U.S. trails Britain & Ireland at Walker Cup

ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) — The United States got off to a slow start in the 43rd Walker Cup on Saturday, losing three of the first four matches against Britain & Ireland. Patrick Cantlay and Chris Williams got the only point for the U.S., winning 5 and 3 against Steve Brown and Stiggy Hodgson in their foursome at Royal Aberdeen. Despite the grey, damp conditions, large crowds came out for the opening contest as Tom Lewis and Michael Stewart beat Peter Uihlein and Harris English 2 and 1. Jack Senior and Andy Sullivan then defeated Russell Henley and Kelly Kraft by same score. Paul Cutler and Alan Dunbar claimed the biggest victory of the session, 5 and 4 over Nathan Smith and Blayne Barber. The Irish pair were 2 up after three holes, then lost 4, 5 and 6 to pars to go one down, only to birdie 7 and 8 to get back in front. They won four holes in a row from the turn, and a half at the 14th was enough to win the match. Senior and Sullivan never trailed. They lost No. 10 when Senior drove out of bounds, but he made amends by holing a 30-footer for a winning birdie on the short 11th and Sullivan restored their three-hole lead with a 15-foot birdie on No. 12. Cantlay and Williams grabbed the lead with a winning par at the short third, then birdied four more to move to 5 up at the turn. The next four holes were halved, and Britain & Ireland got one back with a winning par at the 14th. But the U.S. got a par on No. 15 to secure the point.