Tulsa World: U.S. claims Walker Cup

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U.S. claims Walker Cup
The Oklahoma State influence is heavy on the winning squad.

Former Oklahoma State golfer Rickie Fowler hits from the rough on the fifth hole during a pairs match at the Walker Cup on Sunday. Fowler and OSU golfer Peter Uihlein helped lead the U.S. to a win. Mel Evans / AP

By BOB LENTZ Associated Press
Published: 9/14/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 9/14/2009 5:44 AM

ARDMORE, Pa. — The United States won its third straight Walker Cup on Sunday, taking five singles matches and halving another for a 16 1/2-9 1/2 victory over Great Britain and Ireland at Merion Golf Club.

Rickie Fowler and Peter Uihlein won all four of their weekend matches for the U.S., and Cameron Tringale won in an 8-and-6 romp in the third-largest winning margin by a U.S. player in singles.

Uihlein is a sophomore at Oklahoma State, and Fowler also played at OSU.

Fowler's victory punctuated a solid amateur career. Tringale's victory ensured the U.S. would retain the title, and Uihlein's 3-and-1 victory over Stiggy Hodgson won it outright.

The U.S. team's margin of victory was the largest since an 18-6 win in 1997 at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. The Americans lead the series 34-7-1.

The U.S. team needed two points in the Sunday singles to retain the cup and 2 1/2 to win the championship after going 3-1 in the morning's alternate-shot matches that provided an 11-5 advantage.

Bud Cauley halved his singles with Chris Paisley and finished 3-0-1 for the U.S., which also got individual wins from OSU standout Morgan Hoffmann and Brendan Gielow.

George "Buddy" Marucci Jr., a Merion member, won his second straight title as U.S. captain. The 2008 U.S. Senior Amateur champion was a Walker Cup player, in 1995 and 1997.

Fowler and Uihlein starred for the U.S. squad.

Delaying turning pro until after his second straight Walker Cup, Fowler played the 18th hole just once, Sunday morning when he and Cauley prevailed 1-up.

The 20-year-old from Murrieta, Calif., closed out his amateur career on the 17th hole and got a hearty handshake and hug from Marucci. He finished with a 7-1 Walker Cup record, unbeaten in four foursomes, and 3-1 in singles.

"I don't think anybody has played for the U.S. team in the Walker Cup the way Rickie has," Marucci said.

The 20-year-old Uihlein, from Orlando, Fla., was one of the last two picks to the 10-man team. He teamed with Nathan Smith for a pair of alternate-shot victories and had wins of 2-and-1 and 3-and-1 in singles.

After three straight losses from 1999-2003, the Americans followed victories at Chicago Golf Club in Illinois and Royal County Down in Northern Ireland with a win at venerable Merion East, which was hosting a record 18th USGA championship.

Marucci's squad dominated on the same course where five-time U.S. Walker Cup member Bobby Jones played his first and last U.S. Amateur — completing the Grand Slam with the latter — and where Ben Hogan won the 1950 U.S. Open.

The Americans raced to a 3-1 lead after Saturday's alternate-shot matches and held an 8-4 edge after the first day following three wins and four halves in afternoon singles.

By BOB LENTZ Associated Press

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "OSU's Fowler, Uihlein lead U.S. in Walker Cup," which was published on 9/13/2009.

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