University of North Carolina Athletics
Sheils Donegan Leads GB&I To Walker Cup Victory
September 7, 2026 | Men's Golf
Carolina's Niall Sheils Donegan earned two and a half points to help Great Britain & Ireland secure a 13.5 to 12.5 victory in the 2026 Walker Cup in Lahinch, Ireland.
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The United States led 9.5 to 6.5 after sweeping all four matches in foursomes Sunday morning, but GB&I won six of the 10 singles matches and tied two others for the decisive seven points in the final session.
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Sheils Donegan, who was representing Scotland, was one of three GB&I players to accumulate 2.5 points along with Ireland's Stuart Grehan and England's Eliot Baker. Two Americans, Ethan Fang and Miles Russell, also won 2.5 points over the two-day competition.
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The victory was GB&I's 10th (along with one tie) in 51 Walker Cups all-time.
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Sheils Donegan was one of six GB&I players to compete in all four sessions. He also played for GB&I in the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point.
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The second-team All-America and All-ACC honoree last year as a Tar Heel teamed with Josh Hill of the University of Tennessee Saturday morning to defeat Ryder Cowan and Josiah Gilbert 4&3.
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In the second session Saturday afternoon, Sheils Donegan came from two holes down to beat Tennessee freshman Tyler Watts, the No. 2-ranked amateur in the world 3&2 to earn his second full point for GB&I.
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Sheils Donegan and Hill were defeated Sunday morning as the U.S. built a three-point lead heading into the final 10 singles matches.
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In the final singles session, Sheils Donegan trailed BYU sophomore Kihei Akina by two holes through 10, but the UNC senior won the 11th and 12th holes to even the match. Akina went 1 up on 15, but Sheils Donegan bounced back immediately to tie the match on the 16th hole.
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The players halved the final two holes as their match ended in a draw but Sheils Donegan's half point proved to be part of the winning margin as Team GB&I had to compile 13.5 points to wrestle the Walker Cup from the Americans.
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The comeback was the largest ever by GB&I in the Walker Cup and was GB&I's first victory in the event since 2015.
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The United States led 9.5 to 6.5 after sweeping all four matches in foursomes Sunday morning, but GB&I won six of the 10 singles matches and tied two others for the decisive seven points in the final session.
Â
Sheils Donegan, who was representing Scotland, was one of three GB&I players to accumulate 2.5 points along with Ireland's Stuart Grehan and England's Eliot Baker. Two Americans, Ethan Fang and Miles Russell, also won 2.5 points over the two-day competition.
Â
The victory was GB&I's 10th (along with one tie) in 51 Walker Cups all-time.
Â
Sheils Donegan was one of six GB&I players to compete in all four sessions. He also played for GB&I in the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point.
Â
The second-team All-America and All-ACC honoree last year as a Tar Heel teamed with Josh Hill of the University of Tennessee Saturday morning to defeat Ryder Cowan and Josiah Gilbert 4&3.
Â
In the second session Saturday afternoon, Sheils Donegan came from two holes down to beat Tennessee freshman Tyler Watts, the No. 2-ranked amateur in the world 3&2 to earn his second full point for GB&I.
Â
Sheils Donegan and Hill were defeated Sunday morning as the U.S. built a three-point lead heading into the final 10 singles matches.
Â
In the final singles session, Sheils Donegan trailed BYU sophomore Kihei Akina by two holes through 10, but the UNC senior won the 11th and 12th holes to even the match. Akina went 1 up on 15, but Sheils Donegan bounced back immediately to tie the match on the 16th hole.
Â
The players halved the final two holes as their match ended in a draw but Sheils Donegan's half point proved to be part of the winning margin as Team GB&I had to compile 13.5 points to wrestle the Walker Cup from the Americans.
Â
The comeback was the largest ever by GB&I in the Walker Cup and was GB&I's first victory in the event since 2015.
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
Monday, September 07
Sunday, September 06
Sunday, September 06
Saturday, September 05