Nairn, Scotland (September 11) — Hunter Haas and Tim Jackson each won a pair of matches Saturday to give the United States amateur team a 7-5 lead over the team from Great Britain and Ireland after the first day of the 37th Walker Cup Match at Nairn Golf Club.
The U.S. won 5 of 8 points in singles matches after splitting four foursomes (alternate shot) matches in the morning. The U.S. needs to win 5 of the 12 points available Sunday to win the Cup.
Other winners for the U.S. in singles matches were Ed Loar and Jonathan Byrd. Bryce Molder and 1999 U.S. Amateur champion David Gossett tied with their opponents.
Haas, the 1999 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, started birdie-eagle-birdie to jump out to a 2-up lead and kept pace for a win over reigning British Amateur champion Graeme Storm, 4 and 3, in one of eight afternoon singles matches. Earlier, he paired with 1998 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion John “Spider” Miller for a 1-up win over Storm and Graham Rankin, in one of four foursomes (alternate shot) matches. Jackson, who also played on the 1995 U.S. Walker Cup team, joined with Gossett and won his foursomes match, 3 and 2. He then rallied to win the last four holes of his afternoon match to beat Lorne Kelly, 3 and 1.
“I thought if I could just get even, I felt I had an advantage because I love the last couple of holes,” said Jackson.
A team is awarded one point for each match won. Each team is awarded a half point for a tied match. A total of 24 points are available, with a team needing 12.5 points to win the Walker Cup.
Play continues Sunday with four more foursomes matches and eight singles matches. England natives Luke Donald and Paul Casey each won two matches Saturday to lead the Great Britain and Ireland.
Donald, who plays collegiately at Northwestern University where he won the 1999 NCAA individual title, never allowed USA’s Tom McKnight to win a hole en route to a 4 and 3 win. Casey, who plays collegiately at Arizona State University, won the second hole and never trailed in beating Steve Scott, 4 and 3.
Earlier in the day Donald and Clark teamed to earn a 5 and 3 decision over Scott and Byrd.
“Halfway around the afternoon matches it looked like we would be2 or 3 points up,” said Donald. “We’ll have to play hard tomorrow. We’re a bit disappointed right now.”
Begun in 1922, the Walker Cup Match is played every other year, alternately in Great Britain and the United States. The next Match is set for Aug. 11-12, 2001, at Ocean Forest Golf Club on Sea Island, Ga.
Results of first day of foursomes (alternate shot) and singles at the 1999 Walker Cup Match, played Saturday at the 6,602-yard, par 35-36–71 Nairn Golf Club:
Foursomes (alternate shot):
Hunter Haas and John “Spider” Miller (USA) def. Graham Rankin and Graeme Storm (GB&I), 1 up.
Paul Casey and Luke Donald (GB&I) def. Jonathan Byrd and Steve Scott (USA), 5 and 3.
David Gossett and Tim Jackson (USA) def. Paddy Gribben and Lorne Kelly (GB&I), 3 and 1.
Philip Rowe and Gary Wolstenholme (GB&I) def. Matt Kuchar and Bryce Molder (USA), 1 up.
Singles
Edward Loar (USA) def. Graham Rankin (GB&I), 4 and 3.
Luke Donald (GB&I) def. Tom McKnight (USA), 4 and 3.
Hunter Haas (USA) def. Graeme Storm (GB&I), 4 and 3.
Paul Casey (GB&I) def. Steve Scott (USA), 4 and 3.
Jonathan Byrd (USA) def. David Patrick (GB&I), 6 and 5.
David Gossett (USA) and Simon Dyson (GB&I), all square.
Bryce Molder (USA) and Paddy Gribben (GB&I), all square.
Tim Jackson (USA) def. Lorne Kelly (GB&I), 3 and 1.
Nairn, Scotland – Pairings for Sunday’s foursomes and singles matches of the 37th Walker Cup Match at the 6,602-yard, par 35-36–71 Nairn Golf Club:
Foursomes
Ed Loar and Tom McKnight (USA) vs. Graeme Storm and Graham Rankin (GB&I)
Hunter Haas and John “Spider” Miller (USA) vs. Simon Dyson and Paddy Gribben (GB&I)
David Gossett and Tim Jackson (USA) vs. Paul Casey and Luke Donald (GB&I)
Matt Kuchar and Bryce Molder (USA) vs. Philip Rowwe and Gary Wolstenholme (GB&I)
Singles
Steve Scott (USA) vs. Graham Rankin (GB&I)
Ed Loar (USA) vs. Simon Dyson (GB&I)
John “Spider” Miller (USA) vs. Paul Casey (GB&I)
Jonathan Byrd (USA) vs. Graeme Storm (GB&I)
Bryce Molder (USA) vs. Luke Donald (GB&I)
Matt Kuchar (USA) vs. Philip Rowe (GB&I)
Hunter Haas (USA) vs. Paddy Gribben (GB&I)
David Gossett (USA) vs. Gary Wolstenhome (GB&I)
1999 U.S. WALKER CUP SQUAD Name Age Hometown College Jonathan Byrd 21 Columbia, S.C. Clemson University senior David Gossett 20 Germantown, Tenn. University of Texas sophomore Hunter Haas 22 Norman, Okla. University of Oklahoma senior Tim Jackson 40 Germantown, Tenn. University of Tennessee 1984 Edward Loar 21 Rockwall, Texas Oklahoma State University senior Matt Kuchar 22 Lake Mary, Fla. Georgia Tech University senior Tom McKnight 45 Galax, Va. University of Virginia 1976 John "Spider" Miller 49 Bloomington, Ind. Indiana University 1973 Bryce Molder 20 Conway, Ark. Georgia Tech University junior Steve Scott 22 Coral Springs, Fla. University of Florida 1999 Captain: Danny Yates 49 Atlanta, Ga. Note: Tim Jackson was a team member in 1995; Steve Scott was ateam member in 1997 1999 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND WALKER CUP SQUAD Name Age Hometown Paul Casey 22 Burhill, England Luke Donald 21 Beaconsfield, England Simon Dyson 21 Sand Moor, England Paddy Gribben 30 Warrenpoint, Ireland Lorne Kelly 25 Cowal, Ireland David Pattrick 24 Mortonhall, Ireland Graham Rankin 33 Drumpellier, Scotland Philip Rowe 20 West Cornwall, England Graeme Storm 21 Wynyard, England Gary Wolstenholme 38 Kilworth Springs, England Captain: Peter McEvoy 46 Copt Heath, England Note: Graham Rankin and Gary Wolstenholme were team members in1995 and 1997
