Kilkenny’s Mark Power and Kinsale’s John Murphy played a key role as Great Britain and Ireland went toe-to-toe with a powerful USA squad and were unlucky to trail 5-7 after the opening day of the 48th Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Florida.

The R&A is confident it can overcome the problems produced by the COVID-19 pandemic and select a competitive Great Britain and Ireland side to take on the United States in the Walker Cup at Seminole from May 8-9.