Aug. 13, 2001
SEA ISLAND, Ga. - Luke Donald, who graduated from Northwestern in June, went 3-1 over the weekend to help lead the Great Britain & Ireland team to a 15-9 win over the United States in the Walker Cup, amateur golf's version of the Ryder Cup.
The event was held at the Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, Ga. The GB&I win marked the first time the European contingent had defended its title -- GB&I also won in 1999. Overall, the U.S. leads the Walker Cup series, 31-6-1.
Donald began the tournament Saturday morning in the alternate-shot foursome match, losing with 19-year-old teammate Nick Dougherty to the U.S.'s Nick Cassini and Lucas Glover, 4 and 3. However, in the afternoon he came back in singles play to defeat 2000 U.S. Amateur champion Jeff Quinney, 5 and 3.
Donald and Dougherty started GB&I's march to the title on Sunday, defeating Erik Compton and John Harris 3 and 2 in the first foursome match of the day. In singles on Sunday afternoon, Donald got a measure of revenge on Glover, defeating the two-time All-American from Clemson, 3 and 2, in the first match of the afternoon.
GB&I overcame a 1-point deficit after Saturday's action, winning three of four foursome matches Sunday morning. They then took six of the eight singles matches in the afternoon, and halved another, to secure the victory.
Donald is scheduled to make his professional golf debut August 23 at the Reno-Tahoe Open.
For more information on the Walker Cup and its results, check out the Walker Cup website.