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.
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. The team was announced on 15 April and included James Walker with Dickson Smith as the reserve. 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. A few days later Alan Thirlwell and Sandy Saddler were chosen as first and second reserves but were not required.
Great Britain and IrelandNameAgePreviousWalker CupsMatchesW–L–HWinningpercentage Gerald Micklem 47 Non-playing captain Michael Bonallack 24 1 0 0–0–0 – Joe Carr 37 6 12 3–8–1 29.17 Reid Jack 35 1 2 1–1–0 50.00 Michael Lunt 23 0 Rookie David Marsh 25 0 Rookie Arthur Perowne 29 2 3 0–3–0 0.00 Doug Sewell 29 1 2 1–1–0 50.00 Alec Shepperson 23 1 1 0–0–1 50.00 Dickson Smith 41 0 Rookie Guy Wolstenholme 28 1 2 1–0–1 75.00
The United States only selected a team of 9, which included a playing captain. The team was selected in early February. The American team arrived in Scotland on 8 May.
USANameAgePreviousWalker CupsMatchesW–L–HWinningpercentageCharles Coe – captain 35 3 5 1–3–1 30.00Tommy Aaron 22 0 RookieDeane Beman 21 0 RookieBill Hyndman 43 1 1 1–0–0 100.00Jack Nicklaus 19 0 RookieBilly Joe Patton 37 2 4 4–0–0 100.00Bud Taylor 42 1 2 2–0–0 100.00Harvie Ward 33 2 4 4–0–0 100.00Ward Wettlaufer 23 0 Rookie
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. & Results Jack/Sewell 1 upWard/TaylorCarr/Wolstenholme 1 upHyndman/AaronBonallack/Perowne 9 & 8Patton/CoeLunt/Shepperson 2 & 1Wettlaufer/Nicklaus 0 Foursomes 4 0 Overall 4
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. & Results Joe Carr 2 & 1Charles CoeGuy Wolstenholme 9 & 8Harvie WardReid Jack 5 & 3Billy Joe PattonDoug Sewell 4 & 3Bill HyndmanAlec Shepperson 2 & 1Tommy AaronMichael Bonallack 2 upDeane BemanMichael Lunt 6 & 5Ward WettlauferDickson Smith 5 & 4Jack Nicklaus 3 Singles 5 3 Overall 9
References