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USA records first foursomes sweep since 2007, nears another Walker Cup title at Lahinch

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The United States didn’t leave any doubt Sunday morning at Lahinch.

The Americans swept the morning foursomes session at the 51st Walker Cup in Ireland to take a 3-point lead heading into Sunday singles. It’s the first time since 2007 that the USA has swept Sunday foursomes, and now the visitors need only 3½ points to retain the Walker Cup for the sixth straight time over their Great Britain & Ireland counterparts. The score sits at 9½-6½ with one session remaining.

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GB&I didn’t lead a single hole in any of the foursomes matches. A day after winning the session, the hosts couldn’t overcome a slew of American birdies, 21 in total, and one eagle, courtesy of world No. 1 amateur Preston Stout and a stellar drive on the par-4 13th hole to a couple feet.

Stout and Oklahoma State teammate Ethan Fang put the first point on the board with a 3-and-2 win. Then Jay Leng Jr. and Kihei Akina closed out their match, 4 and 3, putting the Americans in front. William Jennings then made a birdie on the 15th to help he and Ryder Cowan earn the third point with a 4-and-3 win, and the young duo of Miles Russell and Tyler Watts capped the session with a 3-and-2 victory.

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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch

Kihei Akina (USA) plays a shot on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.

(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)

“We kind of talked about it last night, we need to come out here and sweep every match this morning,” Stout said. “To be able to go out and get the first point on the board is huge, and walking around the course and seeing a bunch of red on the board was nice, too.”

The U.S. has now won 13 Day 2 foursomes sessions dating to 1963, when the two-day, four-session format was implemented. This is the third time (1963, 1993, 2007) the U.S. has swept the session.

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The Americans lead the Walker Cup all-time series, 40-9-1, and have won five straight. GB&I hasn’t won a Sunday Singles session since its 2015 victory at Royal Lytham & St. Annes and will need an even bigger victory (at least seven points) to defend home soil.

Walker Cup 2026 Sunday Singles pairings, tee times

All times ET, USA listed first with GB&I second

  • 8:35 a.m.: Preston Stout vs. Stuart Grehan

  • 8:45 a.m.: Ethan Fang vs. Luke Poulter

  • 8:55 a.m.: William Jennings vs. Jack Whaley

  • 9:05 a.m.: Jay Leng Jr. vs. Tyler Weaver

  • 9:15 a.m.: Kihei Akina vs. Niall Sheils Donegan

  • 9:25 a.m.: Stuart Hagestad vs. Eliot Baker

  • 9:35 a.m.: Miles Russell vs. Connor Graham

  • 9:45 a.m.: Tyler Watts vs. Josh Hill

  • 9:55 a.m.: Ryder Cowan vs. Ben Bolton

  • 10:05 a.m.: Josiah Gilbert vs. Sam Easterbrook

Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: USA records first foursomes sweep since 2007, nears another Walker Cup title at Lahinch



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