The 1981 Walker Cup, the 28th Walker Cup Match, was played on August 28 and 29, 1981, at Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, California. The event was won by the United States 15 to 9.
The United States led 8–4 after the first day but Great Britain and Ireland won 3 of the 4 second-day foursomes to reduce the American lead to 9–7. Although Roger Chapman beat Hal Sutton in the top singles match, the United States won 5 and halved the other 2 of the remaining 7 matches for a comfortable victory.
Format The format for play on Friday and Saturday was the same. There were four matches of foursomes in the morning and eight singles matches in the afternoon. In all, 24 matches were played.
Each of the 24 matches was worth one point in the larger team competition. If a match was all square after the 18th hole extra holes were not played. Rather, each side earned ½ a point toward their team total. The team that accumulated at least 12½ points won the competition. If the two teams were tied, the previous winner would retain the trophy.
Teams Ten players for the United States and Great Britain & Ireland participated in the event plus one non-playing captain for each team.
United States
Captain: Jim Gabrielsen Ron Commans Frank Fuhrer III Jim Holtgrieve Bob Lewis Jodie Mudd Corey Pavin Joey Rassett Jay Sigel Hal Sutton Dick von Tacky
Great Britain & Ireland & Captain: Rodney Foster Roger Chapman Colin Dalgleish Peter Deeble Duncan Evans Geoffrey Godwin Ian Hutcheon Peter McEvoy Ronan Rafferty Philip Walton Paul Way
Friday's matches
Morning foursomes & Results Walton/Rafferty 4 & 2Sutton/SigelChapman/McEvoy 1 upHoltgrieve/FuhrerDeeble/Hutcheon 2 & 1Lewis/von TackyEvans/Way 5 & 4Commans/Pavin 1 Foursomes 3 1 Overall 3
Afternoon singles & Results Ronan Rafferty 3 & 1Hal SuttonColin Dalgleish 1 upJoey RassettPhilip Walton 1 upRon CommansRoger Chapman 2 & 1Bob LewisGeoffrey Godwin 1 upJodie MuddIan Hutcheon 4 & 3Corey PavinPaul Way 3 & 1Dick von TackyPeter McEvoy 4 & 2Jay Sigel 3 Singles 5 4 Overall 8
Saturday's matches
Morning foursomes & Results Chapman/Way 1 upSutton/SigelWalton/Rafferty 6 & 4Holtgrieve/FuhrerEvans/Dalgleish 3 & 2Lewis/von TackyHutcheon/Godwin 5 & 4Rassett/Mudd 3 Foursomes 1 7 Overall 9
Afternoon singles & Results Roger Chapman 1 upHal SuttonRonan Rafferty 2 & 1Jim HoltgrievePhilip Walton 4 & 2Frank Fuhrer IIIPaul Way 6 & 5Jay SigelColin Dalgleish 7 & 5Jodie MuddGeoffrey GodwinhalvedRon CommansPeter Deeble 4 & 3Joey RassettDuncan EvanshalvedCorey Pavin 2 Singles 6 9 Overall 15
References