Europe celebrates Palmer Cup victory
(Palmer Cup Photo)
FORMBY, England (June 26, 2016) -- Europe took a 4-1 lead in the opening foursomes matches on Friday and never looked back as they won the 2016 Palmer Cup 18.5-11.5. The win at Formby Golf Club earns back the cup for the European's and gives them their third straight win on home soil.
The American's started the day trailing 13-7 and in dire need off a rally. For a time it appeared as if they may have a dramatic comeback up their sleeves as team U.S.A. earned three wins and a halve during the first five Sunday singles matches. The surge trimmed the home team's advantage to 14.5-10 with five matches still on the course.
European's Antoine Rozner won the the first match of the day 1 up over Nahum Mendoza III. Rozner was 1 down after 14 holes but won the 15th before taking the lead for good on the 16th.
The second match of the day was the beginning of the U.S. rally as Rico Hoey defeated the European's Sam Horsfield 1 up. Hoey won the 2nd hole of the match and never relinquished his lead.
In the third match American Alistair Docherty halved with Adrian Meronk. Docherty took the lead on the 15th hole, only to see the match squared up again on the following hole.
Match four saw American Zach Wright post the second full point of the day for the visitors defeating Robin Petersson 3&1. Wright took the lead with an 11th hole win and then extended his lead with 16 and 17 hole victories.
The final full U.S. point came via Charlie Danielson and a 1 up triumph over David Boote. Danielson trailed by two holes before rallying late. His move began on the 12th when he cut the deficit to one. After a series of pars Danielson squared the match on 16 before winning the 17th, which proved to be the decisive hole.
With momentum firmly on the American's side the European's began to wrestle it back and put some points on the board. They got back on the board with a 1 up Mathias Eggenberger win over Will Zalatoris. The match was tied until Eggenberger won the closing hole.
Another European point was posted when Matthias Schwab triumphed 2&1 over Doug Ghim. Schwab moved in front for good on the 8th and then closed the match out on the 17th hole. The point earned by Schwab sealed the Palmer Cup for the European's.
Three matches still remained on the course and the next match saw European Robin Sciot-Siegrist record the final full point of the matches. Sciot-Siegrist earned a 1 up victory over Will Gordon after carrying a lead from the 8th hole to the final hole.
The final two matches of the day ended in halves. American Derek Bard and Lars van Meijel played to a halve following a final hole win by Bard. In the final match the U.S.A.'s Michael Johnson won the 13th hole to tie the match with Stuart Grehan as neither player won a hole the rest of the day.
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ABOUT THE
Palmer Cup
The annual Ryder Cup-style competition
features
top men and women collegiate players from the
United States
against their International counterparts.
Each team will be comprised of 12 men's and
12
women's golfers.
Day one will feature Mixed Four-Ball
competition, day
two will see Mixed
Foursomes in the morning and Four-Ball in the
afternoon, with 24 singles
matches on the final day.
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