1932 – Brookline

USA 8 – 1 GB&I

September 1-2, 1932
The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
6,435 yards / Par 71

Captains: Francis Ouimet (USA) and Tony Torrance (USA)

Day 1 Foursomes (USA players first) 
Jess Sweetser / George Voigt beat Rex Hartley / Lister Hartley 7&6
Charlie Seaver / Gus Moreland beat Tony Torrance / John de Forest 6&5
Francis Ouimet / George Dunlap Jr beat Bill Stout / John Burke 7&6
Donald Moe / William Howell Jr beat Eric Fiddian / Eric McRuvie 5&4
USA 4 – GB&I 0

Day 2 Singles
Francis Ouimet halved with Tony Torrance
Jess Sweetser halved with Bill Stout
Gus Moreland beat Rex Hartley 2&1
Jack Westland halved with John Burke
George Voigt lost to Leonard Crawley 1 hole
Maurice McCarthy Jr beat Lister Hartley 3&2
Charlie Seaver beat Eric Fiddian 7&6
George Dunlap Jr beat Eric McRuvie 10&9
USA 4 – GB&I 1

Match Result: USA 8 – GB&I 1

Series Results: USA 7 – GB&I 0 (after Match 7)

British Pathé video footage of the 1932 Match

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Match Notes

Due to the prevailing economic conditions in the early 1930’s it was rumoured that this match may be cancelled. However, it was eventually given the green light in January 1932.

The Country Club near Boston was not confirmed as the venue until the early Summer. With 27 holes major events like the Walker Cup were staged over a composite course.

GB&I announced 8 players, albeit no captain in April 1932. These included Jack Bookless, John Burke, Leonard Crawley, Lister Hartley, Rex Hartley, Eric McRuvie, J.A. Stout and Tony Torrance. The reigning Amateur champion E. Martin Smith from Royal St. George’s G.C. was surprisingly not included in this first group.

Lister and Rex Hartley are the only brothers to play in the same Walker Cup match.

On the eve of the 1932 Amateur Championship final in late May The R&A added the two finalists, John de Forest and Eric Fiddian, to their Walker Cup team. They also confirmed that Tony Torrance would captain the GB&I team.

Ireland’s John Burke made his one and only appearance in the Walker Cup match in 1932. Between 1930 and 1950 Burke was easily Ireland’s best amateur winning numerous titles and his repeated non-selection by The R&A is hard to explain.

The USGA announced a 10-man U.S.A. team in late June 1932. Francis Ouimet (captain), George Dunlap Jr, William Howell Jr, Harrison “Jimmy” Johnston, Donald Moe, Maurice McCarthy, Charlie Seaver, Jess Sweetser, George Voigt and Jack Westland.

Gus Moreland, who won the Western Amateur in late August, was a late addition to the U.S.A. team.

GB&I debutant Leonard Crawley burnt his left hand when a box of matches he was holding exploded at a farewell cocktail party before setting sail for the USA. Sadly his hand had not sufficiently healed to allow him to be considered for the Day 1 Foursomes.

Having lost his foursomes game in sweltering conditions John de Forest, the 1932 Amateur champion, and Jack Bookless, who hadn’t played on Day 1, left a note for Captain Torrance saying they were going into Boston for the night and would not be available for the following day’s singles.

Therefore, despite only playing nine holes in practice, Crawley was called upon for the Day 2 Singles. Playing with dressings on his injured hand he beat George Voight by 1 Hole. On the 18th hole during their morning round Crawley over hit a 5-iron which famously struck the lid of the Cup, which had been positioned on a display table behind the green. Crawley subsequently wrote that the dent was removed in St. Andrews during World War II.

George Dunlap’s Day 2 singles victory was helped by a course record 66, including seven birdies, in the morning round of his game against Eric McRuvie.

On the U.S.A. side Harrison “Jimmy” Johnston was left out of the line up on both days.

After the match the GB&I team travelled to Pine Valley G.C. to play in the 11th Crump Cup, in those days simply an 18 hole stroke play competition. Tony Torrance became the first non-American to win this prestigious event.

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