1934 – St. Andrews

GB&I 2 – 9 USA

May 11-12, 1934
The Old Course, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
6,612 yards / Par 73

Captains: Hon. Michael Scott (GB&I) and Francis Ouimet (USA)

Day 1 Foursomes (GB&I players first)
Roger Wethered / Cyril Tolley lost to Johnny Goodman / Lawson Little 8&6
Harry Bentley / Eric Fiddian lost to Gus Moreland / Jack Westland 6&5
Hon. Michael Scott / Sam McKinlay lost to Chandler Egan / Max Marston 3&2
Eric McRuvie & Jack McLean beat Francis Ouimet / George Dunlap Jr 4&2
GB&I 1 – USA 3

Day 2 Singles
Hon. Michael Scott lost to Johnny Goodman 7&6
Cyril Tolley lost to Lawson Little 6&5
Leonard Crawley lost to Francis Ouimet 5&4
Jack McLean lost to George Dunlap Jr 4&3
Eric Fiddian lost to John Fischer 5&4
Sam McKinlay lost to Gus Moreland 3&1
Eric McRuvie halved with Jack Westland
Tony Torrance beat Max Marston 4&3
GB&I 1 – USA 6

Match Result: GB&I 2 – USA 9

Series Results: USA 8 – GB&I 0 (after Match 8)

British Pathé Video Footage of the 1934 Match

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Match Notes

The USGA announced their team in early January 1934 including Francis Ouimet (captain), George Dunlap Jr, Johnny Fischer, Chandler Egan, Johnny Goodman, Lawson Little, Max Marston, Gus Moreland and Jack Westland.

Chandler Egan, the U.S. Amateur champion of 1904 and 1905, was a surprise selection making his Walker Cup debut at the age of 50.

Francis Ouimet made his eighth and final playing appearance at St. Andrews. He remained as USA captain for the next four matches.

Johnny Fischer used the W.A. & A.C. Churchman cigarette card set “Can You Beat Bogey At St. Andrews ?’, which included hole plans and course strategies written by Bernard Darwin, to help him prepare for the match. It doesn’t appear to have worked very well.

The R&A selected Hon. Michael Scott as playing captain for GB&I at the age of 55 in March 1934. He was joined by Harry Bentley, Eric Fiddian, Sam McKinlay, Jack McLean, Cyril Tolley, Tony Torrance and Roger Wethered in the first team announcement. 

Scott was chosen on the back of his victory in the 1933 Amateur Championship at Hoylake. He remains the oldest player on either side to play in the Walker Cup.

The selection of Roger Wethered for GB&I drew much criticism before, during and after the match. His erratic performance in the Day 1 Foursomes in the match ended his Walker Cup career.

Lionel Munn (aged 47) and Eric McRuvie were added to the GB&I team a week before the match. Ireland’s Munn then withdrew on the eve of the match suffering from sciatica. Leonard Crawley, with the agreement of the American captain, was added to the home line-up the last minute as a result.

The GB&I team all played with the smaller 1.62″ ball whilst the USA team used the 1.68″ ball as the two governing bodies struggled to make headway on the unification question.

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