GB&I trail 6-2 to United States on first
day of PGA Cup at The Carrick
By NAT SYLVESTER, PGA Press Officer
Great Britain & Ireland face an uphill battle to reclaim the Llandudno Trophy after the United States chalked up a 6-2 advantage on the opening day of the 24th PGA Cup at The Carrick on Loch Lomond.
The USA began their defence of the biennial contest in spirited fashion, sweeping the morning foursomes by 3-1 and stifling out a GB&I fightback in the afternoon to close out the four-balls by the same tally.
The bright spots for GB&I were point winners Jon Bevan (Wessex Golf Centre, Dorset) and Will Barnes (Garstang G&CC, Lancashire) in the morning foursomes - they defeated Ryan Benzel and Lee Rinker 4 and 2 - while Welsh duo James Lee (Caerphilly) and Andrew Barnett (North Wales Driving Range) also posted some blue on the leaderboard by beating Mike Small and Mark Sheftic 4 and 3 in the four-balls.
Otherwise there was little to cheer for GB&I who had threatened to sneak an unlikely half in the afternoon four-balls when Kedleston Park’s Paul Wesselingh, in his sixth successive appearance for GB&I and partnering Houghwood GC’s Barry Taylor, arrowed an iron to 3ft on the 18th but Scott Hebert dashed their hopes by draining a 15ft putt from just off the fringe to secure victory by one hole for he and partner Steve Schneiter.
West Berkshire’s Paul Simpson, who had to pull out of the morning foursomes due to sickness thrusting rookie Taylor into early action, made it out in the afternoon to team up with Nevill GC’s Jamie Harris but it proved in vain as they went down 2 and 1 to Eric Lippert and Lee Rinker.
It was a second defeat for Harris who was out first with Taylor in the morning foursomes and lost heavily, 6 and 5, to Sonny Skinner and Kyle Flinton.
Skinner survived being thrown out of a buggy into a bunker on his way back to playing a provisional ball on the 11th. The mishap did little to disrupt his rhythm, however, and he rifled an approach stone dead for a birdie on 12.
The remaining morning foursomes saw Barnett and Lee also defeated 3 and 2 by Scott Hebert and Craig Thomas while in the final morning foursomes the experienced pairing of Wesselingh and former Walker Cup player Jeremy Robinson (Twyford, Worcester) were beaten 2 and 1 by Mike Small and Mark Sheftic.
GB&I captain Gary Alliss admitted it had been a disappointing day but remained hopeful his team could reverse their fortunes and continue their record of never having lost on Scottish soil in three previous matches.
“It’s early days, it’s not quite at the fat lady singing time yet and there is time for us to turn it round,” he said.“Last time in the US two years ago we had a very good start, not quite as good as the US today, but then they clawed us back on the second day.
“I’d love to have the score in our favour but although the players are disappointed they are not down and out and beaten at all and are very much up for it.”
He added: “I think the guys at times, particularly in the four-balls, didn’t quite hit it close enough to have a chance. With these greens you have to be inside 10ft and because we were a couple of holes behind we tried to ram the ball in the hole and they were really running too fast.”
Meanwhile US captain Brian Whitcomb praised the quality of golf from both teams but refused to get carried away with his team’s strong position.
“I’m very proud of my players. The quality of the golf was exceptional – from both teams. Although the margin after one day of three seems favourable it came down to a putt here and a sand shot there.
“We have got a lot of work in front of us, but we’re really happy where we are but I assure that captain Gary Alliss and the GB & I team has other thoughts on the outcome of this match.”
Results:
US names first
Foursomes
Sonny Skinner & Kyle Flinton bt Jamie Harris & Barry Taylor 6 and 5.
Ryan Benzel & Lee Rinker lost to Jon Bevan & Will Barnes 4 and 2.
Scott Hebert & Craig Thomas bt Andrew Barnett & James Lee 3 and 2.
Mike Small & Mark Sheftic bt Paul Wesselingh & Jeremy Robinson 2 and 1.
Four-balls
Skinner & Flinton bt Bevan & Craig Matheson 3 and 1.
Hebert & Steve Schneiter bt Wesselingh & Taylor 1 hole.
Small & Sheftic lost to Barnett & Lee 4 and 3.
Eric Lippert & Rinker bt Harris & Paul Simpson 2 and 1.
SATURDAY
Morning four-balls
GB&I first
7:45 Paul Wesselingh & Jeremy Robinson v Ryan Benzel & Mike Small.
8:00 Paul Simpson & Jamie Harris v Craig Thomas & Kyle Flinton.
8:15 Andrew Barnett & James Lee v Eric Lippert & Mark Sheftic.
