Stuart Grehan completed a three-hole comeback against world No. 1 amateur Preston Stout as Great Britain & Ireland took a 6½-5½ lead after Saturday at the Walker Cup.
The 33-year-old Irishman was three down after three holes and remained two behind with three to play at Lahinch. He won each of the final three holes, sealing a one-up victory with a putt on the 18th that drew a loud cheer from the home crowd.
Grehan played the round in 8-under par, with NCAA champion Stout seven under. Both players made low scores in a match that seemed to be moving towards the United States before Grehan’s late recovery.
Grehan delivers another comeback
Stout made two early birdies to establish his three-hole advantage, while a superb approach moved the American two up with only three holes remaining. Grehan then produced his best golf when the match reached its decisive stage.
He also brought valuable Lahinch experience into the match. Grehan won the South of Ireland Championship at the County Clare links in 2015, the same year GB&I last lifted the Walker Cup.
Captain Dean Robertson had identified Grehan’s experience and local knowledge as important assets within a team containing six returning players. His point against the highest-ranked player in the American side strengthened the hosts’ position in Saturday’s singles.
Singles points shared at Lahinch
GB&I entered the afternoon with a 2½-1½ advantage after winning two matches and halving another in the opening foursomes. The United States has not won the opening foursomes session at a Walker Cup since 2009.
The teams then divided the eight singles points evenly. Niall Sheils Donegan beat world No. 2 Tyler Watts 3&2 to become the first player at Lahinch to compile a 2-0 record, while Eliot Baker defeated Josiah Gilbert by the same margin.
Luke Poulter secured the fourth home victory by beating Miles Russell. Grehan, Sheils Donegan, Baker and Poulter accounted for GB&I’s four afternoon points.
The United States responded through Ethan Fang, Jay Leng Jr., William Jennings and Stewart Hagestad. Fang beat US Amateur champion Jack Whaley one up, while Leng defeated world No. 3 Tyler Weaver 2&1.
Jennings overturned a two-hole deficit with six remaining to beat three-time Walker Cup player Connor Graham one up. Hagestad improved his career Walker Cup singles record to 8-1 with a 2&1 victory.
GB&I need seven points on Sunday
Four foursomes and ten singles remain, leaving 14 points available on Sunday. GB&I require seven to win the trophy for the first time since their 16½-9½ victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2015.
The United States need 7½ points to retain the Walker Cup. The Americans have won the past five matches.
Sunday’s foursomes begin at 8am BST, followed by the ten singles from 1.30pm. Every match will be available live through the options listed in our Walker Cup viewing guide.
Saturday Foursomes |
|||||
| USA | GB&I | ||||
| Match | Player | Result | Player | ||
| 1 | Stout, Preston Fang, Ethan |
Halved | Grehan, Stuart Baker, Eliot |
||
| 2 | Leng Jr., Jay Akina, Kihei |
1 Hole | > |
Graham, Connor
Weaver, Tyler |
|
| 3 | Russell, Miles Watts, Tyler |
< | 1 Hole |
Poulter, Luke
Easterbrook, Sam |
|
| 4 | Gilbert, Josiah Cowan, Ryder |
4&3 | > |
Sheils Donegan, Niall
Hill, Josh |
|
Saturday Singles |
|||||
| Match | Player | Result | Player | ||
| 1 | Stout, Preston | 1 Hole | > | Grehan, Stuart | |
| 2 | Fang, Ethan | < | 1 Hole | Whaley, Jack | |
| 3 |
Jennings, William
|
< | 1 Hole | Graham, Connor | |
| 4 | Leng Jr., Jay | < | 2&1 | Weaver, Tyler | |
| 5 |
Hagestad, Stewart
|
< | 2&1 | Bolton, Ben | |
| 6 | Russell, Miles | 2&1 | > | Poulter, Luke | |
| 7 | Watts, Tyler | 3&2 | > | Sheils Donegan, Niall | |
| 8 | Gilbert, Josiah | 3&2 | > | Baker, Eliot | |
All to play for.
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 5, 2026
Here are the tee times for Sunday Foursomes. pic.twitter.com/sSDqcatKKZ
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Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.