US prevail after day of high tension

Walker Cup:The simple fact is that the United States retained the Walker Cup with a 12½-11½ victory over the Britain and Ireland team.

The inside track is that the winners had a white-knuckle ride, full of tension and exhilaration, before delivering the win with, in fitting fashion on a day of some superlative shots on the Royal Co Down links, the best shot of all produced by American Jonathan Moore in closing out the deal to secure the win.

"I'm gutted for the team," remarked Colin Dalgleish, the B and I captain, after his side's fight back ultimately fell short. Indeed, after finishing Saturday's opening series of foursomes and singles level-pegging at six-apiece, the real damage was inflicted on home hopes in yesterday's foursomes which the USA won four-nil.

That foursomes whitewash gave the USA a lead of 10-6 that was to prove unassailable, even if the B and I players salvaged pride with a fabulous performance in yesterday's singles.

It was Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mt Everest, who once remarked, "it is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." And, in the team room prior to the second series of singles, Dalgleish reminded his players of past heroic deeds by various Walker Cup teams and Ryder Cup teams in a effort to rebuild their quest for glory.

He insisted they had it in them to climb the mountain in front of them.

In the end, though, the ask was too much; and, despite a valiant attempt to overhaul the deficit, inspired by Rory McIlroy in the top singles which led to B and I claiming the singles 5½ to 2½, it was the Americans who retained the most famous trophy in amateur team golf.

And, when the tough question was asked as the Americans struggled to finish off the match, the answer was provided in a quite spectacular manner by Moore, who claimed the crucial winning point with a one hole win over Welsh veteran Nigel Edwards.

With the singles scoreboard a sea of blue to indicate B and I's renaissance, Moore - needing to win his match with Edwards to give the visitors overall victory - delivered the goods. The par five 18th hole, a dogleg of 550 with enough bunkers to rid the Sahara of its sand, is as tough a finishing hole as they come.

But Moore hit a four-iron second shot of 252 yards to four feet, for a finishing eagle, to finish off Edwards and also the B and I lifeline.

As far as B and I were concerned, the real damage was incurred in the morning foursomes.

That two of those matches went to the 18th, but both ended in American wins, only served to underline the closeness of affairs and that the whitewash wasn't a runaway affair.

While for the Irish pair of Rory McIlroy and Jonny Caldwell, there was the unpleasant memory going in to lunch of the fact that they were four-up after five holes on Billy Horschel and Richie Fowler only for them to lose on the 17th by 2 and 1.

McIlroy, one of five home players bidding adieu to the amateur game before moving into the professional ranks, and Caldwell didn't allow that capitulation to leave a sour taste.

Instead, the two came out with greater resolve and contrived to win their singles matches as the large crowds, quietened by the foursomes, rediscovered their voices for the singles as the fightback gathered momentum.

"I definitely didn't want to lose again to him," said McIlroy of his match with Horschel, who had beaten him earlier in the foursomes and also in Saturday's singles.

This time, he didn't. McIlroy, the 18-year-old from Holywood, birdied three of his last five holes to record a 4 and 2 win over Horschel.

The win by McIlroy gave B and I its first win since Horsey's win in Saturday's last singles match, and the momentum for the most part was carried on by those behind the Ulster teenager.

Rhys Davies beat Richie Fowler by 3 and 2; and Lloyd Saltman overcame Trip Kuehne by 2 and 1.

English champion Danny Willett, who had putted majestically all day, rolled in 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to secure a halved match with US amateur champion Colt Knost . . . and when Jonny Caldwell, showing nerves of steel, won three of the last four holes to turn a one-hole deficit into a 2 holes win, it gave B and I the tantalising prospect of overhauling the Americans.

It was not to be. Although Jamie Lovermark confirmed his class with a 4 and 3 win over Jamie Moul, it was Moore's heroics under enormous pressure that ultimately proved crucial. And while Horsey beat Webb Simpson in the anchor match, Moore's one hole win over Edwards was the act that guaranteed the USA's win.

Moore was unbeaten in the competition, winning two and a half points from a possible three while Fowler and Horschel, with three points apiece from four, were the top points winners for the Americans.

Five of the B and I team - McIlroy, Davies, Horsey, Moul and Saltman - are destined to move immediately into the professional ranks.

For the quintet, it is a case of leaving the amateur ranks behind with a sense of what might have been.

Sunday

(Britain and Ireland names first)

Foursomes: Jonny Caldwell and Rory McIlroy lost to Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler 2 and 1, Rhys Davies and Nigel Edwards lost to Colt Knost and Dustin Johnson 1 hole, Jamie Moul and Danny Willett lost to Trip Kuehne and Jonathan Moore 4 and 2, David Horsey and John Parry lost to Chris Kirk and Jamie Lovemark 1 hole.

Foursomes result: Brit and Irl 0 USA 4.

Singles: McIlroy bt Horschel 4 and 2, Davies bt Fowler 3 and 2, Willett halved with Knost, Lloyd Saltman bt Kuehne 2 and 1, Caldwell bt Kyle Stanley 2 holes, Edwards lost to Moore 1 hole, Moul lost to Lovemark 4 and 3, Horsey bt Webb Simpson 1 hole.

Singles result: Brit and Ire 5½, USA 2½.

Saturday

Foursomes: L Saltman and R Davies lost to B Horschel and R Fowler 4 and 3, R McIlroy and J Caldwell halved with C Knost and D Johnson, J Parry and D Horsey bt T Kuehne and K Stanley 2 and 1, J Moul and Willett halved with W Simpson and J Moore.

Foursomes result: Brit and Irl 2, USA 2.

Singles: R McIlroy lost to B Horschel 1 hole, L Saltman lost to R Fowler 5 and 4, R Davies bt D Johnson 5 and 4, D Willett lost to C Knost 2 holes, J Lovemark bt L Matthews 5 and 4, N Edwards bt K Stanley 1 hole, J Moul bt C Kirk 1 hole, D Horsey bt W Simpson 1 hole.

Singles result: Brit and Ire 4, USA 4.

Day One overall: Brit and Ire 6, USA 6.

Match result: Brit and Ire 11½, USA 12½.