AMERICANS LEAD BY FIVE POINTS AFTER PGA CUP DAY TWO

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
By NATHANIEL SYLVESTER
Great Britain andIreland face an uphill battle to land the PGA Cup after another awesome foursome display by the United States at CordeValle, California.
The Americans closed to within two-and-a-half points of retaining the Llandudno Trophy on the back of their least favoured format.
They closed the second day leading 10 ½ - 5 ½, forged on the back of another impressive foursomes display, winning 3-1 and giving them a possible six-and-a-half points from eight in the sessions of alternate shot.
Only Yorkshire duo Gary Brown and John Wells posted blue on the board in the stifling California heat with another gritty display which saw them again come from behind.
Wells holed a clutch par putt on the par-3 16th, before Ganton pro Brown played a superb approach to three feet at 17 to put them in front which they cemented when their opponents David Hutsell and Mark Sheftic found the water on 18.
“We never give up and we were in some pretty tough spots and it wasn’t pretty but we got the job done,” said Wells.
Unfortunately hopes of a half in the last pairing of Stuart Little and David Mortimer were extinguished on 17 when Brad Lardon sank a 15ft putt for par to seal a 2 and 1 win with partner Sonny Skinner.
It leaves the GB and I team, captained by Cowal's Russell Weir (pictured above), the proverbial mountain to climb with eight wins needed in the 10 singles.
Reflecting on the second day, Weir revealed the pride in his team.
“As the sun got it up to its peak, it was quite sapping strength wise but the guys gave everything,” he said.
“Shacklady and Edwards, those guys brought tears to my eyes today while Wells and Brown were pure Yorkshire grit. They gave everything but there’s more to give tomorrow.
“We need points early, to make it very interesting. The spirit is fine, the guys know there are still 10 points to play for and they are going to give it a go.”
He added: “This has been the experience of my life, I feel more pressure actually than when I played because you can’t hit the shots. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and it’s been great.”
Trailing 6-2 after the opening day, Weir’s GB and I team needed a strong start and won the Saturday morning four-ball session by 2 ½ - 1 ½.
Agonisingly, a third point was within grasp of Craig Goodfellow and David Mortimer to add to the wins for David Shacklady and Simon Edwards (2 and 1), and Stuart Little and Rob Giles (5 and 4).
The pair were locked in a titantic tussle with Sonny Skinner and Brad Lardon who holed clutch putts on 16 and 17 to be one down on the 18th tee.
However both GB and I players found trouble off the tee on the right of the par-5 hole, handing the initiative to the Americans which Skinner, the oldest player on either side, punished with a superb third shot approach to four feet Goodfellow’s third shot from the semi rough bounced through the green into the bunker.
Meanwhile Mossock Hall pro Shacklady was marvelling at the standard of play in his two clashes with David Hutsell and Mark Sheftic.
“We worked it out on the seventh green, having played 23 holes together as a four-ball we had 24 birdies,” he said.
“It gives you an idea of what it’s been like. Every hole someone’s been doing something spectacular. That’s fabulous, something special to be involved in and it is something I will never forget.”
For the Americans the highlight of the day came with Danny Balin’s hole-in-one at the 180-yard par-3 eighth hole in his clash with partner Scott Erdmann against Stuart Little and Rob Giles.
Giles said: “Stuart hit a great shot all over the flag to two feet on eight, Danny hits a nice shot, but it’s going 20 ft left of the flag on the left edge of the green, hits the bank and rolls in the hole.”
Ironically it was the first ace since current Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup captain Russell Weir achieved the feat back in 1996 at Knollwood Golf Course, Illinois when he was making his PGA Cup debut.
RESULTS
Saturday morning four-balls
US names first
David Hutsell and Mark Sheftic lost to David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) and Simon Edwards (Windermere) 2 and 1.
Mike Small and Faber Jamerson bt John Wells (Cherry Burton) and Gary Brown (Ganton) 3 and 2.
Danny Balin and Scott Erdmann lost to Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) and Rob Giles (Greenore) 5 and 4.
Sonny Skinner and Brad Lardon halved with David Mortimer (Galway) and Craig Goodfellow (Carlisle Driving Range)

Saturday afternoon foursomes
Rob McClellan and Marty Jertson bt David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) and Simon Edwards (Windermere) 2 and 1.
David Hutsell and Mark Sheftic lost to John Wells (Cherry Burton) and Gary Brown (Ganton) 2 holes.
Mike Small and Faber Jamerson bt Chris Gill (Exeter) and John Kennedy (Wexham Park) 4 and 3.
Sonny Skinner and Brad Lardon bt Stuart Little and David Mortimer 2 and 1.

Match summary after two days:
UNITED STATES 10 ½, GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND  5 ½

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