JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The matches stand all-square after the first day of the Arnold Palmer Cup at Atlanta Athletic Club. Europe evened the overall team standings by winning the first three matches of the four-ball session and halving the fourth.
Europe claimed the first point of the four-ball matches with a 3-1 victory from Richard Mansell and David Wicks. The American pairing of Sam Burns and Chandler Phillips won the first hole but Europe took the next two. The Americans would twice battle back to all-square, but Europe won Nos. 15-17 to closeout the match.
The Swedish duo of Fredrik Nilehn and Hannes Ronneblad never trailed in their 3 and 2 win over Sean Crocker and Collin Morikawa. Europe took a 1-up lead with birdie at the second, but an American birdie at Nol. 4 evened the match. Another European birdie at No. 6 gave it the lead for good.
Viktor Hovland and Kristoffer Ventura extended Europe’s winning streak to three matches, downing John Coultas and Jimmy Stanger, 1-up. The United States led early in the match, taking 1-up advantages after both Nos. 1 and 5. Hovland gave Europe its first lead with birdie at the ninth, but Stanger birdied the following hole. Ventura eagled No. 12 to move back ahead. The Norwegian duo used birdies at Nos. 13 and 15 to push its advantage to 3-up. The Americans won the next two with birdie but only managed to halve the final hole.
Team USA put its first point on the board when Nick Hardy and Norman Xiong halved Rory Franssen and Stuart Grehan. Neither side gained more than a 1-up advantage and each led for three holes.
Doug Ghim and Maverick McNealy evened the overall team standing by downing Harry Ellis and Harry Hall 3 and 2. Ghim gave Team USA an early lead with birdie at No. 1 but Europe moved the match to all square by claiming the third hole. McNealy pushed the Americans ahead with a pair of birdies at Nos. 6 and 7 and Ghim won the eighth to push the lead to 3-up. Back-to-back birdies by Harry Hall moved Europe to 1-down thru 11. McNealy birdied Nos. 13 and 16 to close out the match.
Third-round singles matches tee off Saturday at 9:00 am.
Arnold Palmer Cup
Atlanta Athletic Club
June 9
Second Round Four-ball Results
United States 5, Europe 5
Second Round Four-Ball Results
Match 6:
Richard Mansell/David Wicks, Europe def. Sam Burns/Chandler Phillips, USA, 3 and 1
Match 7:
Viktor Hovland/Kristoffer Ventura, Europe def. John Coultas/Jimmy Stanger, USA, 1-up
Match 8:
Nick Hardy/Norman Xiong, USA halved Rory Franssen/Stuart Grehan, Europe
Match 9:
Fredrik Nilehn/Hannes Ronneblad, Europe def. Sean Crocker/Collin Morikawa, USA, 3 and 2
Match 10:
Doug Ghim/Maverick McNealy, USA def. Harry Ellis/Harry Hall, Europe, 3 and 2
Third Round Singles Pairings
Match 11: 9:00 am
Norman Xiong, USA vs. Richard Mansell, Europe
Match 12: 9:10 am
Doug Ghim, USA vs. Harry Hall, Europe
Match 13: 9:20 am
Jimmy Stanger, USA vs. Harry Ellis, Europe
Match 14: 9:30 am
Nick Hardy, USA vs. David Wicks, Europe
Match 15: 9:40 am
Sam Burns, USA vs. Stuart Grehan, Europe
Match 16: 9:50 am
Collin Morikawa, USA vs. Rory Franssen, Europe
Match 17: 10:00 am
Maverick McNealy, USA vs. Viktor Hovland, Europe
Match 18: 10:10 am
John Coultas, USA vs. Kristoffer Ventura, Europe
Match 19: 10:20 am
Sean Crocker, USA vs. Fredrik Nilehn, Europe
Match 20: 10:30 am
Chandler Phillips, USA vs. Hannes Ronneblad, Europe