1973 Walker Cup Explained

Walker Cup
Year:1973
Dates:August 24–25, 1973
Venue:The Country Club
Location:Brookline, Massachusetts
Home:USA
Away:GB&I
Homecaptain:Jess Sweetser
Awaycaptain:David Marsh
Homescore:14
Awayscore:10
Result:United States wins

The 1973 Walker Cup, the 24th Walker Cup Match, was played on August 24 and 25, 1973, at The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts. The event was won by the United States 14 to 10.

Great Britain and Ireland failed to win any foursomes matches, losing six and halving the other two. In first singles session Great Britain and Ireland won five matches but needing 6½ points from the final 8 singles they could only win three, halve two while two of the lost matches went to the last hole.[1]

Format

The format for play on Friday and Saturday 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 plus one non-playing captain for each team.[2]

United States


Captain: Jess Sweetser

Great Britain & Ireland

&
Captain: David Marsh

Friday's matches

Morning foursomes

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
King/HedgeshalvedGiles/Koch
Stuart/Davies 5 & 4Siderowf/Pfeil
Green/Milne 2 & 1Edwards/Ellis
Foster/Homer 2 & 1West/Ballenger
½Foursomes
½Overall

Afternoon singles

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Hugh Stuart 5 & 4Vinny Giles
Michael Bonallack 4 & 2Dick Siderowf
John Davies 1 upGary Koch
Howard Clark 2 & 1Marty West
Rodney Foster 2 upDanny Edwards
Michael King 1 upMike Killian
Charlie Green 1 upBill Rogers
Willie Milne 4 & 3Mark Pfeil
5Singles3
Overall

Saturday's matches

Morning foursomes

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Homer/Foster 7 & 5Giles/Koch
Clark/DavieshalvedSiderowf/Pfeil
Hedges/King 2 & 1Edwards/Ellis
Stuart/Milne 1 upRogers/Killian
½Foursomes
6Overall10

Afternoon singles

width=160 & Resultswidth=160
Charlie GreenhalvedVinny Giles
John Davies 3 & 2Dick Siderowf
Trevor Homer 2 & 1Danny Edwards
Hugh Stuart 5 & 4Jimmy Ellis
Michael King 2 upMarty West
Howard Clark 1 upMark Pfeil
Willie Milne 2 & 1Mike Killian
Peter HedgeshalvedGary Koch
4Singles4
10Overall14

Notes and References

  1. News: Britain fail in foursomes and lose Walker Cup . . August 27, 1973 . 5 . Raymond . Jacobs.
  2. Web site: 1973 – Brookline . walkercup.co.uk . November 25, 2018.