1971 Walker Cup Explained

Walker Cup
Year:1971
Dates:26–27 May 1971
Venue:Old Course at St Andrews
Location:St Andrews, Scotland
Home:GB&I
Away:USA
Homecaptain:Michael Bonallack
Awaycaptain:John M. Winters
Homescore:13
Awayscore:11
Result:Great Britain & Ireland wins

The 1971 Walker Cup, the 23rd Walker Cup Match, was played on 26 and 27 May 1971, on the Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland. The event was won by Great Britain & Ireland 13 to 11, their first win in the event since 1938.

Although Great Britain and Ireland won all the first morning foursomes, the United States won six of the eight singles and held a one point lead after the first day.[1] The United States lead increased to two points after the second day foursomes. However Great Britain and Ireland won six of the eight singles matches to win the Walker Cup for the first time since World War II.[2]

Format

The format for play on Wednesday and Thursday was the same. There were four matches of foursomes in the morning and eight singles matches in the afternoon. In all, 24 matches were played.

Each of the 24 matches was worth one point in the larger team competition. If a match was all square after the 18th hole extra holes were not played. Rather, each side earned ½ a point toward their team total. The team that accumulated at least 12½ 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. Great Britain & Ireland had a playing captain, while the United States had a non-playing captain.[3]

Great Britain & Ireland

&
Playing captain: Michael Bonallack

United States


Captain: John M. Winters

Wednesday's matches

Morning foursomes

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Bonallack/Humphreys 1 upWadkins/Simons
Green/Carr 1 upMelnyk/Giles
Marsh/Macgregor 2 & 1Miller/Farquhar
Macdonald/Foster 2 & 1Campbell/Kite
4Foursomes0
4Overall0

Afternoon singles

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Charlie Green 1 upLanny Wadkins
Michael Bonallack 1 upVinny Giles
Geoff Marks 1 upAllen Miller
Scott Macdonald 3 & 2Steve Melnyk
Roddy CarrhalvedBill Hyndman
Warren Humphreys 1 upJim Gabrielson
Hugh Stuart 3 & 2John Farquhar
Rodney Foster 3 & 2Tom Kite
Singles
Overall

Thursday's matches

Morning foursomes

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Marks/Green 1 upMelnyk/Giles
Stuart/Carr 1 upWadkins/Gabrielson
Marsh/Bonallack 5 & 4Miller/Farquhar
Macdonald/FosterhalvedCampbell/Kite
Foursomes
7Overall9

Afternoon singles

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Michael Bonallack 3 & 1Lanny Wadkins
Hugh Stuart 2 & 1Vinny Giles
Warren Humphreys 2 & 1Steve Melnyk
Charlie Green 1 upAllen Miller
Roddy Carr 2 upJim Simons
George Macgregor 1 upJim Gabrielson
David Marsh 1 upBill Hyndman
Geoff Marks 3 & 2Tom Kite
6Singles2
13Overall11

Notes and References

  1. News: Americans hit back for lead after British clean sweep in foursomes . . 27 May 1971 . 6 . Raymond . Jacobs.
  2. News: Britons stay the course and repeat Walker Cup triumph of 33 years ago . . 28 May 1971 . 6 . Raymond . Jacobs.
  3. Web site: 1971 – St. Andrews . walkercup.co.uk . 26 November 2018.