[Picture: David Cannon]
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Yet the Old Man did himself proud this week at Cypress Point Club, the lone mid-amateur on the US side contributing a pair of singles wins in the Americans’ 17-9 victory over Great Britain & Ireland.
When he holed a 20-foot birdie effort on the par-3 15th, the fog rolling in off the Pacific Ocean, to close out GB&I’s Eliot Baker, 4 and 3, Hagestad had grabbed the 13th point, guaranteeing that the Americans would retain the Cup.
STEW! BUCKETS! 🪣
It's a 4-and-3 victory for the one of the most accomplished players in Walker Cup history. pic.twitter.com/vE1Tq8FeuY
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 8, 2025
“The timing of it worked out,” said Hagestad, who won the clinching point for the US back in 2017. “I’m just so happy it went in. I hit that a little hard and every one is a straight one if you hit it hard enough.”
Moreover, he bolstered a record that elevated him to one of the most accomplished players in Walker Cup history. By playing on the winning American side yet again, Hagestad became just the seventh golfer to play on five or more winning Walker Cup teams.
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And by beating Baker after winning his Saturday singles match, 7 and 5, over Gavin Tiernan, Hagestad improved his overall singles record in the biennial event to 7-1. That ties him with Bill Campbell for the second most Walker Cup singles victories, trailing only Jay Sigel, who claimed 11 wins in his record nine Walker Cup starts.
While the USGA traditionally leaves a spot for a mid-amateur at each Walker Cup, Hagestad has been far from a ceremonial golfer. His slender build and dry wit help him blend in with his teammates. Only his long-putter and day job as a broker for BDT & MSD Partners give away the fact his college career at USC ended back in 2013.
“He provides such a great presence,” said US captain Nathan Smith. “His experience and maturity are something that everybody looks up to. He’s almost like a playing captain out there.”
Hagestad’s career accolades include three US Mid-Amateur titles, eight starts in major championship and low amateur honours at the 2017 Masters. “I’ve accomplished more than I ever thought possible in the amateur game,” Hagestad said back in 2022 after making the cut at the US Open.
Stewart Hagestad was on his first winning Walker Cup team in 2017, playing at his home course of LACC. Harry How
Hagestad, the oldest player on the American team that won in 2019 at Royal Liverpool, pals around with the youngest player in US Walker Cup history, Akshay Bhatia. Jan Kruger/R&A
Hagestad picked up his third straight Walker Cup title in 2021 at Seminole Golf Club. Cliff Hawkins
Hagestad joins US captain Mike McCoy, David Ford, Preston Summerhays, Nick Dunlap and Austin Greaser celebrating on the Swilcan Bridge after their Americans victory in 2023 at the Old Course. Ross Parker/R&A
Suffice it to say, Hagestad is appreciative of the résumé he has developed despite having a non-descript college golf career, well aware that making the team once, let alone five times, is a challenge.
“They’re all special,” said Hagestad earlier in the week when asked about playing in his fifth. “I think at a different part of my life I’ll be able to see the forest from the trees so to speak.”
This roster in particular, though, was one that he greatly wanted to compete on, Cypress Point an inviting locale not to mention knowing that his window of opportunity to play in the event was starting to close.
“I was hyper-focused on making this team,” he said. “Like there were a lot of sacrifices made personally, professionally, socially. You name it across the board the spectrum of your life. So when I got the call I genuinely didn’t believe it.”
The question now is, was that the last call he’ll be getting?
Through a twist of fate, the California native who now lives in Florida just might have another Walker Cup left in him as a player. The USGA and R&A have decided to move the matches back to even number years so that they’re not played near the Ryder Cup, so the 51st edition of the event will take place next year at Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland.
If Hagestad doesn’t make that team, he’ll undoubtedly be at a future Walker Cup as a captain of the American team and have a chance to extend his success in the world’s premier amateur golf event.
Earlier in the week Hagestad joked: “The first thing people ask you is where you played your Walker Cups. The second thing is if you won.”
Hagestad can boast that he’s played them at some amazing locales, LACC, Royal Liverpool, Seminole, St Andrews and now Cypress Point. Oh, and he hasn’t lost one yet.
