Wolstenholme broke a points record but ended on the losing side

The visitors were aiming for a fourth successive Walker Cup triumph.

But Jeff Overton's one-hole win against Nigel Edwards handed the US the trophy for the first time since 1997.

Gary Wolstenholme's win in the singles on Sunday afternoon saw him become Great Britain & Ireland's all-time record points scorer with 10 points.

Trailing 8�-7� after the morning's foursomes, Great Britain & Ireland produced a battling display in the afternoon singles before succumbing.

Wolstenholme, 44, secured a point as he held off a late fightback from Anthony Kim to win their encounter on the 18th.

Wolstenholme now has 10 points from 19 Walker Cup ties, eclipsing the record set by Sir Michael Bonallack, who collected 9� points from his 25 ties.

FINAL SINGES RESULTS US names first Kim lost to Wolstenholme 1 hole Harman bt Davies 6&5 Putnam halved with Fisher Every halved with Dinwiddie Holmes lost to Richardson 5&4 Reifers lost to Saltman 1 hole Overton bt Edwards 1 hole Williams bt Lockerbie 4&3

Matthew Richardson, the European champion, then contributed another vital point as he swept to a 5&4 win over the big-hitting John Holmes.

Following Welshman Rhys Davies' 5&4 defeat by Brian Harman, Richardson's win meant that both sides were locked on 9� points with five matches left out on the course.

Essex 16-year-old Oliver Fisher, the youngest player to compete in the Walker Cup, secured a half against Michael Putnam after rolling in an 18-foot putt for birdie on the final green.

There was further drama on the 18th as Robert Dinwiddie chipped in to grab a remarkable half against Matt Every and take the visitors to within one-and-a-half points of success.

It has been another great Walker Cup and it went down to the wire GB&Ire captain Garth McGimpsey

The pendulum swung back in favour of the US as Lee Williams eased to a 4&3 win over Lytham Trophy winner Gary Lockerbie.

But in another amazing twist on the 18th, Lloyd Saltman rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt to complete a rousing fightback against Kyle Reifers to haul Great Britain & Ireland back onto level terms.

That meant the contest went down to the final hole of the match between Welshman Edwards and American Overton.

Edwards, who holed the putt that secured victory for Great Britain & Ireland in the 2003 contest at Ganton, was one down coming down the last and needed to half his match for the holders to retain the trophy.

This is probably the greatest Walker Cup team that has played US skipper Bob Lewis

But his approach to the 18th green landed 25 feet from the pin and the Welshman could only manage par, handing the Americans the point they needed to reclaim the Walker Cup.

Great Britain and Ireland captain Garth McGimpsey praised his players' efforts.

"I am proud of all my players," said McGimpsey. "They gave it their all and I can't complain. It has been another great Walker Cup and it went down to the wire.

"The matches these days are so close and that is wonderful for the contest."

US skipper Bob Lewis, who will now stand down from the role after ending a run of three successive defeats, hailed his side as one of the greatest American teams in the history of the event.

"I am very emotional," said Lewis. "I have been around a lot of Walker Cups and I can tell you that this is probably the greatest Walker Cup team that has played.