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Walker Cup Memories: Gary Hallberg


b_HallbergWCMemories --- Gary Hallberg watches his tee shot on the 15th hole during 
Former Wake Forest All-American Gary Hallberg played on the winning 1977 USA Walker Cup Team at  Shinnecock Hills. (USGA/Fred Vuich) 

Gary Hallberg, a former four-time All-American at Wake Forest, played on the victorious 1977 USA Walker Cup Team at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. Hallberg was 1-1-1 in the Match. Hallberg produced three PGA Tour victories and has one Champions Tour win.

How special was it to play in the Walker Cup?

It was very special. I think at that point in your golfing career, as an amateur, there aren't too many things that can compare to playing in the Walker Cup and representing your country.

What are some of your most vivid memories of that week?

Well, I remember I was paired with Dick Siderowf the first day in alternate shot (foursomes) and I can remember getting up on the tee with that first tee shot and hitting it into a bunker and fried-egging it underneath the lip. I felt so terrible. That's the beauty, I guess, of team golf and the pressure you feel, and we ended up losing it on the last hole. I also remember that I had on a brand new shirt that they gave us, and as I'm walking off the last green my neck is all scratched up and I reach up there behind my head and the cardboard tag was still attached to it. I played 18 holes like that.

Did you learn anything that week?

Yeah, to take the tag off the shirt. No, it was a great week. I won my singles match the last day, and it was kind of a relief because I hadn't won any of my other matches. You play with a different kind of pressure on you, and I think that's a good experience to have. You learn a lot from that, a lot about yourself and how you respond to it.

- Dave Shedloski