Northwestern University Athletics
Luke Donald is Perfect for Great Britain/Ireland
9/12/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 12, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. - Luke Donald, a junior-to-be at Northwestern University who won the NCAA individual championship last spring, won all four of his matches as Great Britain & Ireland defeated the United States, 15-9, for golf's Walker Cup Sunday afternoon at the Nairn (Scotland) Golf Club.
It marked just the fifth time in 37 attempts that GB&I has won the event. The U.S. has won the Walker Cup 31 times, and the teams tied once before.
Started in 1922, the Walker Cup is one of golf's most prestigious awards, as it pits the top amateurs from the U.S. against the top amateurs from Great Britain and Ireland.
Donald, a native of England, was 2-0 in individual match play and also teamed with Paul Casey to record a pair of foursome match-play wins. Sparked by the play of those two players ? Casey also went 2-0 in individual match play ? GB&I overcame a 7-5 first-day deficit to win going away.
On Saturday, Donald and Casey started off the day with a 5 and 3 victory over Jonathan Byrd and Steve Scott, and then in individual match play Donald did not allow Tom McKnight to win a hole en route to a 4 and 3 victory.
Down 7-5 after Saturday's play, GB&I roared back to take three of four foursome matches Sunday morning to knot the match. Donald and Casey defeated reigning U.S. amateur champ David Gosset and Tim Jackson, 1 up.
It was all GB&I in Sunday afternoon's individual matches, as the Brits took seven of the eight matches to close out the match. Donald was again victorious, defeating Georgia Tech's Bryce Molder, 3 and 2.
Donald will join his Northwestern teammates in time for the Wildcats' first tournament, the Ping Preview, which will take place this weekend at Auburn, Ala. The Wildcats finished third at last year's NCAA Championships and are ranked ninth in the College Golf Foundation's preseason poll. Donald is the top-ranked individual by the CGF.
