1993 Walker Cup

Locals John Harris and Tim Herron Lead U.S. Team to Decisive Win

Interlachen hosted the 1993 Walker Cup, a prestigious biennial team competition including two days of singles and alternate-shot matches between the best male amateurs from the United States and Great Britain & Ireland. The first Walker Cup was played in 1922, and the U.S. team included Francis Ouimet, Chick Evans and a young and promising 20-year-old named Bobby Jones. Interlachen was an appropriate site for golf’s most-important amateur team event given the club’s eternal link to Jones. Coincidentally, the Walker Cup was named after George Herbert Walker.  It was Walker's son-in-law, Prescott Bush (father and grandfather to George H.W. and George W.), that was the rules official for the USGA that gave Jones a favorable ruling on the 17^th hole of the final round of the 1930 U.S. Open at Interlachen.

Interlachen extended the invitation to host the Walker Cup as soon as it learned the USGA was looking for a replacement site after Chicago Golf Club withdrew. When USGA officials were in town during the 1991 U.S. Open at Hazeltine National, Interlachen board members David Hays and Cal Simmons hosted USGA President Stu Block and Executive Director David Fay for a round of golf. After finishing 11 holes, Fay said he had seen enough to know he wanted to have the event at Interlachen. Short on time, they walked through the fence, crossed Interlachen Boulevard and returned to Hazeltine.

The Walker Cup at Interlachen had strong local appeal, with John Harris of Edina and Tim Herron of Wayzata leading the U.S. team to a decisive 19-5 victory, the largest winning margin in the event’s history. The American team, an effective mix of six college-age players and four seasoned veterans in their 40s, overpowered the young GB&I team. After the first day of singles matches, the U.S. team led 6 ½ to 3 ½.

The entire U.S. team played well for two days, but Harris and Herron stole the show by using power as well as delicate touch around the greens to win a dramatic alternate-shot match during the morning of the second day.

One-down after 11 holes, Herron unleashed a 300-yard drive on the par-5 12^th. Harris hit a 1-iron from 245 yards onto the green. They won the hole with a two-putt birdie to square the match against Raymond Russell and Dean Robertson of Scotland. The Americans won Nos. 13 and 14 with pars to increase their lead to 2-up, but then gave it back by losing Nos. 15 and 16. With the match tied at the long par-3 17^th, Harris hit his tee shot into the greenside bunker. But Herron blasted a clutch shot to three feet, and Harris made the putt to halve the hole.

With the match all square on the 18^th tee, Herron hit a perfect drive into the middle of the fairway. From 165 yards out, Harris pulled a 6-iron about 30 yards left of the green and into the trees. Herron had a small opening to the green, but his ball was nestled down into the trampled grass. Still he hit another incredible shot again within three feet of the hole on one of the course’s most severe greens. Harris then secured the match by making the putt for par, while the Scottish team made bogey.

“It was one of the best shots I’ve ever seen under that kind of pressure,” Harris said. (St. Paul Pioneer Press, Aug. 20, 1993).

The U.S. team won each of its four foursomes matches the second morning, demonstrating great play but also sound strategy by captain Vinny Giles, who paired a young player with a veteran in three of the four matches. Following the alternate-shot matches, the Americans had increased their lead to 10 ½ to 3 ½ and needed only two points in the afternoon singles matches to retain the Cup. Harris, playing in the second match, clinched the victory by defeating British Amateur champion Iain Pyman on the 16^th hole. That match included the only eagle of the event, when Harris made a 40-foot putt on the par-5 first hole.

Although Harris’ singles victory grabbed the spotlight, Herron also won that afternoon by defeating Van Phillips, 3 and 2. Both Minnesota players were undefeated in the event. Herron’s other point was earned in the first-day singles when he beat Padraig Harrington, 1-up.

Spectators were treated to an impressive display of amateur golf that week. Following the Walker Cup, several of the contestants went on to successful professional careers on the PGA and Champions Tours including locals John Harris and Time Herron, Justin Leonard, Allen Doyle, and Padraig Harrington.

Written by Christine Geer Dean

1993 Walker Cup - Tim Herron

1993 Walker Cup - John Harris and Tim Herron

Day 1 Results:

Day 2 Results:

1993 Walker Cup - American Team