The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Europe leads after day one of Palmer Cup
08.05.2004 | Men's Golf
BALLYBUNION, Ireland - Europe claimed all but three matches on the first day of the Palmer Cup presented by Monster to take a 9-3 lead after the first day of the Ryder Cup-style competition at Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland. Europe needs only three points in the final day of the competition to retain the Cup and three-and-a-half to claim the title for the second-straight year.
Europe took an early lead in the tournament when Gonzalo Castano and Alejandro Canizares of Spain claimed the opening four-ball match, 2 and 1, over Jack Ferguson and Billy Hurley. The United States evened the score after Texas' Jason Hartwick (Sacramento, Calif.) and Chris Stroud downed Francesco Molinari and Martin Rominger, 1-up. Europe led in the match as late as the 14th hole but Team USA took the lead for good after Hartwick birdied No. 16. Europe claimed the final two four-ball matches. Gareth Maybin birdied No. 18 for a 1-up victory over Matt Every and Chris Nallen. He and teammate Rhys Davies never trailed in the match. Lars Brovold and Alex Noren won the final match of the morning session, 4 and 2, against J.J. Jakovac and Ryan Moore.
Hurley won the first singles match to bring USA to within one point of Europe, 3-2, by defeating Molinari, 4 and 3. Europe would be victories in the next six matches. Castano started the European run by claiming the largest margin of victory in the eight competitions of the Palmer Cup presented by Monster series, 8 and 6, over Ferguson. Rominger downed Jakovac, 4 and 3, while Canizares and Brovold won their matches 2 and 1. Davies and Maybin each claimed victory on the final hole of their matches, 1-up and 2-up, respectively. Moore won the final match of the day, defeating Noren, 3 and 1.
"Alejandro Canizares did a fantastic job (in his singles match)," said Europe Coach Graham Kaye. "He turned his match around and that really spread back through the rest of the team. Gonzalo (Castano) won his match, 8 and 6, and that got through to the rest of the team. I put him out a little earlier than traditionally we would put out Gonzalo thinking he's in good form, he's up for this and let's get a point from him again. The got excited about that of course but they stayed focused on their matches."
Foursomes matches will tee off Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with singles matches scheduled at 1:30 p.m.
