ANOTHER stunning final day fightback ensured that Great Britain & Ireland made history by winning the Walker Cup for an unprecedented third successive year at Ganton, North Yorkshire, yesterday.

Middlesbrough's Michael Skelton had an impressive Walker Cup debut, winning the vital third singles match paving the way for his teammates to overturn a two point deficit after the morning foursomes.

In a performance described by Great Britain and Ireland captain Garth McGimpsey as "awesome", the 19-year-old from Redcar defeated Adam Rubinson of Texas by 3&2.

The home side had managed only two points from the first day's singles and trailed overnight five points to seven.

After yesterday's foursomes were halved two-two, it looked unlikely that Great Britain & Ireland could overturn the deficit and pull of another great escape.

Ulsterman McGimpsey said: " It has been a rollercoaster ride.

"I was a shattered man yesterday but we talked about coming back at Nairn and Sea Island and we took a bit of history to draw on; but not in my wildest dreams, did I think we would pull it off."

His team talk certainly worked and wins from Oliver Wilson, Gary Wolstenholme, Skelton and Scotland's David Inglis, who played the Ganton course in seven-under, put the home side in reach of a historic third win.

It was left to Welsh duo Stuart Manley and Nigel Edwards to grind out the points and seal victory.

Manley defeated Trip Kuehne by 5 and 4 to ensure that the trophy remained on home soil and Nigel Edwards, unbeaten over the two days, holed from 60ft for a birdie on the tough 17th on his way to securing the vital winning half.

This was the third time that Great Britain & Ireland had come from behind on the final day to win the Walker Cup, in 1999 at Nairn and in 2001 at Sea Island, Georgia, both times the winning margin was a convincing 15-9.

Peter Mcevoy, the Chairman of Selectors and the most successful GB&I Walker Cup captain, said: "This was by far the biggest. It is just a magnificent achievement. That was the best and the toughest of the three, without doubt."

Mcevoy was among the first to congratulate local lad Skelton, after he holed from eight feet at the 16th for his first win. Large crowds had gathered to watch the Skelton match and the electric atmosphere spurred on the home side.

Captain McGimpsey said of Skelton: "He was just awesome today, he got the crowd behind him and it was just one big cheer after another."

The youngster, who plays out of Middlesbrough Brass Castle, shot out to an early lead by birdieing two of the first three holes.

Four birdies in the first nine holes saw his lead increase to three up. The key to Skelton's victory was dead aim putting and he fed off the crowd whenever he holed.

"When you are standing over putts and you know there will be a massive roar if you hole, that's just great," said Skelton.

It also helped that he had Curtis Cup winner and fellow Yorkshire star, Emma Duggleby, caddying and reading his putts for him.

He said: "Emma was diamond, she doesn't sugarcoat anything, when we hit a bad shot, she just says let's me get on with it."

Skelton did not enjoy the ideal start to his Walker Cup in losing his foursomes match with Wolstenholme against the American pairing of Kuehne and Haas on Saturday morning.

The 19-year-old, who earned his place in the side by winning the Welsh Open Strokeplay and finishing runner up in last month's English Amateur Championship at Alwoodley, was not picked again until the final day's singles.

He said: "I was disappointed that the captain didn't pick me, yesterday my swing felt great and that gave me a lot of confidence coming into today."

When asked what's next for the newest golf star from the North-East, Skelton said, "I just want to play another Walker Cup now, I'd like to beat them on their soil."