NICK Dougherty's Walker Cup feat left his mother fighting back the tears as she watched back home.

Ennis Dougherty and Nick's dad Roger watched as the Great Britain and Ireland team fought for the 38th Walker Cup.

It seemed to be slipping out of their hands on Saturday night but the team clawed their way back to win 15-9 and retain the trophy.

"We were glued to the television all weekend," said Ennis, who is originally from Liverpool.

"He wasn't playing as well as he can do, he wasn't striking the ball as well as he can so to get three points out of four was incredible.

"We are really proud of him. I had tears in my eyes, of course."

Dougherty, who is 19, will play his first tournament as a professional at Gleneagles in the Scottish PGA championship next week.

The Shaw Hill player -- who won the club championship in his last tournament as an amateur on British soil -- lost his foursomes match partnering Luke Donald on Saturday morning but then went on to pick up his first Walker Cup point in his singles game on Saturday afternoon.

The Brits ended the first day one point down but Donald -- who has also now turned pro -- and Dougherty kicked off the second day with a foursomes win.

And in a tense final session on Sunday afternoon, Dougherty went three up after four holes against DJ Trahan but almost threw it away as he struggled with his swing.

Dougherty was still two up with four holes to play but lost the 15th and 16th as Trahan grew in confidence.

But Dougherty showed his immense strength in character by hitting a tee shot off the 17th which was one of the best of the tournament.

He halved the hole but went on to win on the 18th as Trahan found a bunker.

"It may not have been my best golf but I was in a team that was playing from the heart," he said.

His mum continued: "We knew he wouldn't throw it away.

"It just shows what a great future he has. He showed tremendous spirit. We are really proud of the whole team."

Dougherty always dreamed that he would win the Walker Cup before turning pro.

"He wanted to win it and he has," said Ennis. "We are thrilled to bits. It was a great way to end his amateur career."

Walker Cup captain Peter McEvoy, who led the side to two successive victories, is predicting great things for Dougherty and team-mates Luke Donald, 23, and 20-year-old Steven O'Hara, and the rest of the team.

"Three or four of them I certainly think will be Ryder Cup standard and a couple could be challenging for majors -- and soon," he said.

"I think our growing strength will be reflected in the pro game just like it has been in the Walker Cup now."