Europe take foursomes 4-0 to

grab Palmer Cup lead

Europe have regained the lead in the Palmer Cup two-day students' international match by making a magnificent 4-0 clean sweep of the morning foursomes over the Glasgow Gailes links in Ayrshire.
Going into the final set of eight singles, Europe lead the United States 9 1/2-6 1/2.
9.5-6.5 advantage.
The singles have been brought forward to a 12.45 start because of a bad weather forecast for later in the afternoon.
“Obviously, I’m very pleased we won all four of our matches this morning,” said European captain Mårten Olander. “We used the same line-ups we used yesterday morning and got off to the same start but managed to close them out today. Yesterday the Americans grabbed opportunities at the end of the round but weren’t able to do so today.
"This sets up what should be fantastic afternoon matches. On paper the individuals on the U.S. team are higher ranked, but we have the home-field advantage and our spirits our high.”
The Swedish tandem of Jonas Blixt and Jonas Enander Hedin evened the overall team score with a 4 and 3 win against Aaron Goldberg and Michael Thompson.
The Swedes won the first hole but lost the second with bogey. The U.S. would take a brief one-hole lead after claiming the fifth with a birdie. Europe evened the match at the seventh and took the lead by winning both No. 9 and 10. They pushed the lead to four holes by claiming the 12th and 13th.
Scott Borrowman and Charles Ford put Europe back in the team lead by downing Billy Horschel and Adam Mitchell, 3 and 1. The Americans won the fourth to go ahead, but Europe evened the score with a birdie on the next hole.
The Euros also won the seventh to take the lead for good. The two sides traded the next four holes before Europe claimed Nos. 13 and 14. Team USA trimmed the lead back to two holes on the 16th before conceding the 17th.
Jorge Campillo and Tim Sluiter won the second hole and never looked back in their 3 and 2 victory over world No 3 Kevin Chappell and world No 1 amateur Rickie Fowler. The Euros pushed their lead to four after claiming the fourth with par and the fifth and sixth with birdie.
The United States cut the lead in half with wins at Nos. 10 and 11. The two sides traded wins at the 12th and 13th before Campillo and Sluiter closed out the match on 16, winning with birdie.
Europe completed the sweep with the only match that went the complete 18 holes when Jonathan Caldwell and Gareth Shaw edged Derek Fathauer and Chesson Hadley by one hole.
The Americans held the lead for much of the front nine. The U.S. won the second and third before Europe claimed the fourth and fifth to send the match back to all square. The Americans would again take the lead after a birdie at No. 7 but Europe took Nos. 9 and 10. The two sides alternated the next three and again at Nos. 15 and 16 to even the match.
Europe reclaimed the lead at No. 17 and halved the 18th to secure the victory.

SCOREBOARD
End of Day 1: Europe 5 1/2, United States 6 1/2
Day 2 foursomes: Europe 4, United States 0.
European names first
Jonas Blixt & Jonas Endander Hedin bt Aaron Goldberg & Michael Thomson 4 and 3.

Scott Borrowman & Charles Ford bt Billy Horschel & Adam Mitchell 3 and 1.

Jonathan Caldwell & Gareth Shaw bt Derek Fathauer & Chesson Hadley 1 hole.

Jorge Campillo & Tim Sluiter bt Kevin Chappell & Rickie Fowler 3 and 2.

Overall scoreline with eight singles to play: Europe 9 1/2, United States 6 1/2.

ends