Akina makes Walker Cup debut as Team USA falls to Great Britain and Ireland, 13.5-12.5

LAHINCH, Ireland — Team USA fell to Team Great Britain and Ireland, 13.5-12.5, at the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club on Sunday, with BYU men’s golfer Kihei Akina finishing with a 1-1-1 record in his Walker Cup debut.

After falling in their Saturday Foursomes match, Akina and teammate Jay Leng Jr. rebounded with a 4-and-3 victory on Sunday morning in Foursomes. Akina then halved his Sunday Singles match to conclude his Walker Cup debut.

“I’m proud of the way I handled myself in all the conditions,” Akina said. “I’m also proud of the way our team fought throughout the tournament. It was an unforgettable experience, and it was an honor to represent the United States.”

Akina and Leng opened the Walker Cup with a 1-down loss to Great Britain and Ireland’s Connor Graham and Tyler Weaver in Saturday’s foursomes. The American duo fell 1 down after the opening hole before evening the match on No. 7.

The teams went back and forth, trading holes 12 and 13 to keep the match square before Graham and Weaver regained the lead by winning No. 16. The Great Britain and Ireland duo held on to win the match.

Akina did not participate in Saturday’s singles matches.

In Sunday Foursomes, Akina and Leng rebounded with a 4-and-3 victory over Great Britain and Ireland’s Luke Poulter and Sam Easterbrook. The Americans won the sixth and seventh holes to take a 2-up lead before the turn. Akina and Leng added another victory on No. 10 before sealing the match by winning No. 15.

With Akina and Leng’s victory, Team USA won all four of Sunday’s foursomes matches for the first time since 2007.

Akina then halved his Sunday Singles match against Niall Sheils Donegan to complete his tournament run. Akina won the third and fifth holes before a bogey on No. 8 cut his lead, making the turn 1 up.

The rising sophomore traded wins with Sheils Donegan on Nos. 10 and 11 before Sheils Donegan’s eagle on No. 12 squared the match. After the players exchanged holes on 15 and 16, Akina’s birdie putt on the final hole lipped out to end the match all-square.

“It was an incredible experience watching Kihei compete in the Walker Cup,” BYU men’s golf head coach Todd Miller said. “It had all the feels of a Ryder Cup, and Kihei handled it beautifully. The Walker Cup coaches, pros, caddies and galleries spoke highly of Kihei. It would have been great for Kihei and Team USA to leave Ireland with a win, but the experience will just prepare him for bigger things to come.”

Great Britain and Ireland won six of 10 Singles matches Sunday to finish with 13.5 points and win the Walker Cup, while the United States earned 12.5 points.

The victory moved the all-time series to 40-10-1 in favor of the United States and marked Great Britain and Ireland’s first Walker Cup victory since 2015.