1961 Walker Cup Explained

Walker Cup
Year:1961
Dates:September 1–2, 1961
Venue:Seattle Golf Club
Location:Seattle, Washington
Home:USA
Away:GB&I
Homecaptain:Jack Westland
Awaycaptain:Charles Lawrie
Homescore:11
Awayscore:1
Result:United States wins

The 1961 Walker Cup, the 18th Walker Cup Match, was played on September 1 and 2, 1961, at Seattle Golf Club, Seattle, Washington. The United States won by 11 matches to 1. This was the last Walker Cup in which 36-hole matches were played.

Great Britain and Ireland's only success came when Martin Christmas beat Charlie Smith in the singles.[1] [2]

Format

Four 36-hole matches of foursomes were played on Friday and eight singles matches on Saturday. Each of the 12 matches was worth one point in the larger team competition. If a match was all square after the 36th hole extra holes were not played. The team with most points won the competition. If the two teams were tied, the previous winner would retain the trophy.

Teams

Ten players for the United States and Great Britain & Ireland participated in the event plus one non-playing captain for each team.[3]

United States


Captain: Jack Westland

Great Britain & Ireland

&
Captain: Charles Lawrie

Friday's foursomes

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Walker/Chapman 6 & 5Beman/Nicklaus
Blair/Christmas 1 upCoe/Cherry
Carr/Huddy 4 & 3Hyndman/Gardner
Bonallack/Shade 4 & 3Cochran/Andrews
0Foursomes4
0Overall4

Saturday's singles

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Michael Bonallack 3 & 2Deane Beman
Michael Lunt 5 & 4Charles Coe
James Walker 3 & 2Bud Taylor
David Frame 7 & 6Bill Hyndman
Joe Carr 6 & 4Jack Nicklaus
Martin Christmas 3 & 2Charlie Smith
Ronnie Shade 1 upRobert W. Gardner
David Blair 5 & 4Don Cherry
1Singles7
1Overall11

Notes and References

  1. News: Young players leave Britain with hope . . September 4, 1961 . 5 . P.A. . Ward-Thomas.
  2. Purposes of Walker Cup not clouded by U.S. wins . USGA Journal and Turf Management . November 1961 . 11.
  3. Web site: 1961 – Seattle . walkercup.co.uk . December 4, 2018.