1923 – St. Andrews

GB&I 5 – 6 USA

May 18-19, 1923
The Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland
6,487 yards / Par 73

Captains: Robert Harris (GB&I) and Robert Gardner (USA)

Day 1 Foursomes (GB&I players first)
Cyril Tolley / Roger Wethered beat Francis Ouimet / Jess Sweetser 6&5
Robert Harris / Chubby Hooman lost to Robert Gardner / Max Marston 7&6
Ernest Holderness / William Hope beat George Rotan / Davidson Herron 1 hole
John Wilson / William Murray beat Harrison Johnston / Jack Neville 4&3
GB&I 3 – USA 1

Day 2 Singles
Roger Wethered halved with Francis Ouimet
Cyril Tolley beat Jess Sweetser 4&3
Robert Harris lost to Robert Gardner 1 hole
Willis Mackenzie lost to George Rotan 5&4
William Hope lost to Max Marston 6&5
Ernest Holderness lost to Fred Wright Jr 1 hole
John Wilson beat Davidson Herron 1 hole
William Murray lost to Dr. Oscar Willing 2&1
GB&I 2 – USA 5

Match Result: GB&I 5 – USA 6

Series Results: USA 2 – GB&I 0 (after Match 2)

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Match Notes

Bobby Jones was a notable absentee for the U.S.A. team due to his ongoing studies at Harvard University. Jones had famously walked off the course mid-round during the Open Championship two years earlier.

Many commentators believed this a match that GB&I should have won. Leading 3-1 after the Day 1 Foursomes and started the Day 2 Singles well too.

The U.S.A. made a remarkable team comeback to snatch victory. Francis Ouimet, 2 Down with 3 holes to play, closed his round on the Old Course with scores of 3, 4 and 3 to steal a half from Roger Wethered. George Rotan, 6 Down after 14, won 11 of the next 12 holes, to overwhelm Willis Mackenzie and finally Frederick Wright won the 34th, 35th and 36th holes to secure a 1 Hole win over Ernest Holderness.

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