The 47th Walker Cup matches at Royal Liverpool GC got off to a fine start this morning at Hoylake with each match finishing on the 17th green and the score was 2-2. The biannual amateur match between Great Britain and Ireland and the United States started in benign conditions.

European Tour winner Matt Fitzpatrick was in the gallery of his younger brother Alex who partnered Conor Purcell to a 2&1 victory over Andy Ogiltree and John Augenstein. The United States Team gained the next point with John Pak, who admitted to being nervous playing in front of the large galleries, and Isiah Sakunda who beat Sandy Scott and Euan Walker.

GB&I’s Harry Hall and Connor Gough took the third point 2&1 beating Stewart Hagestad and Akshay Bhatia and Brandon Wu and Alex Smalley won 2&1 against Tom Sloman and Thomas Plumb.

The afternoon singles draw is as follows:

United States vs. Great Britain & Ireland
Cole Hammer vs. Alex Fitzpatrick
Steven Fisk vs. Euan Walker
Andy Ogletree vs. Sandy Scott
John Augenstein vs. Conor Purcell
John Pak vs. James Sugrue
Isaiah Salinda vs. Conor Gough
Alex Smalley vs. Caolan Rafferty
Brandon Wu vs. Tom Sloman

This means that all 12 men on both sides will have played on the first day.