Walker Cup: Gary Wolstenholme became Britain and Ireland's record points holder in the Walker Cup as he helped Garth McGimpsey's side stay on course for a fourth successive victory in the event at Chicago Golf Club. The 44-year-old, a veteran of six Walker Cup clashes, had been left out of the foursomes on Saturday and yesterday.
But the two-time amateur champion showed he remains a force to be reckoned with as he clung on for a narrow one-hole victory over US rival Anthony Kim in the opening singles tie of the final day. Kim had been unbeaten in his three previous matches over the weekend but the 20-year-old's impressive record was shattered by Wolstenholme, who posted Britain and Ireland's first point of the afternoon session and took them to within three-and-a-half points of retaining the cup.
The Englishman had powered into a commanding four-hole advantage after 11 holes but Kim slowly began to chip away at that lead and when Wolstenholme double bogeyed the 17th he was only one up coming down the last. The Britain and Ireland stalwart overshot the green with his approach to the 18th but having pitched back to four feet, Wolstenholme rolled home the putt to secure the win.
Wolstenholme has 10 points from 19 Walker Cup ties, eclipsing Michael Bonallack who plundered nine-and-a-half points from his 25 cup ties.
The visiting side produced a battling display in Saturday's afternoon singles encounters and are just a single point behind the US, who lead 6½- 5½ at the halfway stage. Trailing their hosts 2½-1½ after the mornings foursomes, Wales' Rhys Davies got Britain and Ireland off to the perfect start in the opening singles tie in the afternoon as he defeated Florida's Matthew Every to win 4 and 3.
Davies' fellow Welshman Nigel Edwards did not fare as well as he fell to a 5 and 4 defeat at the hands of Jeff Overton. Gary Lockerbie's day also took a turn for the worse as he was beaten 6 and 5 by Kim.
It had been an turbulent opening to the afternoon session for the Britain and Ireland side but Matthew Richardson raised spirits with a rousing 5 and 4 win over Nick Thompson. Oliver Fisher plundered a point for the holders with four birdies in the last five holes against Michael Putnam, and win by two holes.
Lloyd Saltman had a narrow win over Billy Hurley. The 19-year-old, who partnered his fellow Scot Richie Ramsay to a 4 and 3 win over Hurley and Kyle Reifers in the morning's foursomes, rubbed salt into the Americans' wounds as he completed a double triumph with a one hole win in the singles.
Wolstenholme went down to a battling one hole defeat to John Holmes as Lee Williams beat amateur champion Brian McElhinney 2 and 1 in the day's final tie.
