JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The United States dominated day two singles matchs, claiming 9.5 of 10 points, at the Arnold Palmer Cup at Atlanta Athletic Club. The United States needs one point to reclaim the Arnold Palmer Cup while Europe needs 9.5 points to retain it.
Doug Ghim started the American run with a 7 and 5 triumph over Harry Hall. Hall took an early lead with birdie on No. 2, but Ghim responded by taking the next two holes. Hall evened the match with birdie on No. 5. Beginning at No. 6, Ghim would win the next six straight holes, four with birdie. He closed the match with birdie at No. 13.
Norman Xiong captured the second U.S. point by downing Richard Mansell, 4 and 3. Xiong led 12 of 15 holes and never trailed. He took the lead for good at No. 11 when he won four-straight holes, including three with birdie.
Nick Hardy continued Team USA’s winning streak with a 5 and 4 win against David Wicks. Hardy birdied the first but Wicks responded with a birdie on No. 2 to even the match. Three straight birdies by Hardy gave him 3-up advantage thru 7. Wickes cut the lead to 2-up with birdie at No. 9. Hardy closed the match by claiming Nos. 10, 11 and 14.
Jimmy Stanger’s come-from-behind, 3 and 2 victory over Harry Ellis pushed the U.S. team advantage to four points. Ellis took an early lead by winning Nos. 3 and 4. Stanger would even the match thru No. 8 and take the lead with birdies at Nos. 10 and 11. Ellis cut the lead to 1-up with a birdie at No. 12 before Stanger won the next two holes.
Sam Burns eagled the first hole and led throughout in his 2 and 1 triumph against Stuart Grehan. He would extend his lead to 4-up thru 11 but dropped two holes with back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 13 and 14.
Collin Morikawa provided another wire-to-wire victory by downing Rory Franssen, 3 and 2. Morikawa took the first two holes with birdie and extended his lead to 3-up with another birdie at No. 4. Franssen would fight back to 1-down thru 12 before Morikawa closed the match with birdies at No. 12 and winning with par at No. 16.
John Coultas took another point for team USA with a 4 and 3 win over Kristoffer Ventura. Coultas won the first hole with birdie but Ventura responded by claimng the next two. Coultas evened the match with birdie at No. 4 and took the lead for good thru 8.
Sean Crocker never trailed while downing Fredrik Nilehn, 4 and 3. Crocker won the fourth hole with birdie and extended his lead with birdies at Nos. 11 and 13. He closed the match at No. 15 with par.
Maverick McNealy and Viktor Hovland halved their match. Hovland led early winning with birdie at No. 3 but McNealy responed by claiming the next two to take the lead. He would push his lead to 3-up thru 12 before Hovland won Nos. 15-17 to square the match.
Chandler Phillips won the last match of the day, 1-up, against Hannes Ronnebald. Phillips never trailed and led for 13 holes. His biggest lead was 2-up, on two different occassions.
Final round singles matches tee off at 9:00 am Sunday.
Arnold Palmer Cup
Atlanta Athletic Club
June 10
Second Round Four-ball Results
United States 14.5, Europe 5.5
Third Round Singles Results
Match 11: 9:00 am
Norman Xiong, USA def. Richard Mansell, Europe, 4 and 3
Match 12: 9:10 am
Doug Ghim, USA def. Harry Hall, Europe, 7 and 5
Match 13: 9:20 am
Jimmy Stanger, USA def. Harry Ellis, Europe, 3 and 2
Match 14: 9:30 am
Nick Hardy, USA def. David Wicks, Europe, 5 and 4
Match 15: 9:40 am
Sam Burns, USA def. Stuart Grehan, Europe, 2 and 1
Match 16: 9:50 am
Collin Morikawa, USA def. Rory Franssen, Europe, 3 and 2
Match 17: 10:00 am
Maverick McNealy, USA vs. Viktor Hovland, Europe
Match 18: 10:10 am
John Coultas, USA def. Kristoffer Ventura, Europe, 4 and 3
Match 19: 10:20 am
Sean Crocker, USA def. Fredrik Nilehn, Europe, 4 and 3
Match 20: 10:30 am
Chandler Phillips, USA def. Hannes Ronneblad, Europe, 1-up
Final Round Singles Pairings
Match 21 - 9:00 am:
Norman Xiong, USA vs. Harry Hall, Europe
Match 22 - 9:10 am:
Doug Ghim, USA vs. Stuart Grehan, Europe
Match 23 - 9:20 am:
Jimmy Stanger, USA vs. Viktor Hovland, Europe
Match 24 - 9:30 am:
Nick Hardy, USA vs. Harry Ellis, Europe
Match 25 - 9:40 am:
Sam Burns, USA vs. Kristoffer Ventura, Europe
Match 26 - 9:50 am:
Collin Morikawa, USA vs. Fredrik Nilehn, Europe
Match 27 - 10:00 am:
Maverick McNealy, USA vs. Rory Franssen, Europe
Match 28 - 10:10 am:
John Coultas, USA vs. Richard Mansell, Europe
Match 29 - 10:20 am:
Sean Crocker, USA vs. David Wicks, Europe
Match 30 - 10:30 am:
Chandler Phillips USA vs. Hannes Ronneblad, Europe