The Irish and British amateur golfers retained the Walker Cup after a thrilling final day saw them make a stunning comeback after starting the day playing catch-up to the American team.
Trailing by two points going into the concluding eight singles matches, they turned things around and won 12 1/2 - 11 1/2 to take the trophy for a third successive time.
With the sides level at 11-11, it was Stuart Manley and Nigel Edwards who claimed the decisive victories with Manley getting the better of Trip Kuehne three and two to ensure the cup was retained. Then Edwards knocked in a 60-foot birdie putt on the 17th to draw level with Lee Williams and managed to clinch a half on the last to make it a first-ever hat-trick of wins.
Team captain Garth McGimpsey was overjoyed with the result and said: "I don't know why we leave it so late. I was a shattered man yesterday and not in my wildest dreams did I think we could pull it off. I put Nigel and Stuart out last because we thought they were real streetfighters and they produced the goods."
Chairman of selectors Peter McEvoy, who captained the last two sides echoed McGimpsey's comments and said: "It's not very often you have the chance to make some history in your life and this was the hardest of the lot."
Filed by Rob Wright
