Augenstein Clinches Walker Cup

Senior John Augenstein wins singles match 4 and 3 to clinch match for the United States

HOYLAKE, England – Vanderbilt senior John Augenstein once again showed his match-play prowess on Sunday at the 47th Walker Cup, clinching the match for the United States at Royal Liverpool with his 4 and 3 win over Thomas Plumb. Augenstein, one of only four American players to play in all four of the matches, posted a record of 2-1-1 at the competition over the weekend.

“I did not know that my match this afternoon was the clinching point,” said Augenstein. “You know, when I was on the tee box, I did look at my caddie and say, this could be the clinching point because I had seen the scoreboard on 13 and I knew there was a lot of red up there and I didn’t know when those matches were going to be closed out or whatnot, but I felt like it was going to be somewhere close. But yeah, I mean, it really doesn’t matter who clinches it. The fact is that we’re a team and we won the Walker Cup for each other and for the United States and whoever else that we’re representing. It was really cool, and it was a special moment, but I did not know exactly that I had clinched it.”

The United States trailed 7-5 entering the morning foursomes competition on Sunday morning, but earned 2½ of the four available points in foursomes and then dominated singles play in the afternoon, winning eight of the possible 10 points to take the match 15½ to 10½. The American win was the first on European soil since 2007, when the United States posted a 12½ to 11½ victory.

Augenstein halved his foursomes match this morning, playing alongside U.S. Amateur champion Andy Ogletree, and then won in the afternoon session, 4 and 3. The rising senior won his Saturday singles match, 2 and 1, against Conor Purcell, and dropped his opening foursomes match with Ogletree, 2 and 1, to Purcell and Alex Fitzpatrick.

“We are all so proud of John,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “This is a great day for that team and they certainly showed a lot of resilience in how they competed today. I am proud of how he represented his country, Vanderbilt University, and our golf family. We are really excited to see him and enjoy this moment with him.”

Schwab Finishes Second in Germany

Former Commodore great Matthias Schwab finished in a tie for second at the Porsche European Open in Hamburg, Germany, his third consecutive top-eight finish on the European Tour.

The Austrian finished one shot behind champion Paul Casey with a final total of 12-under-par 275 (67-72-70-66), and moved up 12 spots in the Race to Dubai standings to 44th.