1928 – Chicago

USA 11 – 1 GB&I

August 30-31, 1928
Chicago Golf Club, Wheaton, Chicago, Illinois
6,579 yards / Par 71

Captains: Bobby Jones (USA) and Dr. William Tweddell (GB&I)

Day 1 Foursomes (USA players first) 
Jess Sweetser / George Von Elm beat Philip Perkins / Dr. William Tweddell 7&6 
Bobby Jones Jr / Chick Evans Jr beat Maj. Charles Hezlet / William Hope 5&3
Francis Ouimet / Jimmy Johnston beat Tony Torrance / Eustace Storey 4&2
Watts Gunn / Roland MacKenzie beat John Beck / Dr. Archibald MacCallum 7&5
USA 4 – GB&I 0

Day 2 Singles
Bobby Jones Jr beat Philip Perkins 13&12
George Von Elm beat Dr. William Tweddell 3&2
Francis Ouimet beat Maj. Charles Hezlet 8&7
Jess Sweetser beat William Hope 5&4
Jimmy Johnston beat Eustace Storey 4&2
Chick Evans Jr lost to Tony Torrance 1 hole
Watts Gunn beat Ronald Hardman 11&10
Roland MacKenzie beat Capt. Noel Martin 2&1
USA 7 – GB&I 1

Match Result: USA 11 – GB&I 1

Series Results: USA 5 – GB&I 0 (after Match 5)

WC 1928 USA Team

1928 U.S. Walker Cup Team

(l-r) Back – Maurice McCarthy (dnp), Harrison Johnston, Gene Komans (dnp), Watts Gunn, Roland MacKenzie; Front – Jesse Sweetser, Chick Evans, Bobby Jones (c), George Von Elm, Francis Ouimet (© thegolfauction.com)

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Match Notes

GB&I arrived in Chicago with anything but their preferred line up.

Sir Ernest Holderness, James (“Bill”) Stout and Roger Wethered were invited to play by The R&A but excused themselves during the selection process.

Cyril Tolley was then selected in mid-June for the travelling GB&I team but withdrew later in the month, apparently due to a libel action he instigated against the J.S. Fry & Sons chocolate company who had used an image of him in an advert without his permission. He was replaced by Captain Noel Martin.

Bobby Jones Jr recorded the largest 36 hole victory in Walker Cup history in 1928, beating England’s Philip Perkins by 13&12.

Coincidentally two weeks after their Walker Cup game Jones played Perkins in the final of the U.S. Amateur at Brae Burn C.C. This time Jones won 10&9.

Discussions between the USGA and The R&A on the size of the golf ball started at this Walker Cup match. The USGA were pushing for the global adoption of an American 1.68″ diameter ball whilst The R&A preferred to retain the smaller 1.62″ diameter British ball. It was not until 1990 that the USGA finally got their way.

Large crowds were expected but after the U.S.A.’s clean sweep on Day 1 interest quickly waned. Chicago G.C. were left with a deficit of $2,500 on the event and the USGA gave up some of their gate receipts to reduce the host club’s losses.

USGA Newsreel Highlights of the 1928 Match

British Pathé Highlights of the 1928 Match

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