NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland (AP) -- Oklahoma State freshman Rickie Fowler and Florida junior Billy Horschel won both their matches Saturday as the United States and Great Britain & Ireland each made late rallies for a 6-6 tie in the Walker Cup.
The Americans staged a late comeback to split the four alternate-shot matches in the morning, and GB&I rallied late to split the eight singles matches in the afternoon at Royal County Down.
Webb Simpson delivered the biggest shot of the first day, making a 110-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole as he and Jonathan Moore escaped with a halve in the final match of alternate shot.
The Americans, who lead 32-7-1 in the Walker Cup, have not won overseas since 1991.
It looked as though they might take a big margin into the final round Sunday when they won four of the first five singles matches, with Fowler leading the way. One of three teenagers on the U.S. team, he easily handled Lloyd Saltman for a 5 and 4 victory to earn his second point. Fowler also teamed with Horschel in foursomes to beat Saltman and Rhys Davies.
Horschel had a tougher time in singles against Rory McIlroy, the Irish teen who was low amateur at the British Open. It appeared their match would be halved until McIlroy was too casual with his 3-foot par putt and missed it on the 18th, losing the match.
U.S. Amateur champion Colt Knost lost a 3-up lead before knocking in a 15-foot birdie on the 17th hole to regain the lead, then closing out Daniel Willet with a birdie on the 18th. NCAA champion Jamie Lovemark made his Walker Cup debut in singles, recovering from an early deficit to beat Llewellyn Matthews, 5 and 4.
That gave the United States a 6-3 lead, but GB&I rallied.
Nigel Edwards and Jamie Moul each record 1-up victories, Moul winning with a birdie on the final hole. The comeback was completed when David Horsey took down Simpson, who made bogey on the 18th hole.
"I think we had the advantage early in the afternoon, and as happens very often, Great Britain and Ireland played very well coming down the stretch," U.S. Captain Buddy Marucci said. "We have to be a little better at the close tomorrow. We have to be a little more mindful of getting 16, 17 and 18 going our way."
The final hole proved pivotal for the Americans in the morning, especially with Simpson's big putt. The Americans were down three holes with four to play, and still two down on the 17th when Moore holed a 25-foot birdie putt, followed by Simpson's eagle putt.
"It broke right at the beginning and left at the end," Simpson said. "It was such a cool thing. It looked good from about 10 feet out. I thought it was too hard at first."
Sunday's final round features four alternate-shot matches in the morning and eight singles in the afternoon. The United States, which won two years ago outside Chicago, needs to reach 12 points to retain the cup.
SATURDAY MORNING FOURSOMES:
Billy Horschel & Rickie Fowler, USA, def. Lloyd Saltman & Rhys Davies, GBI, 4 & 3
Colt Knost & Dustin Johnson, USA, vs. Rory McIlroy & Jonathan Caldwell, GBI, halved
John Parry & David Horsey, GBI, def. Trip Kuehne & Kyle Stanley, USA, 2 & 1
Webb Simpson & Jonathan Moore, USA, vs. Jamie Moul & Daniel Willett, GBI, halved
SATURDAY AFTERNOON SINGLES:
Billy Horschel, USA, def. Rory McIlroy, GBI, 1 hole
Rickie Fowler, USA, def. Lloyd Saltman, GBI, 5 & 4
Rhys Davies, GBI, def. Dustin Johnson, USA, 5 & 4
Colt Knost, USA, def. Daniel Willett, GBI, 2 holes
Jamie Lovemark, USA, def. Llewellyn Matthews, GBI, 5 & 4
Nigel Edwards, GBI, def. Kyle Stanley, USA, 1 hole
Jamie Moul, GBI, def. Chris Kirk, USA, 1 hole
David Horsey, GBI, def. Webb Simpson, USA, 1 hole
SUNDAY MORNING FOURSOMES:
Jonathan Caldwell & Rory McIlroy vs. Billy Horschel & Rickie Fowler
Rhys Davies & Nigel Edwards vs. Colt Knost & Dustin Johnson
Jamie Moul & Daniel Willett vs. Trip Kuehne & Jonathan Moore
David Horsey & John Parry vs. Chris Kirk & Jamie Lovemark
SUNDAY AFTERNOON SINGLES:
Rory McIlroy vs. Billy Horschel
Rhys Davies vs. Rickie Fowler
Daniel Willett vs. Colt Knost
Lloyd Saltman vs. Trip Kuehne
Jonathan Caldwell vs. Kyle Stanley
Nigel Edwards vs. Jonathan Moore
Jamie Moul vs. Jamie Lovemark
David Horsey vs. Webb Simpson
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
