On the 28 -29 August 1922,  the first Walker Cup Match, was held at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, New York. The United States won 8 to 4. 

There had been heavy rain for several days before the event and course was very wet.

In February 1922 the USGA sent an invitation to the R&A to send a team representing the British Isles to America to play a match against a team representing the USGA. It was suggested that 10 players-a-side would be a suitable number.

The Invitation to play the International Match was accepted, and the R&A appealed to clubs to subscribe to a fund to finance the expense, estimated at £2,000 to £3,000. 

The British team left Liverpool on 3 August on the Carmania and returned to Southampton on 19 September on the Aquitania. 

There were eight players in each team. Four 36-hole matches of foursomes were played on Monday, August 28 and eight singles matches on Tuesday, August 29. Matches level after 36 holes were played to a finish.

US Team:

Playing captain: William C. Fownes, Jr.

Chick Evans, Robert A. Gardner, Jesse Guilford, Bobby Jones, Max Marston, Francis Ouimet, Jess Sweetser

GB Team:

Playing captain:  Robert Harris [Scotland]

Colin Aylmer [England], John Caven [Scotland], Chubby Hooman [England], Willis Mackenzie [Scotland], Cyril Tolley [England], William Breck Torrance [Scotland], Roger Wethered [England], Reserve: Bernard Darwin [England].

Darwin, the golf correspondent of The Times, travelled with the team and became the official reserve.  He was added to the team when the captain Harris could not play, having been bitten by a giant sandfly.  Darwin played the American captain, Fownes, in the final singles match, which he won by 3 and 1. 

Results: Foursomes: US 3 GB 1 Singles: US 5- GB 3 – Result: US 8 – GB 4

28 August. 2019