Ganton, England ? Britain-Ireland rallied to win the Walker Cup Sunday for an unprecedented third straight time in the 81-year-old amateur golf event.

By winning five of the eight singles Britain-Ireland defeated the United States, 121/2-111/2, in the closest match since 1989. The Americans led, 7-5, following Saturday’s play and 9-7 after Sunday’s foursomes.

“The team is down,” said nonplaying U.S. captain Bob Lewis, who won the Walker Cup four times as a player.

Gary Wolstenholme started the comeback at Ganton Golf Club and became the first Britain-Ireland player to win four Walker Cups.

“I was a shattered man yesterday and not in my wildest dreams did I think we could pull it off,” winning coach Garth McGimpsey said.

The Americans were beaten, 51/2-21/2, in singles Sunday. After Wolstenholme had beaten Casey Wittenberg 3 and 2, Oliver Wilson made a seven-foot putt at the last hole to edge Bill Haas by one hole and tie the match at 9.

Michael Skelton, 19, nudged Britain-Ireland ahead by beating Adam Rubinson 3 and 2, only for Matt Hendrix to make it 10-10. He needed just 14 holes for a 5 and 4 victory over Stuart Wilson.

Brock McKenzie regained the lead for the Americans with a 3 and 1 victory against Irishman Colm Moriarty. But it became 11-11 when David Inglis outplayed Ryan Moore, 4 and 3. Stuart Manley made sure the hosts retained the trophy by beating Trip Kuehne, 3 and 2, and Nigel Edwards remained unbeaten in three matches by halving his match with Lee Williams to clinch the victory.

Golfers from Team Britain and Ireland celebrate winning the Walker Cup, 121/2-111/2. The Walker Cup, which concluded Sunday at the Ganton Golf Club in Ganton, England, features the top amateur golfers from Britain and Ireland against the United States.