8:30 Jon Bevan & Will Barnes v Steve Schneiter & Scott Hebert
day of PGA Cup at The Carrick
By NAT SYLVESTER, PGA Press Officer
Great Britain & Ireland face an uphill battle to reclaim the Llandudno Trophy after the United States chalked up a 6-2 advantage on the opening day of the 24th PGA Cup at The Carrick on Loch Lomond.
The USA began their defence of the biennial contest in spirited fashion, sweeping the morning foursomes by 3-1 and stifling out a GB&I fightback in the afternoon to close out the four-balls by the same tally.
The bright spots for GB&I were point winners Jon Bevan (Wessex Golf Centre, Dorset) and Will Barnes (Garstang G&CC, Lancashire) in the morning foursomes - they defeated Ryan Benzel and Lee Rinker 4 and 2 - while Welsh duo James Lee (Caerphilly) and Andrew Barnett (North Wales Driving Range) also posted some blue on the leaderboard by beating Mike Small and Mark Sheftic 4 and 3 in the four-balls.
Otherwise there was little to cheer for GB&I who had threatened to sneak an unlikely half in the afternoon four-balls when Kedleston Park’s Paul Wesselingh, in his sixth successive appearance for GB&I and partnering Houghwood GC’s Barry Taylor, arrowed an iron to 3ft on the 18th but Scott Hebert dashed their hopes by draining a 15ft putt from just off the fringe to secure victory by one hole for he and partner Steve Schneiter.
West Berkshire’s Paul Simpson, who had to pull out of the morning foursomes due to sickness thrusting rookie Taylor into early action, made it out in the afternoon to team up with Nevill GC’s Jamie Harris but it proved in vain as they went down 2 and 1 to Eric Lippert and Lee Rinker.
It was a second defeat for Harris who was out first with Taylor in the morning foursomes and lost heavily, 6 and 5, to Sonny Skinner and Kyle Flinton.
Skinner survived being thrown out of a buggy into a bunker on his way back to playing a provisional ball on the 11th. The mishap did little to disrupt his rhythm, however, and he rifled an approach stone dead for a birdie on 12.
The remaining morning foursomes saw Barnett and Lee also defeated 3 and 2 by Scott Hebert and Craig Thomas while in the final morning foursomes the experienced pairing of Wesselingh and former Walker Cup player Jeremy Robinson (Twyford, Worcester) were beaten 2 and 1 by Mike Small and Mark Sheftic.
GB&I captain Gary Alliss admitted it had been a disappointing day but remained hopeful his team could reverse their fortunes and continue their record of never having lost on Scottish soil in three previous matches.
“It’s early days, it’s not quite at the fat lady singing time yet and there is time for us to turn it round,” he said.“Last time in the US two years ago we had a very good start, not quite as good as the US today, but then they clawed us back on the second day.
“I’d love to have the score in our favour but although the players are disappointed they are not down and out and beaten at all and are very much up for it.”
He added: “I think the guys at times, particularly in the four-balls, didn’t quite hit it close enough to have a chance. With these greens you have to be inside 10ft and because we were a couple of holes behind we tried to ram the ball in the hole and they were really running too fast.”
Meanwhile US captain Brian Whitcomb praised the quality of golf from both teams but refused to get carried away with his team’s strong position.
“I’m very proud of my players. The quality of the golf was exceptional – from both teams. Although the margin after one day of three seems favourable it came down to a putt here and a sand shot there.
“We have got a lot of work in front of us, but we’re really happy where we are but I assure that captain Gary Alliss and the GB & I team has other thoughts on the outcome of this match.”
Results:
US names first
Foursomes
Sonny Skinner & Kyle Flinton bt Jamie Harris & Barry Taylor 6 and 5.
Ryan Benzel & Lee Rinker lost to Jon Bevan & Will Barnes 4 and 2.
Scott Hebert & Craig Thomas bt Andrew Barnett & James Lee 3 and 2.
Mike Small & Mark Sheftic bt Paul Wesselingh & Jeremy Robinson 2 and 1.
Four-balls
Skinner & Flinton bt Bevan & Craig Matheson 3 and 1.
Hebert & Steve Schneiter bt Wesselingh & Taylor 1 hole.
Small & Sheftic lost to Barnett & Lee 4 and 3.
Eric Lippert & Rinker bt Harris & Paul Simpson 2 and 1.
SATURDAY
Morning four-balls
GB&I first
7:45 Paul Wesselingh & Jeremy Robinson v Ryan Benzel & Mike Small.
8:00 Paul Simpson & Jamie Harris v Craig Thomas & Kyle Flinton.
8:15 Andrew Barnett & James Lee v Eric Lippert & Mark Sheftic.
8:30 Jon Bevan & Will Barnes v Steve Schneiter & Scott Hebert
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, September 18, 2009
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home