Great Britain and Ireland seized an early advantage over the United States at the 51st Walker Cup, taking a 2½-1½ lead after Saturday morning’s foursomes at Lahinch Golf Club. The session featured three matches decided on the final hole, including a half-point secured by GB&I after World No. 1 amateur Preston Stout missed a short birdie putt at the 18th. Stuart Grehan and Eliot Baker had briefly trailed after the Americans won the 16th and 17th, but their birdie on the par-5 closing hole was enough to earn a valuable halve.
Tyler Weaver and Connor Graham then gave GB&I its first full point by defeating Jay Leng Jr. and Kihei Akina, 1 up. The United States answered when World No. 2 Tyler Watts and Miles Russell birdied the 18th to beat Luke Poulter and Sam Easterbrook, also 1 up. “We kind of knew we needed to win that match just to see some red on the board,” Watts said. “That putt was pretty big.”
The most dramatic ruling came in the final match. Niall Sheils Donegan and Josh Hill built a 4-up lead through eight holes against Ryder Cowan and Josiah Gilbert, but on the ninth Sheils Donegan picked up a missed birdie putt before it had been conceded. Cowan immediately called for an official, and the hole was awarded to the United States under the rules. The mistake did not change the outcome, however, as Sheils Donegan and Hill recovered to win 4&3. “It was completely on me,” Sheils Donegan said. “Those aren’t the rules of golf. But it’s not about how you screw up, it’s about how you bounce back.”
At the Omega European Masters, Paul Casey moved into position for his first victory in more than five years after firing a 7-under 63 at Crans-sur-Sierre. The 49-year-old Englishman, who has dealt with wrist and back problems, followed opening rounds of 67 and 64 with six front-nine birdies and a closing birdie at the 18th. Casey leads Eugenio Chacarra, Nacho Elvira, Erik van Rooyen and Maximillian Steinlechner by three shots entering Sunday. Calling Switzerland his new home, Casey pledged to donate his prize money to victims of the New Year’s Day fire at Le Constellation bar in nearby Crans-Montana, which killed 41 people and injured 115. “I’ve got a lot to play for tomorrow,” he said.