Americans Retain Walker Cup

Jonathan Moore hit a 4-iron from 250 yard to 3 feet to set up an eagle on the 18th hole that gave the American team the final point they needed to capture the 41st Walker Cup Match. They beat the Great Britain and Ireland team 12½ to 13½.

The 2007 Walker Cup Match was held at the 7,181-yard, par-71 Royal County Down course in Newcastle, in Northern Ireland. The U.S. victory was its first away from home in 16 years.

"I never dreamed it would get that close," Moore, of Vancouver, Wash., said of his clutch shot. "It came off perfect. This was the opportunity of a lifetime and I'm just really thankful."

The 19-year-old Moore beat 39-year-old Nigel Edwards of Wales 1-up, giving the Americans their second straight victory over GB&I. The U.S. team holds a 33-7-1 record in the series.

Moore, the 2006 NCAA champion from Oklahoma State, also contributed in the morning when the Americans swept the four alternate-shot matches to build a 10-6 lead.

But the tide of the afternoon singles matches turned in favor of GB&I. Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., was the only other American to win his match. The GB&I team won 4½ of the first 6 singles points to pull within a point with two matches still on the course. Moore won his match on the last hole. Simpson lost his match on the last hole, 1 down, but Moore's victory was just enough to carry the day for the Americans.