FORMBY, England – Europe lead the United States, 6-4, after the openign day of of the Arnold Palmer Cup at Formby Golf Club. Team USA won three of five matches in the afternoon four-ball session.
Europe’s David Boote and Adrian Meronk earned the first point of the four-ball session for dowing Derek Bard and Michael Johnson, 4 and 2. Team USA claimed the first two holes of the match. Birdies by Boote at the third and fifth holes pulled the score back to even with back-to-back birdies by Meronk on Nos. 6 and 7 gave Europe the lead. Meronk closed out the match by winning Nos. 15 and 16.
The United States claimed its first match of the Arnold Palmer Cup when Doug Ghim and Will Zalatoris defeated Sam Horsfield and Adrian Meronk. Europe took its only lead when Horsfield birdied No. 5. A Ghim birdie the next hole moved the match to all square. Another birdie by Ghim at the eighth gave Team USA the lead. The Americans would extend the lead to 2-up thru No. 15 and closed out the match when both Zalatoris and Horsfield birdied No. 17.
France’s Antoine Rozner and Robin Sciot-Siegrist moved Europe to six points for the day after a come-from-behind, 1-up victory over Alistair Docherty and Will Gordon. Neither side gained more than a 1-up advantage, with Team USA holding the lead thru 15. Rozner pushed Europe into the lead with birdie at No. 16 and eagle at the 17th. Both Americans hit within three feet on No. 18 but Robin Sciot-Siegrist’s birdie halved the hole. Team USA’s Charlie Danielson and Zach Wright never trailed against Stuart Grehan and Lars van Meijel, winning 4 and 2. The Americans took the lead right out of the gate with birdies by Danielson and Wright on Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. Wright pushed the lead to 3-up with another birdie at No. 5. Europe won its only hole of the match at No. 7 to cut the lead to 2-down. The U.S. closed out the match when Danielson birdied No. 15 and Wright No. 16.
The Americans won the final match of the day when Rico Hoey and Nahum Mendoza III outlasted Mathias Eggenberger and Robin Petersson, 1-up. Neither side led by more than one hole. All nine holes won were done so with birdie with all four players claiming at least one hole. Mendoza put USA ahead for good with birdie at No. 17 and clinched the match when all four players parred No. 18.
Third-round singles matches tee off Saturday at 9:00 am.
Second Round Four-Ball
Results Match 6: David Boote/Adrian Meronk, Europe def. Derek Bard/Michael Johnson, USA, 4 and 2
Match 7: Doug Ghim/Will Zalatoris, USA def. Sam Horsfield/Matthias Schwab, Europe, 2 and 1
Match 8: Antoine Rozner/Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Europe def. Alistair Docherty/Will Gordon, USA, 1-up
Match 9: Rico Hoey/Nahum Mendoza III, USA def. Mathias Eggenberger/Robin Petersson, Europe, 1-up
Match 10: Charlie Danielson/Zach Wright, USA def. Stuart Grehan/Lars van Meijel, Europe, 4 and 2 Third Round Singles Pairings
Match 11: 9:00 am Antoine Rozner, Europe vs. Will Gordon, USA Match 12: 9:12 am Adrian Meronk, Europe vs. Alistair Docherty, USA
Match 13: 9:24 am Sam Horsfield, Europe vs. Will Zalatoris, USA
Match 14: 9:36 am Matthias Schwab, Europe vs. Nahum Mendoza III, USA
Match 15: 9:48 am David Boote, Europe vs. Michael Johnson, USA
Match 16: 10:00 am Lars van Meijel, Europe vs. Rico Hoey, USA
Match 17: 10:12 am Robin Sciot-Siegreist, Europe vs. Derek Bard, USA
Match 18: 10:24 am Robin Petersson, Europe vs. Doug Ghim, USA
Match 19: 10:36 am Mathias Eggenberger, Europe vs. Zach Wright, USA
Match 20: 10:48 am Stuart Grehan, Europe vs. Charlie Danielson, USA