FORMBY, England – Europe did not drop a match and hold a 4-1 lead after opening foursomes round of the Arnold Palmer Cup at Formby Golf Club. Team Europe claimed three matches and halved the remaining two.
The two sides halved the opening match after the United States’ Alistair Docherty and Will Gordon birdied the match’s final hole. Europe claimed the first hole of the match but Team USA won Nos. 4-6 to take a 2-up lead. The Americans pushed the lead to 3-up thru No. 11 before Europe Nos. 14-17 to take a 1-up advantage.
Europe won the next three matches. Adrian Meronk and Matthias Schwab began the charge with birdie on No. 18 for a 1-up victory over Doug Ghim and Will Zalatoris. Europe only led for two holes (No. 14 the other). The U.S. only led for four holes and never held larger than a 1-up advantage.
France’s Antoine Rozner and Robin Sciot-Siegrist downed Rico Hoey and Nahum Mendoza III, 3 and 2. Team USA got off to a hot start, winning three of the first four holes. Europe responded by claiming three straight to move to all square thru No. 7. The Americans retook the lead with birdie at No. 10. Europe took the lead for good with another three-hole winning streak beginning at No. 12.
Stuart Grehan and Lars van Meijel downed the United States’ Derek Bard and Michael Johnson, 2 and 1. Europe claimed Nos. 3 and 4 and never relinquished its lead. Team Europe pushed its advantage to 4-up twice, but a late American surge cut the lead to two holes.
The two sides halved the final match. Charlie Danielson and Zach Wright won the first and third holes. Mathias Eggenberger and Robin Petersson took the lead after claiming Nos. 6 and 8. The teams traded holes 9-12. Europe birdied No. 16 to take a late lead but an American birdie clinched a halve.
Second round four-ball matches are currently underway.
Arnold Palmer Cup
Formby Golf Club
June 24
First Round Foursomes Results
Europe 4, United States 1
Foursomes Matches Results
Match 1:
David Boote/Sam Horsfield, Europe halved Alistair Docherty/Will Gordon, USA
Match 2:
Adrian Meronk/Matthias Schwab, Europe def. Doug Ghim/Will Zalatoris, USA, 1-up
Match 3:
Antoine Rozner/Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Europe def. Rico Hoey/Nahum Mendoza III, USA, 3 and 2
Match 4:
Stuart Grehan/Lars van Meijel, Europe def. Derek Bard/Michael Johnson, USA, 2 and 1
Match 5:
Mathias Eggenberger/Robin Petersson, Europe halved Charlie Danielson/Zach Wright, USA
Second Round Four-Ball Pairings
Match 6:
David Boote/Adrian Meronk, Europe vs. Derek Bard/Michael Johnson, USA
Match 7:
Sam Horsfield/Matthias Schwab, Europe vs. Doug Ghim/Will Zalatoris, USA
Match 7:
Antoine Rozner/Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Europe vs. Alistair Docherty/Will Gordon, USA
Match 9:
Mathias Eggenberger/Robin Petersson, Europe vs. Rico Hoey/Nahum Mendoza III, USA
Match 10:
Stuart Grehan/Lars van Meijel, Europe vs. Charlie Danielson/Zach Wright, USA