The 1971 Walker Cup, the 23rd Walker Cup Match, was played on 26 and 27 May 1971, on the Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland. The event was won by Great Britain & Ireland 13 to 11, their first win in the event since 1938.

23rd Walker Cup Match
Dates26–27 May 1971
VenueOld Course at St Andrews
LocationSt Andrews, Scotland
Captains
United Kingdom
Republic of Ireland
13 11 United States
Great Britain & Ireland wins the Walker Cup
← 1969
1973 →

Although Great Britain and Ireland won all the first morning foursomes, the United States won six of the eight singles and held a one point lead after the first day.[1] The United States lead increased to two points after the second day foursomes. However Great Britain and Ireland won six of the eight singles matches to win the Walker Cup for the first time since World War II.[2]

Format

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The format for play on Wednesday and Thursday was the same. There were four matches of foursomes in the morning and eight singles matches in the afternoon. In all, 24 matches were played.

Each of the 24 matches was worth one point in the larger team competition. If a match was all square after the 18th hole extra holes were not played. Rather, each side earned ½ a point toward their team total. The team that accumulated at least 12½ points won the competition. If the two teams were tied, the previous winner would retain the trophy.

Teams

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Ten players for the United States and Great Britain & Ireland participated in the event. Great Britain & Ireland had a playing captain, while the United States had a non-playing captain.[3]

Great Britain & Ireland

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  &  
Playing captain:   Michael Bonallack

United States

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Captain: John M. Winters

Wednesday's matches

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Morning foursomes

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  &   Results  
Bonallack/Humphreys    1 up Wadkins/Simons
Green/Carr    1 up Melnyk/Giles
Marsh/Macgregor    2 & 1 Miller/Farquhar
Macdonald/Foster    2 & 1 Campbell/Kite
4 Foursomes 0
4 Overall 0

Afternoon singles

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  &   Results  
Charlie Green   1 up Lanny Wadkins
Michael Bonallack   1 up Vinny Giles
Geoff Marks   1 up Allen Miller
Scott Macdonald   3 & 2 Steve Melnyk
Roddy Carr halved Bill Hyndman
Warren Humphreys   1 up Jim Gabrielson
Hugh Stuart    3 & 2 John Farquhar
Rodney Foster   3 & 2 Tom Kite
Singles
Overall

Thursday's matches

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Morning foursomes

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  &   Results  
Marks/Green   1 up Melnyk/Giles
Stuart/Carr    1 up Wadkins/Gabrielson
Marsh/Bonallack   5 & 4 Miller/Farquhar
Macdonald/Foster halved Campbell/Kite
Foursomes
7 Overall 9

Afternoon singles

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  &   Results  
Michael Bonallack   3 & 1 Lanny Wadkins
Hugh Stuart    2 & 1 Vinny Giles
Warren Humphreys    2 & 1 Steve Melnyk
Charlie Green    1 up Allen Miller
Roddy Carr    2 up Jim Simons
George Macgregor    1 up Jim Gabrielson
David Marsh    1 up Bill Hyndman
Geoff Marks   3 & 2 Tom Kite
6 Singles 2
13 Overall 11

References

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  1. ^ Jacobs, Raymond (27 May 1971). "Americans hit back for lead after British clean sweep in foursomes". Glasgow Herald. p. 6.
  2. ^ Jacobs, Raymond (28 May 1971). "Britons stay the course and repeat Walker Cup triumph of 33 years ago". Glasgow Herald. p. 6.
  3. ^ "1971 – St. Andrews". walkercup.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2018.