US Take 7-5 lead on first day

Hunter Haas and Tim Jackson each won a pair of matches Saturday to give the United States amateur team a 7-5 lead over the team from Great Britain and Ireland after the first day of the 37th Walker Cup Match at Nairn Golf Club.

The U.S. won 5 of 8 points in singles matches after splitting four foursomes (alternate shot) matches in the morning. The U.S. needs to win 5 of the 12 points available Sunday to win the Cup.

Other winners for the U.S. in singles matches were Ed Loar and Jonathan Byrd. Bryce Molder and 1999 U.S. Amateur champion David Gossett tied with their opponents.

Haas, the 1999 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, started birdie-eagle-birdie to jump out to a 2-up lead and kept pace for a win over reigning British Amateur champion Graeme Storm, 4 and 3, in one of eight afternoon singles matches. Earlier, he paired with 1998 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion John "Spider" Miller for a 1-up win over Storm and Graham Rankin, in one of four foursomes (alternate shot) matches.

Jackson, who also played on the 1995 U.S. Walker Cup team, joined with Gossett and won his foursomes match, 3 and 2. He then rallied to win the last four holes of his afternoon match to beat Lorne Kelly, 3 and 1.

"I thought if I could just get even, I felt I had an advantage because I love the last couple of holes," said Jackson.

A team is awarded one point for each match won. Each team is awarded a half point for a tied match. A total of 24 points are available, with a team needing 12.5 points to win the Walker Cup.

Play continues Sunday with four more foursomes matches and eight singles matches.

England natives Luke Donald and Paul Casey each won two matches Saturday to lead the Great Britain and Ireland.

Donald, who plays collegiately at Northwestern University where he won the 1999 NCAA individual title, never allowed USA's Tom McKnight to win a hole en route to a 4 and 3 win. Casey, who plays collegiately at Arizona State University, won the second hole and never trailed in beating Steve Scott, 4 and 3.

Earlier in the day Donald and Clark teamed to earn a 5 and 3 decision over Scott and Byrd.

"Halfway around the afternoon matches it looked like we would be2 or 3 points up," said Donald. "We'll have to play hard tomorrow. We're a bit disappointed right now."

Begun in 1922, the Walker Cup Match is played every other year, alternately in Great Britain and the United States. The next Match is set for Aug. 11-12, 2001, at Ocean Forest Golf Club on Sea Island, Ga.

Pairings

Foursomes

Ed Loar and Tom McKnight (USA) vs. Graeme Storm and Graham Rankin (GB&I)

Hunter Haas and John "Spider" Miller (USA) vs. Simon Dyson and Paddy Gribben (GB&I)

David Gossett and Tim Jackson (USA) vs. Paul Casey and Luke Donald (GB&I)

Matt Kuchar and Bryce Molder (USA) vs. Philip Rowwe and Gary Wolstenholme (GB&I)

Singles

Steve Scott (USA) vs. Graham Rankin (GB&I)

Ed Loar (USA) vs. Simon Dyson (GB&I)

John "Spider" Miller (USA) vs. Paul Casey (GB&I)

Jonathan Byrd (USA) vs. Graeme Storm (GB&I)

Bryce Molder (USA) vs. Luke Donald (GB&I)

Matt Kuchar (USA) vs. Philip Rowe (GB&I)

Hunter Haas (USA) vs. Paddy Gribben (GB&I)

David Gossett (USA) vs. Gary Wolstenhome (GB&I)