1959 Walker Cup

Last updated

17th Walker Cup Match
Dates15–16 May 1959
Venue Muirfield
Location Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
Captains
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of Ireland.svg
39 Flag of the United States (1959-1960).svg
United States wins the Walker Cup
  1957
1961  

The 1959 Walker Cup, the 17th Walker Cup Match, was played on 15 and 16 May 1959, at Muirfield, Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. The United States won by 9 matches to 3. The United States won all four of the foursomes matches on the first day. Although Great Britain and Ireland won three of the singles matches on the second day, it was a comfortable win for the United States.

Contents

Format

Four 36-hole matches of foursomes were played on Friday and eight singles matches on Saturday. Each of the 12 matches was worth one point in the larger team competition. If a match was all square after the 36th hole extra holes were not played. The team with most points won the competition. If the two teams were tied, the previous winner would retain the trophy.

Teams

Great Britain & Ireland had a team of 10 plus a non-playing captain. Gerald Micklem was selected as the non-playing captain in November 1958 at which time an initial group of 14 possible players was also announced. [1] The team was announced on 15 April and included James Walker with Dickson Smith as the reserve. [2] Later in April Walker withdrew after being involved in a car accident which left him with a knee injury. He was replaced in the team by Smith. [3] A few days later Alan Thirlwell and Sandy Saddler were chosen as first and second reserves but were not required. [4]

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Ireland.svg  Great Britain and Ireland
NameAgePrevious
Walker Cups
MatchesW–L–HWinning
percentage
Flag of England.svg Gerald Micklem 47Non-playing captain
Flag of England.svg Michael Bonallack 24100–0–0
Flag of Ireland.svg Joe Carr 376123–8–129.17
Flag of Scotland.svg Reid Jack 35121–1–050.00
Flag of England.svg Michael Lunt 230Rookie
Flag of England.svg David Marsh 250Rookie
Flag of England.svg Arthur Perowne 29230–3–00.00
Flag of England.svg Doug Sewell 29121–1–050.00
Flag of England.svg Alec Shepperson 23110–0–150.00
Flag of Scotland.svg Dickson Smith 410Rookie
Flag of England.svg Guy Wolstenholme 28121–0–175.00

The United States only selected a team of 9, which included a playing captain. [5] The team was selected in early February. [6] The American team arrived in Scotland on 8 May. [7]

Flag of the United States (1959-1960).svg  USA
NameAgePrevious
Walker Cups
MatchesW–L–HWinning
percentage
Charles Coe – captain35351–3–130.00
Tommy Aaron 220Rookie
Deane Beman 210Rookie
Bill Hyndman 43111–0–0100.00
Jack Nicklaus 190Rookie
Billy Joe Patton 37244–0–0100.00
Bud Taylor 42122–0–0100.00
Harvie Ward 33244–0–0100.00
Ward Wettlaufer 230Rookie

Friday's foursomes

Deane Beman was left out of the United States team, while David Marsh and Dickson Smith were left out of British and Irish team. After the morning round Patton and Coe were 9 holes up but the other three matches were close, with Hyndman and Aaron 2 holes up and Great Britain and Ireland leading by 1 hole in the other two matches, Conditions were more difficult in the afternoon, with a stronger breeze. Patton and Coe won their match easily but the other three matches remained close. In the end, however, the United States won the first two matches by one hole while Wettlaufer and Nicklaus won at the 35th hole. [8]

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg & Flag of Ireland.svg Results Flag of the United States.svg
Jack/Sewell Flag of the United States.svg 1 upWard/Taylor
Carr/Wolstenholme Flag of the United States.svg 1 upHyndman/Aaron
Bonallack/Perowne Flag of the United States.svg 9 & 8Patton/Coe
Lunt/Shepperson Flag of the United States.svg 2 & 1Wettlaufer/Nicklaus
0Foursomes4
0Overall4

Saturday's singles

For the singles Dickson Smith replaced Arthur Perowne while Deane Beman replaced Bud Taylor. This meant that David Marsh was not selected for any matches. [9] [10]

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg & Flag of Ireland.svg Results Flag of the United States.svg
Joe Carr Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Ireland.svg 2 & 1Charles Coe
Guy Wolstenholme Flag of the United States.svg 9 & 8Harvie Ward
Reid Jack Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Ireland.svg 5 & 3Billy Joe Patton
Doug Sewell Flag of the United States.svg 4 & 3Bill Hyndman
Alec Shepperson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Ireland.svg 2 & 1Tommy Aaron
Michael Bonallack Flag of the United States.svg 2 upDeane Beman
Michael Lunt Flag of the United States.svg 6 & 5Ward Wettlaufer
Dickson Smith Flag of the United States.svg 5 & 4Jack Nicklaus
3Singles5
3Overall9

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References

  1. "Walker Cup nominees". Glasgow Herald . 15 November 1958. p. 7.
  2. "Britain's Walker Cup team for Muirfield". Glasgow Herald . 16 April 1959. p. 9.
  3. "Smith in Walker Cup side". Glasgow Herald . 28 April 1959. p. 9.
  4. "Saddler and Thirlwell Cup reserves". Glasgow Herald . 1 May 1959. p. 11.
  5. "1959 – HCEG Muirfield". walkercup.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  6. Horne, Cyril (2 February 1959). "Coe to lead U.S. Walker Cup team". Glasgow Herald . p. 4.
  7. "Americans' arrival at Turnhouse". Glasgow Herald . 9 May 1959. p. 9.
  8. Horne, Cyril (16 May 1959). "Britain loses Walker Cup foursomes". Glasgow Herald . p. 1.
  9. Horne, Cyril (18 May 1959). "Americans again win Walker Cup". Glasgow Herald . p. 3.
  10. Rey, Jr., Joseph C. (June 1959). "A bonus of value in the Walker Cup" (PDF). USGA Journal and Turf Management: 8.