to giving rave reviews of the golf and the organisation of the event. The day was finished off with great fun at Brewdog for the Cookie Jar Mixer, it was brilliant to see so many familiar and new faces alike.

Play is underway already in the Sunday Foursomes. Can GB&I hold on for victory? The Old Course seems to be a levelling factor between the supposed gulf in class shown in the rankings and the GB&I players have been riding the excitement of the crowd.

Don’t write this very talented American side off yet, however, as they have a strong record of overturning deficits. It is very much all still to play for.