Largest Margins of Victory in Walker Cup Singles Matches

Winning a singles match in the Walker Cup is certainly a feather in the cap for any golfer, probably among the highlights of one's amateur career. The golfers on the list below, though, didn't just win — they won by these singles matches by a lot.

The Walker Cup Match is contested by two teams of amateur male golfers, one representing Great Britain & Ireland, one representing the United States. The competition dates to 1922. From then through the 1961 Walker Cup, all matches were scheduled for 36 holes. Beginning with the 1963 Walker Cup, all matches are scheduled for 18 holes.

Biggest Winning Margins, 18-Hole Singles

• 9 and 7 — Scott Hoch (USA) def. Jimmy Buckley (GB&I), 1979 Walker Cup, Muirfield, Scotland
• 8 and 7 — Doug Clarke (USA) def. John Davies (GB&I), 1979 Walker Cup, Muirfield, Scotland
• 8 and 6 — Cameron Tringale (USA) def. Luke Goddard (GB&I), 2009 Walker Cup, Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania

If you think the fact that the two largest winning margins in the history of 18-hole singles matches in the Walker Cup were recorded by American golfers in 1979 suggests an easy Team USA victory that year, you are correct. The United States defeated Great Britain & Ireland by a score of 15.5 to 8.5, although that was a fairly representative outcome for that Walker Cup era.

The record-holder, Scott Hoch, won by a 9-and-7 margin over Jimmy Buckley, meaning that Hoch reached a lead of 9-up with only seven holes remaining, ending the match after the 11th hole. Hoch went on to a long and lucrative PGA Tour career, winning 11 times, and also made two Team USA Ryder Cup squads. Buckley, from Wales, was the 1971 and 1972 Welsh National PGA Championship winner and never turned pro.

Biggest Winning Margins, 36-Hole Singles

• 13 and 12 — Bobby Jones (USA) def. Philip Perkins (GB&I), 1928 Walker Cup, Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois
• 12 and 11 — Bobby Jones (USA) def. Cyril Tolley (GB&I), 1926 Walker Cup, St. Andrews (Old Course), Scotland
• 12 and 11 — Bud Ward (USA) def. Frank Pennink (GB&I), 1938 Walker Cup, St. Andrews (Old Course), Scotland
• 11 and 10 — Watts Gunn (USA) def. Ronald Hardman (GB&I), 1928 Walker Cup, Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois

The legendary Bobby Jones set the record first in 1926, winning 12 and 11 over Cyril Tolley, then broke his own record — and set the record that still stands today — with a 13-and-12 victory over Philip Perkins in 1928. Jones was also the Team USA captain in 1928.

Another match from the 1928 Walker Cup, Watts Gunn's win over Ronald Hardman, also makes the list. That was not a good Cup year for Team GB&I — Team USA won that match by a final score of 11-1.

Perkins was the reigning British Amateur champion when he fell to Jones by the record margin. And after the 1928 Walker Cup, Perkins played his way into the championship match of the U.S. Amateur, only to find Jones waiting for him. It was another big win for Jones, 10 and 9. But those losses weren't the worst things that ever happened to Perkins: He was once taken hostage during a robbery, and the bad guys used him as a human shield in a shootout with cops.

Related articles:

• Scores of every Walker Cup match ever played
• Youngest and oldest Walker Cup golfers
• Golfers who won the most points in the Walker Cup

Sources:
United States Golf Association. Walker Cup, All-Time Records, Match Play, https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/media/online-media-center/usga-records/walker-cup-records.html.