Great Britain and Ireland forced a two point advantage over the USA in an oustanding first day of the Walker Cup at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Nigel Edwards’ team raced out to a 3-1 foursomes win the morning and then split the eight singles in the afternoon as they managed to stall an attempted comeback by Spider Miller’s powerful USA team.
A big change in weather conditions from the practice days stronger winds and heavy overnight rain slowing the pace of the greens initially unsettled the Americans and they had a near disaster in the morning play.
Better weather and a drying wind in the afternoon saw the visitors settle down a little, but there was no question Edwards would be the happier captain at the team dinners.
There were plenty stars for the home side, the pairing of Jack McDonald and Cormac Sharvin both University of Stirling players combining for a 5 and 4 thrashing of Jordan Niebrugge and Robby Shelton.
It seemed the US team were unprepared for the change in conditions, struggling with the pace of the greens and not adjusting their ball flight to the stronger wins.
Niebrugge the top amateur at the Open in July and Shelton were seven-over for 14 holes and the first pairing of Maverick McNealy and Hunter Stewart were probably one stroke worse in losing to the English duo of Ashley Chesters and Jimmy Mullen 3 and 2.
Jack Hume and Gavin Moynihan also won their match against Lee McCoy and Mike McCoy 3 and 2, requiring Beau Hossler and Denny McCarthy to keep the US on the scoreboard with their win over Irish duo Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley.
In the afternoon play at one point GB&I were up in five matches and square in two others, with a chance to build a sizeable lead, but the US finally showed real signs of fight.
Their No 1 player Bryson DeChambeau scarped a half with Ashley Chesters in an entertaining match while Stewart delivered a second defeat to Dunne with five birdies and an eagle on his card.
When Scott Harvey holed a monster birdie putt on 17 to defeat Scot Grant Forrest, the US looked to have a chance to get back on level terms on the day but first Mullen and then Bearsden’s Ewen Ferguson secured points to keep GB&I on track.
The 19-year-old Scot holed a nervy four-footer on the last to take the notable scalp of the World Ranked No 2 McNealy after leading him all the way from the second hole.
Moynihan, the only GB&I team member with previous Walker Cup experience, beat Niebrugge 4 and 2 and when Hurley shared a half with Shelton after a game that fluctuated wildly both ways, GB&I’s two point lead from lunch was safe.