Ryder Cup countdown: Lindrick, 1957
Great Britain & Ireland hadn’t won a Ryder Cup for nearly a quarter of a century when they gathered at this parkland and moorland course near Worksop.
Dai Rees captained GB&I and Jack Burke Jnr an American side that was between eras in terms of superstar players – a scenario illustrated by the fact GB&I’s next win was not until the famous success at The Belfry in 1985!
Things didn’t start promisingly either, only Ken Bousfield and Rees claiming a point from the opening day’s four foursomes matches – which were played over 36 holes.
But in the singles, GB&I were transformed, starting with Eric Brown’s 4&3 win over the combustible Tommy Bolt and a 5&3 triumph for Peter Mills over US skipper Burke.
Peter Alliss slipped to GB&I’s only defeat – a 2&1 reverse to Fred Hawkins – in match three but Bousfield and Rees completed 100 per cent personal records with emphatic successes over Lionel Herbert and Ed Furgol.
Rees’ 7&6 win sparked a trio of wins ‘in the country’ for GB&I, with Bernard Hunt and Christy O’Connor seeing off Doug Ford and Dow Finsterwald by 6&5 and 7&6 respectively.
Harry Bradshaw and Dick Mayer halved the bottom match with the overall result settled.
