Day 2 – Walker Cup

200. 2026 Walker Cup – Day 2 Report

6th September 2026

DAY 2 REPORT

Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) took a 6.5 – 5.5 lead against the United States of America (USA) in to Day 2 of the 51st Walker Cup match at Lahinch G.C.

After USA completed a clean sweep of the Sunday Foursomes and therefore led 6.5 – 9.5 going into the final Singles series it appeared for all the world as if the match was as good as over.

Thankfully no one told the GB&I team and a dramatic comeback victory for the hosts, the biggest ever, unfolded as the final ten games played out in the afternoon. GB&I won the Singles series 7.0 – 3.0 to take the overall match 13.5 – 12.5.

It was GB&I’s tenth Walker Cup victory and first since 2015. USA have won 40 of the 51 matches played to date with 1 being tied.

Speaking afterwards a proud GB&I captain Dean Robertson said “We are so elated. We’re hardly able to put it into words. There’s a lot of emotion, a lot of happy tears. But pride, pride is the word I would use to describe this. The boys have delivered and I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them.”

USA Captain Nathan Smith said “The match was incredible. It was definitely a tale of two days with what happened this morning and how they played this afternoon. We knew how great their team was. They’re a deep team. We knew they were capable of anything. Really at no time did we take the foot off the accelerator. But they played great.”

The GB&I Team (Photo by Ross Parker / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

SUNDAY FOURSOMES (6,808 yards)

The Sunday Foursomes draw was announced on Saturday evening with play commencing at 8.00am.

Dean Robertson, GB&I captain, stuck with his pairings from Day 1 with Ben Bolton and Jake Whaley again left out. Nathan Smith, USA captain, chose to rest Stewart Hagestad but brought in William Jennings for Josiah Gilbert, who had struggled on Day 1.

The morning Foursomes session turned into a nightmare for the home side with the USA team playing outstandingly well, building momentum and comprehensively going on to win all four games. It was the first 4-0 sweep in a Foursomes session since the USA swept the Day 2 series in 2007 at Royal County Down.

Hoping to extend their lead before trying to see out the historically troublesome final Singles series the GB&I side looked tired and played poorly with numerous missed shots and very few putts holed.

At lunch everyone assumed that the psychological damage inflicted on the home side would be insurmountable. With USA needing just 3.5 points from the 10 available in the Sunday Singles to retain the Cup the match was there for the winning. If further evidence of this was required no team had ever won the Cup having been three points behind after three sessions.

1. Stuart Grehan & Eliot Baker v. Preston Stout & Ethan Fang

Preston Stout and Ethan Fang were deserved winners against Stuart Grehan and Eliot Baker. They got off to a fast start and when the GB&I pair started to make mistakes they had the consistency to build on their lead. The highlight of the game was Stout’s drive on the short par 4 13th which finished no more than 2 feet away.

2. Luke Poulter & Sam Easterbrook v. Jay Leng Jr & Kihei Akina

Leng Jr. and Akina produced a near blemish free performance, with six birdies over the first 13 holes, to take out GB&I’s Poulter and Easterbrook by 4&3.

3. Tyler Weaver & Connor Graham v. Miles Russell & Tyler Watts

The young left-handers Miles Russell and Tyler Watts played well against an out of sorts Tyler Weaver and Connor Graham and won Game 3 relatively easily.

4. Niall Sheils Donegan & Josh Hill v. William Jennings & Ryder Cowan

Like all of the games that preceded them the USA pairing of William Jennings and Ryder Cowan started strongly, established a lead and then saw out the match with little difficulty.

Session Score: GB&I 0.0 – 4.0 USA

SUNDAY SINGLES (6,844 yards)

Ten Singles were played on Sunday afternoon featuring all of the players from both teams.

GB&I got off to a great start winning the first four games and belief started to rise rise amongst the GB&I team and their supporters as these results were confirmed.

After GB&I’s leading players had laid the foundations for a possible surprise win 1 Hole wins for both Eliot Baker and shortly afterwards Josh Hill, when they both got up and down for birdies from around a packed 18th green, proved to be critical to the final outcome.

There were also important late halves for Niall Sheils Donegan and Connor Graham to ensure GB&I reached the 13.5 points they required for an outright victory.

It was arguably GB&I’s best ever Singles performance although the 2001 6.5-1.5 result at Ocean Forest in the 2001 away win pushes it close.

1. Stuart Grehan v. Preston Stout

After bogeying the 1st hole and falling 2Down after the 2nd Stuart Grehan played superbly well to secure a second victory in the top Singles game against WAGR ranked No. 1 Preston Stout.

2. Luke Poulter v. Ethan Fang

A strong back nine which included four birdies over the difficult closing holes ensured Luke Poulter saw out a crucial Singles win for GB&I against Ethan Fang.

3. Jack Whaley v. William Jennings

The U.S. Amateur champion Jack Whaley produced six birdies on his way to a one-sided win over the previously unbeaten William Jennings. The 8&7 margin of victory was the largest ever by a GB&I player overtaking Irish legend Joe Carr’s 7&5 win at Turnberry in 1963.

