Double defeat for Lloyd Saltman at Royal Co Down

GB&I TAIL WAGS TO MAKE IT A 6-6
DRAW AT END OF FIRST DAY

Those pundits who predicted an easy home win for Great Britian & Ireland - ignoring the fact that the United States team had far more world-ranked top 10 amateurs in their ranks - were having to eat their words by the end of the first day of the Walker Cup match at Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle in Northern Ireland.
After rallying to share the morning foursomes 2-2, Colin Dalgleish's men took a mauling in the singles - Ireland's pin-up boy Rory McIlroy lost by one hole to Billy Horschel in the top match.
Lloyd Saltman's Scotland's pride and joy was well beaten 5 and 4 in the second singles by Ricky Fowler.
Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies stopped the landslide with a 5 and 4 win over Dustin Johnson but then the United went 6-3 ahead with wins by Knost and Jamie Lovemark over Daniel Willett and Llewellyn Matthews respectively.
Then the Great Britain & Ireland tail wagged to save the day. The home team won the last three ties to square the match at 6-6 going into the second and last day.
Noel Edwards, three up after 11 holes on Kyle Stanley, was pulled back to all square in the closing stages but the Welshman kept calm under pressure to triumph by one hole
Jamie Moul, one down with three to play against Chris Kirk, won two of them to finish one hole up. A great win against the odds.
David Horsey was one up after 12 holes on Wes Simpson and stayed that way to the finish. A gritty performance just when skipper Dalgleish needed it.

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS WEBSITE:

David Horsey had an extra reason for feeling joy and relief about bringing Britain and Ireland back on level terms at the end of the first day in the Walker Cup.
Horsey beat American Webb Simpson on the final green after losing the seventh hole on a breach of the rules.
With three games left the United States led 6-3, but Horsey's win when Simpson ran up a double bogey 7 followed winning birdies by Welshman Nigel Edwards and England's Jamie Moul.
Home captain Colin Dalgleigh commented of the three late points: "I think they're very likely to be very significant. It's geed everybody up and hopefully the momentum is on our side.
"We got off to a bad start in the morning and afternoon, but those last three games were absolutely crucial and to be 6-6 is absolutely great."
Rory McIlroy and Lloyd Saltman, the two highest profile members of the Britain and Ireland team, won only half a point between them, 18-year-old McIlroy three-putting from 25 feet to lose his singles on the final green.
"It would have been nice if they had won, but they didn't and we've got through today without them winning," said Dalgleigh.
"We always knew we had 10 great players. Rory wouldn't have felt very good if we had been a few points behind, but he's now feeling better about it."


SINGLES
GB&I names first
McIlroy lost to Horschel 1 hole.
Saltman lost to Fowler 5 and 4.
Davies bt Johnson 5 and 4.
Willett lost to Knost 2 holes.
L Matthews lost to J Lovemark 5 and 4.
N Edwards bt Stanley 1 hole.
Moul bt C Kirk 1 hole.
Horsey bt Simpson 1 hole.

GB&I 4, UNITED STATES 4

END OF FIRST DAY: GB&I 6, UNITED STATES 6

Scroll down to see the foursomes details