The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Europe retains Palmer Cup trophy despite Hartwick winning three of four matches
08.07.2004 | Men's Golf
BALLYBUNION, Ireland -- Europe retained the Palmer Cup trophy by defeating the United States, 14.5-9.5, in the Palmer Cup presented by Monster, a Ryder Cup-style competition at Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland. during the weekend. The victory was the largest in the series for the Europeans and moves the all-time record of the event to 4-3-1. Texas four-time All-American Jason Hartwick (Sacramento, Calif.), who just completed his collegiate elibility in June, won three of his four matches to help the Americans.
The United States won three matches in the morning foursomes to move to within four points, 10-6, after trailing 9-3 after the first day of competition. J.J. Jakovac and Ryan Moore claimed the first match for the Americans, downing the Spanish duo of Gonzalo Castano and Alejandro Canizares, 2-up. Europe would rebound to win the second match 1-up when Francesco Molinari and Martin Rominger defeated Matt Every and Chris Nallen. Team USA would be victories in the final two matches of the morning when Hartwick and Chris Stroud won 2 and 1 over Rhys Davies and Gareth Maybin and Jack Ferguson and Billy Hurley came-from-behind to defeat Lars Brovold and Alex Noren. Ferguson and Hurley trailed by four after the first four holes and never led in the match until paring the 18th hole for the win.
Europe claimed the first three singles matches of the afternoon session to retain possession of the cup when Brovold downed Hurley, 8 and 6, Davies defeated Every, 3 and 2, and Castano won 4 and 3 over Moore. Nallen would claim the next point for the United States, 3 and 1 against Martin Rominger. Canizares won the final match for the Europeans when he defeated Jakovac 2-up in a match he led only the final two holes. The United States claimed the next two matches, both 2 and 1 victories by Stroud and Hartwick. Ferguson and Molinari halved the final match of the competition.
"The guys on the first day played exceptionally well, especially in the afternoon, to give us a 9-3 advantage," said Europe Head Coach Graham Kaye. "This morning they (the United States) came out fighting and gave us a little shock in the foursomes. We went into the afternoon singles with a four-shot lead but I felt pretty confident. My guys played very well in difficult conditions, as did the United States, but I think that yesterday is what did it for us."
2004 Palmer Cup presented by Monster
Day Two Results
Ballybunion Golf Club
Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland
Europe 14.5,United States 9.5
Foursomes Matches Results
J.J. Jakovac/Ryan Moore, USA def. Gonzalo Castano/Alejandro Canizares, EUR, 2-up
Francesco Molinari/Martin Rominger, EUR def. Matt Every/Chris Nallen, USA, 1-up
Jason Hartwick/Chris Stroud, USA def. Rhys Davies/Gareth Maybin, EUR, 2 and 1
Jack Ferguson/Billy Hurley, USA def. Lars Brovold/Alex Noren, EUR, 1-up
Day Two Singles Matches Results
Alejandro Canizares, EUR def. J.J. Jakovac, USA, 2-up
Chris Nallen, USA def. Martin Rominger, EUR, 3 and 1
Rhys Davies, EUR def. Matt Every, USA, 3 and 2
Francesco Molinari, EUR halved Jack Ferguson, USA
Jason Hartwick, USA def. Gareth Maybin, EUR, 2 and 1
Chris Stroud, USA def. Alex Noren, EUR, 2 and 1
Lars Brovold, EUR def. Billy Hurley, USA, 8 and 6
Gonzalo Castano, EUR def. Ryan Moore, USA, 4 and 3
