Cowboy Trio Helps U.S. Retain Walker Cup

Sept. 13, 2009

ARDMORE, Pa. - Oklahoma State's threesome of Rickie Fowler, Morgan Hoffmann and Peter Uihlein continued to shine at the Walker Cup on Sunday at Merion Golf Club. The trio helped the Americans knock off Great Britain and Ireland, 16.5-9.5, giving the U.S. its third consecutive Walker Cup victory.

The OSU threesome was dominant throughout the event, finishing with a 10-0-1 combined mark and 10.5 points to outscore the GB and I team on its own.

"This is why I stuck around," Fowler said. " I think a lot of the guys knew it was a cool thing and a cool experience to be in the Walker Cup, but now that they are experiencing it, they know why I stuck around."

The foursome pairing of Uihlein and Nathan Smith once again proved effective as the duo cruised to a 5-and-4 victory over Chris Paisley and Dale Whitnell. The Americans took three of the first four holes and never let up. With a 4-up lead heading to the back nine, Uihlein and Smith won Nos. 10 and 11 before halving two of the next three holes to close out the match.

The pairing of Rickie Fowler and Bud Cauley also appeared for the second-straight day. The American duo knocked off Stiggy Hodgson and Niall Kearney, 1 up. The victory gave the U.S. wins in three of the four morning matches and sent the Americans into the afternoon singles with an 11-5 advantage.

All three OSU players were in action during the afternoon singles matches.

Fowler, who plans to make his professional debut this week at the Nationwide Tour's Albertsons Boise Open, improved to 4-0 in the event with a 2-and-1 victory over Matt Haines. The two-time All-American won the first hole and never trailed. Haines squared the match before Fowler grabbed the lead for good on the sixth hole. He built his margin to 3 up through 12 before Haines won back-to-back holes to get within one. Fowler answered with a par to win the 15th and closed out the match with halves over the next two holes.

Uihlein closed out the event with a 4-0 mark as well after defeating Stiggy Hodgson, 3 and 1. Like Fowler, Uihlein grabbed the lead on the first hole and never trailed in his match. Hodgson battled back to all square on two occasions before the Cowboy sophomore took the lead for good at the seventh. Uihlein held a 1-up lead with three two play before winning Nos. 16 and 17 to close out the match.

Hoffmann tallied a 2-0-1 mark after a 1-up victory over Wallace Booth. Hoffmann raced out to a 3-up lead through four before Booth answered by taking two of the next three. Booth squared the match with a birdie at the 10th and took his first lead with a par at the 11th. Hoffmann squared the match with a par at the 16th and regained the lead with a win at the 17th before halving the 18th to earn a team point for the Americans.