Stuart Wilson hoping to ‘get the nod’ for 2023 Walker Cup captaincy at St Andrews

GB&I captain Stuart Wilson, right, with his US opposite number Nathaniel Crosby, left, and 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus ahead of the concluding singles session in the Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. Picture: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images.

Stuart Wilson is hoping for a second crack at the Walker Cup captaincy at St Andrews in 2023 after ending a run of one-sided matches against the Americans on US soil.

While disappointed not to join Geoff Marks (1989) and Peter McEvoy (2001) as a triumphant GB&I captain on the other side of the Atlantic, it was a heartening effort in the event’s 48th edition at Seminole for the Forfar man.

Trailing 7-5 after the opening day, the visitors won the morning foursomes 2.5-1.5 at the ultra-private Florida venue before eventually succumbing 14-12 to a US side led by Nathaniel Crosby, Bing’s son.

It was a third consecutive victory for the US in the biennial event, but, at the same time, Wilson watched his side make their opponents sweat on home soil for the first time since 2005.

A team containing both Richie Ramsay and Lloyd Saltman lost by just a point on that occasion in Chicago before subsequent heavy defeats at Merion (12.5-11.5 in 2005), National Golf Links of America (17-9 in 2013) and Los Angeles Country Club (19-7 in 2017).

The next encounter is on the Old Course at St Andrews in two years’ time, with Wilson, who won the 2004 Amateur Championship there, hoping he’s still at the helm

“Hopefully I'll get the nod to be captain again,” said the Scot. “It would be great to do one in Scotland, and then obviously even more special being at the Old Course. Like I said in the closing speech, we'll be ready and waiting.”

Players on both teams were hit by a bout of food poisoning, which meant Joe Long, the Amateur champion, was only able to play in the final session.

The Englishman won on the last along with Matty Lamb, Angus Flanagan and Jack Dyer, but US victories at the bottom of the order from Cole Hammer and Stewart Hagestad ultimately decided the outcome.

“It's been a great weekend of golf,” he said. “It's the Walker Cup, after all. The guys have come out fighting and tried to acquit themselves as best they can. But hats off to the USA team and Nathaniel for pulling the victory off.”

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