4. Tyler Weaver v. Jay Leng Jr

Tyler Weaver finally lived up to his billing as GB&I’s top player at the 51st Walker Cup match. Four birdies and an eagle saw him pull away from Jay Leng Jr to ensure GB&I would take all four of the opening Singles.

5. Niall Sheils Donegan v. Kihei Akina

Despite not being at his best Niall Sheils Donegan battled for a point against Kihei Akina in a game he trailed in for the majority of the holes.

6. Eliot Baker v. Stewart Hagestad

Eliot Baker produced a clutch up and down on the 18th hole to pick up a hard earned win against USA Singles talisman Stewart Hagestad.

7. Connor Graham v. Miles Russell

Having been 3Down after 11 holes Connor Graham finished with five birdies over the final seven, and crucially two on the last two, to salvage a half in a game he looked destined to lose for most of the afternoon.

8. Josh Hill v. Tyler Watts

Josh Hill produced a memorable up and down from the front right bunker on 18 to win his tight game against Tyler Watts and in doing so secure a Walker Cup victory that will live long in the memory.

9. Ben Bolton v. Ryder Cowan

Ryder Cowan didn’t drop a shot as his consistency proved too much for Ben Bolton. The Enville man had taken an early lead before finding the pressure as the match came down to the wire a little too much to handle.

10. Sam Easterbrook v. Josiah Gilbert

Josiah Gilbert found his links form on the final afternoon with a solid performance against Sam Easterbrook. The American started well taking the lead on the 2nd and never looked back on his way to a hardly troubled 4&3 win.

Session Score: GB&I 7.0 – 3.0 USA

Day 2 Result: GB&I 7.0 – 7.0 USA

Match Result: GB&I 13.5 – 12.5 USA

Here is my summary of the Day 2 Individual Performances: –

All of the scorecard graphics shown above are courtesy of The R&A / Golfbox Scoring.

ME.

189. 2025 Walker Cup – Day 2 Report

Sunday 7th September 2025

DAY 2 REPORT

USA won the 50th Walker Cup match, their fifth consecutive victory, by 17.0-9.0.

Day 2 again got off to a cloudy and cool start in California before warming up nicely as the Foursomes reached the turn. The fog rolled back in later in the afternoon as the Singles came to a close.

Leading 6.5-5.5 after Day 1 holder’s USA needed 6.5 points from the 14.0 on offer on Sunday to retain the Walker Cup at Cypress Point. They were of course looking for at least 7.0 points to ensure an outright win in this match.

After the Day 2 Foursomes were halved 2.0-2.0 the match was still tight with USA holding a narrow 1.0 point lead heading into the Sunday Singles session.

USA would go on to win the Singles 8.5-1.5 to put a somewhat flattering scoreline on the event which in the most part had been competitive.

Session Score: USA 8.5 – 1.5 GB&I

Day 2 Score: USA 10.5 – 3.5 GB&I

SUNDAY FOURSOMES

The morning Foursomes were tied 2.0-2.0. Arguably a fair result as each team gifted their opponents one of the four games contested. However, GB&I will feel the harder done by given the nature of their capitulation in the opening game and their much greater need to win the session.

Captain Nathan Smith left out Stewart Hagestad and Ben James from his Foursomes line-up whilst GB&I rested Dominic Clemons and Gavin Tiernan.

Captain Dean Robertson explained what he would be saying to his team at lunch “The momentum switches quickly in match play, and we’re behind. How, I don’t know, but anything to keep up concentration. We need to be tighter coming down the stretch. It’s going to be a great fun afternoon.”

Reflecting on the session Smith said “We were looking to get off to a fast start, maybe hold serve with the session or win it, and we did that. We’re in a good spot going into this afternoon. We’ve got to play good. I think it’s up for grabs, and the team that plays better this afternoon will probably come out with it.”

1. Jackson Koivun & Tommy Morrison v. Connor Graham & Tyler Weaver
Two early birdies saw the USA pairing of Jackson Koivun and Tommy Morrison take a 2Up lead after five holes. To their credit Connor Graham and Tyler Weaver fought back superbly to take their own 2Up lead after 10 holes. 1Up on the 17th tee the GB&I pair found the green in regulation around 12 feet from the hole. With the Americans 7 feet away in three the position could not have been much better for them. Whether Tyler Weaver was focussed solely on glory with a birdie or whether the pressure of the situation got to him only he knows but he badly judged the speed of his downhill putt. When Morrison holed his par putt it was inevitable that Graham, who had putted beautifully all morning, would miss his own 6 foot return. Game All Square. Graham then compounded his partner’s error by slicing his iron off the 18th tee and completely blocking out Weaver. In the end the GB&I pairing did well to make a bogey 5 but when Koivun holed a testing downhill 3 footer for par an unlikely comeback had been completed.

2. Ethan Fang & Preston Stout v. Charlie Forster & Luke Poulter
Ethan Fang and Preston Stout grasped defeat from the jaws of victory in Game 2. Four up after 10 holes the Americans looked on course for a comfortable win. However, a combination of their own poor play and Charlie Forster and Luke Poulter ‘catching fire’ saw the USA pairing lose the 11th to a par and then tellingly another four holes in a row, the 13th-16th, with GB&I recording two birdies and two pars. 1Up with two holes to play the GB&I boys held on valiantly for a crucial win for their team.

