Cowboy Trio Helps U.S. Grab Lead At Walker Cup

Sept. 12, 2009

ARDMORE, Pa. - Oklahoma State's three representatives at the 2009 Walker Cup had a big opening day while helping the United States grab an 8-4 advantage over Great Britain and Ireland at Merion Golf Club.

Rickie Fowler, a two-time Walker Cup participant, was dominant in both of his matches. During the morning foursome matches, Fowler teamed with Alabama's Bud Cauley for a 6-and-5 win over Luke Goddard and Dale Whitnell. The American duo won four of the first five holes and cruised from there. Fowler and Cauley made the turn with a 4-up advantage before winning the 10th and closing out the match with a birdie at the 13th.

OSU sophomore Peter Uihlein teamed with Nathan Smith for a 1-up win over Gavin Dear and Matt Haines. The Americans trailed for most of the match after the GB & I pairing grabbed the lead on the fourth hole. Dear and Haines led through 11 before the Americans won the 12th with a par before giving up the lead on the next hole. Uihlein and Smith trailed with two holes remaining before closing with a pair of pars to win the match.

Fellow Cowboy sophomore Morgan Hoffmann teamed with Georgia product Brian Harman for a 2-and-1 win over Wallace Booth and Sam Hutsby. The Americans grabbed the lead on the first hole and led for all 17 holes of their match, but never led by more than two. With four holes remaining, the U.S. tandem parred the 15th and halved the next two holes to close out the match.

In singles action, Fowler rolled to a 7-and-6 triumph over Hutsby. Fowler won the first and never trailed, building his lead to 4 up at the turn before closing out the match with wins at Nos. 10, 11 and 12.

Hoffmann earned halved his match with Haines. The match was all square for 13 of its 17 holes and Hoffmann only led on one occasion. He birdied the par-4 16th to go 1 up before Haines squared the match on the next hole.

Uihlein took his first lead in his match against Tommy Fleetwood with a birdie at the par-5 second. He built the advantage to 4 up through 10 before Fleetwood won the 11th and 12th to cut the margin in half. Uihlein's lead dwindled to one at the 16th before he closed out the match with a birdie at the 17th.

Fowler and Cauley will be paired together tomorrow morning in foursome action against Stiggy Hodgson and Niall Kearney, while Uihlein and Smith will take on Chris Paisley and Dale Whitnell.

The event will conclude with singles matches in the afternoon. Fowler will take on Haines, while Uihlein and Hodgson will square off and be followed by Hoffmann and Wallace Booth.