In the space of just four hours on Sunday morning, the 2026 Walker Cup was flipped on its head.
Trailing by a point into the second and final day, the U.S. side dominated the morning foursomes, sweeping all four matches and taking a commanding lead into the afternoon singles.
College teammates Ethan Fang and Preston Stout led out the side against the same opponents they faced on Friday morning, in Stuart Grehan and Eliot Baker. Despite making three birdies and two eagles, the GB&I was outclassed by the American team, highlighted by Stout’s drive on the short par four 13th hole.
Playing nearly 320 yards, Stout’s drive found the top tier of the green and scared the hole en route to a tap in eagle. It moved the Oklahoma State pair to two-up and they closed out the opening match three holes later.
“Yeah, that was probably my best shot of the week,” said the World Number One amateur after the win. “We talked about it all day, but just making them earn every hole.”
Oisin Keniry/R&A
One point became two just moments later when Jay Leng Jr and Kihei Akina closed out Luke Poulter and Sam Easterbrook on the 15th hole.
Despite the conditions worsening this morning, it seems to suit the Americans more than the home side.
“Normally it’s a little tough” said Leng Jr after their win. “But when you have someone like Kihei who stripes it every single shot, it’s not really anything to worry about!”
The young, left-handed pair of Miles Russell and Tyler Watts teamed up again in foursomes and made light work of Tyler Weaver and Connor Weaver, winning five of the first seven holes and earning a 3&2 victory.
Warren Little
In the final match of the morning, the leading points scorer from day one, Niall Sheils Donegan, paired up with Josh Hill once again but couldn’t replicate the magic of their Friday foursomes. The U.S. duo of Ryder Cowan and William Jennings barely missed a shot over 13 holes, making six birdies and winning 4&3.
Add it all together and Nathan Smith’s U.S. side now lead by three points with 10 singles matches left in this year’s event. They need just 3.5 points from the final singles session to retain the Walker Cup.
History doesn’t paint a pretty picture for Dean Robertson and his home squad. It’s 25 years since the GB&I last won a singles session by more than three points. If they want to prevent the U.S. team from winning for a sixth consecutive time, a historic comeback will be required at Lahinch.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