3. Mason Howell & Jacob Modleski v. Eliot Baker & Stuart Grehan
Some poor holes from Eliot Baker and Stuart Grehan on the front nine handed the early advantage to their American opponents, Mason Howell and Jacob Modleski. The GB&I pair battled to the end but ultimately had left themselves too much to do. The match finished with three outrageous shots. Not for the first time Howell holed a lengthy birdie putt on the 15th, Grehan then chipped in from 50 feet on the 16th to keep the game alive before Howell holed his approach for an eagle 2 – one bounce and in – on the 17th to put an end to the fun.

4. Michael La Sasso & Jase Summy v. Cameron Adam & Niall Shiels Donegan
The Scottish pairing of Cameron Adam and Niall Shiels Donegan took the lead on the 2nd hole and after some great play around the turn – five 3’s in 6 holes – found themselves 5Up after 12. Despite a wobble or two coming home they thankfully got the job done on the 17th green and ensured the overall session would be halved.

Session Score: USA 2.0 – 2.0 GB&I

SUNDAY SINGLES

USA thrashed GB&I 8.5-1.5 in the Day 2 Singles to run out comfortable winners of the 50th Walker Cup match.

All ten players on both sides were in action on the final afternoon.

A delighted Nathan Smith said “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a Walker Cup team bring it like they did this afternoon in singles.”

GB&I captain Dean Robertson was fulsome in his praise for the winners. “We were in it. We fought hard. Our foursomes performances were exceptional. But for a few putts, I think the big difference for us is we need to be better putters. We never really managed to clutch out some of the games, and then this afternoon Team USA performed brilliantly, and hats off to them, and well done to Nathan and his team.”

1. Jackson Koivun v. Tyler Weaver
Playing at No. 1 Tyler Weaver was always likely to be facing Jackson Koivun, a generational talent who has already earned a PGA Tour card. Weaver played well but Koivun was simply too good and birdies on 13 and 15 saw the American pick up his second singles win against the Florida State-based Englishman.

2. Tommy Morrison v. Niall Shiels Donegan
Niall Shiels Donegan was unable to make it three wins from three games against the Texas giant Tommy Morrison who produced five birdies on route to a 3&2 win.

3. Mason Howell v. Connor Graham
Mason Howell and Connor Graham, both 18 years old, tied their game; a competitive one where neither player ever led by more than 1 Hole. Graham restored parity with a birdie on the 15th before the 16th was halved with birdies in a high quality finish.

4. Preston Stout v. Luke Poulter
Preston Stout secured the winning point for USA handing Luke Poulter a 2&1 defeat in a game that saw the two of them share an impressive 11 birdies.

5. Ethan Fang v. Stuart Grehan
Ethan Fang stepped up in his singles against Stuart Grehan, a repeat of yesterday afternoon’s drawn game between the two of them. Early birdies on 3 and 4 provided the platform for the American’s win and after he won the 9th, 10th and 11th holes the contest was quickly brought to a close on the 14th green.

6. Stewart Hagestad v. Eliot Baker
Stewart Hagestad secured the 13th point to guarantee that USA would retain the Cup with his 4&3 victory over Eliot Baker, holing a 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th green to close it out. He is now W7-L1 in singles play and has won all five of the matches he has contested for USA.

7. Ben James v. Charlie Forster
Game 7 was another close contest which eventually fell the way of the Americans. Charlie Forster played well but badly timed bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes handed Ben James the initiative and he was good enough to hang on over the remaining three holes for his point.

8. Jase Summy v. Cameron Adam
Last month’s Western Amateur champion Jase Summy, one of the star performers for USA, earned his third win with a 3&1 victory over Cameron Adam. In an otherwise solid performance the Scotsman’s bogeys on 9 and 11 proved to be critical to his chances.

9. Michael La Sasso v Gavin Tiernan
Amateur Championship runner-up Gavin Tiernan will be pleased to leave the Monterey Peninsula with a 2&1 win over Michael La Sasso; made all the sweeter by it being GB&I’s only victory on the final afternoon. La Sasso surprisingly unravelled coming down the home stretch and Tiernan was pleased to be the beneficiary of his generosity.

10. Jacob Modleski v. Dominic Clemons
In an up and down match Dominic Clemons, who has struggled for form over the last 12 months, was simply too inconsistent to get anything from his game against Jacob Modleski. After a poor start the Englishman won five holes in six to find himself 3Up at the turn. However, five bogeys on the back nine including a deciding one on the 18th saw him lose by 1 Hole. Whilst he was only afforded two outings Clemons leaves Cypress Point as the only player not to contribute a point on either side.

Session Score: USA 8.5 – 1.5 GB&I

Day 2 Score: USA 10.5 – 3.5 GB&I

Match Result: USA 17.0 – 9.0 GB&I

Click here to view the – Walker Cup Scoreboard

Here is my summary of the Individual Performances: –

All of the scorecards shown above are courtesy of the USGA / CISCO Scoring.

ME.