1951 – Birkdale

GB&I 3 – 6 USA

May 11-12, 1951
Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Lancashire, England
6,735 yards / Par 70

Captains: Raymond Oppenheimer (GB&I) and William Turnesa (USA)

Day 1 Foursomes (GB&I players first)
Ronnie White / Joe Carr halved with Frank Stranahan / William Campbell
Cecil Ewing / John Langley halved with Charles Coe / James McHale Jr
Alex Kyle / Ian Caldwell lost to Richard Chapman / Robert Knowles 1 hole
Jimmy Bruen Jr / John Morgan lost to Willie Turnesa / Sam Urzetta 5&4
GB&I 0 – USA 2

Day 2 Singles
Max McCready lost to Sam Urzetta 4&3
Joe Carr beat Frank Stranahan 2&1
Ronnie White beat Charles Coe 2&1
John Langley lost to James McHale Jr 2 holes
Cecil Ewing lost to William Campbell 5&4
Alex Kyle beat Willie Turnesa 2 holes
Ian Caldwell halved with Harold Paddock Jr
John Morgan lost to Richard Chapman 7&6
GB&I 3 – USA 4

Match Result: GB&I 3 – USA 6

Series Results: USA 12 – GB&I 1 (after Match 13)

British Pathé video footage of the 1951 Match

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Match Notes

Royal Birkdale hosted The Open Championship for the first time in 1954. In this R&A trial run the Southport links became just the third GB&I course to host the Walker Cup.

The GB&I squad was announced on 7th April 1951 following three days of trials at Royal Birkdale G.C. The Squad participated in foursomes, stroke play and singles match play golf during these trials.

Royal Birkdale granted honorary membership to all of the selected GB&I players so they could familiarise themselves fully with the course in the preceding weeks.

John Morgan became the first Welshman to be selected for the GB&I team in the thirteenth playing of the match.

Major David Blair, who attended the match, was the GB&I team’s reserve player.

Jimmy Bruen’s wrist injury again gave way during the Day 1 foursomes and he was unable to play any part in the Singles.

Scotsman Dr. Frank Deighton was omitted by GB&I Captain Oppenheimer from both days play.

A Joint Rules Committee meeting held alongside the match introduced the stroke and distance penalty for out of bounds and lost balls and agreed to remove stymies from match play golf.

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