Shropshire Star

Unbeaten Chesters stars in Walker Cup

Shropshire golf star Ashley Chesters finished undefeated as Great Britain & Ireland secured a record-breaking victory over United States in the Walker Cup.

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Chesters, who plays out of Hawkstone Park, won three of his four matches at the prestigious two-day tournament.

They halved the other, as GB & I triumphed 16.5-9.5 at Royal Lytham & St Anne's. Those efforts helped the home side record their highest ever points tally in the competition.

His 3 & 1 victory over Jordan Niebrugge in yesterday afternoon's singles session was one of the final nails in the coffin, as the GB & I won with six games to spare.

The home side had led 10-6 after the morning foursomes, in which Chesters and Jimmy Mullen defeated Denny McCarthy and Beau Hossler 3 & 2.

On day one, the same pair had put away Maverick McNealy and Hunter Stewart by the same score and Chesters then followed it up by halving his singles match with 2015 US Amateur Champion Bryson De Chambeau.

GB & I captain Nigel Edwards, who led his side to victory for the second time in three attempts, said: "It's great.

"At Royal Aberdeen (in 2011) we were up against it until the death, but the boys at the top of the order went out fast as we needed them to do."

Chesters' foursomes partner Mullen became the first GB & I player to have a perfect 4-0 record since Paul Casey and Luke Donald at Nairn in 1999.

Chesters' superb achievement capped a fine day for amateur golf in Shropshire, which saw three other top amateurs secure top 10 finishes at the Champion of Champions event at Woodhall Spa.

Bridgnorth's Conor White came second in the boys' tournament on Saturday, finishing three shots behind winner Christopher Handy of Durham having shot four over par

His Bridgnorth club-mate Paul McGarry finished sixth in the senior men's competition, which finished yesterday.

His eight over par 150 placing him just five shots behind winner Keith Waters of Surrey. Wrekin's Will Enefer came ninth in the men's event, six shots behind Cumbrian winner William Bowe.

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