The Europeans won six of eight singles matches in Thursday's afternoon round, after sweeping the morning four-ball session, for a commanding 10-2 advantage
PRESTWICK, Scotland (June 29, 2006) — Europe dominated the first day in the Palmer Cup presented by Monster at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, Scotland. The Europeans won six of eight singles matches after sweeping the morning four-ball session for a 10-2 advantage.
Spain’s Pablo Martin continued his strong play from the morning four-ball session with a 6 and 5 victory over Brian Harman. Martin won six of the first eight holes - including birdies at Nos. 4, 7 and 8 - before a Harman par took the ninth. Martin rebounded by winning No. 10 with par. Harman also claimed the 12th with a par before Martin closed out the match with a par of his own on No. 13.
The Americans claimed their first point when Ryan Baca defeated Mark Haastrup, 3 and 2. Baca birdied No. 2 and parred the fifth, sixth and 11th to go up four holes, but Haastrup claimed the next two holes to cut the lead in half. Baca extended the lead back to three with a par at No. 15 and won the match when both players parred No. 16.
Alejandro Cañizares improved his Palmer Cup singles record to 7-0 and his overall record to 11-3 with a 2 and 1 victory against Clay Ogden. Cañizares won the first and fourth holes before Ogden responded with victories at the fifth and sixth. Cañizares reclaimed a two-hole lead by winning Nos. 7 and 9. Ogden again moved the match to all square after the 11th. Cañizares defeated Ogden on the Nos. 16th and 17th for the final margin.
Sweden’s Oscar Floren pushed the European advantage to 7-1 with a 5 and 4 victory against Kevin Larsen. Floren claimed holes two through four, but Larsen countered by winning Nos. 5 and 6. Floren won the seventh and followed with victories at 11 through 13. He closed the match when both players parred No. 14.
Rhys Davies improved his Palmer Cup record to 5-4-1 with a win against Ryan Blaum, 4 and 3. Davies jumped out to a 4-up lead after nine with wins at the second, fifth, seventh and ninth. Blaum narrowed the gap to two holes with pars at Nos. 11 and 12, but Davies claimed the next two holes and clinched the win by halving the 15th.
In the first of three matches that played the full 18 holes, Joost Luiten defeated Luke List when List missed a short putt for birdie and Luiten tapped in for par. After both players parred the first hole, Luiten birdied the third and parred No. 6 to go 2-up. List cut the lead to one hole with a par at No. 7. The two sides alternated holes 10 through 12 with Luiten claiming the 10th and 12th. List would again cut the lead to one with a birdie at No. 16 before halving the final two holes.
Roberto Castro provided Team USA with its second point with a 1-up win against Scotland’s Richard Ramsay. Castro eagled the third hole and parred the fourth for a 2-up advantage. He parred the sixth to go up three holes, but Ramsay responded with birdie at No. 7. Castro retook a three-hole lead by posting a bogey at the ninth. Ramsay cut the lead back to one with wins at Nos. 10 and 15. Each player took a hole by concession - Castro the 16th and Ramsay No. 17 - before both birdied the 18th.
Stephen Lewton of England won the final point of the day with by downing Chris Kirk 1-up. The two traded the first two holes, before Lewton won Nos. 4 and 5. He extended his advantage with birdie at No. 8. Kirk responded by claiming the next two holes. The pair alternated holes 14 through 17 before halving the final hole.
Play will resume with foursomes matches at 7:30 a.m. Friday.
2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster at Prestwick Golf Club
Day One Results
Prestwick Golf Club
Prestwick, Scotland
Europe 10
United States 2
Four-Ball Matches Results
Alejandro Cañizares/Pablo Martin, Europe def. Brian Harman/Chris Kirk, USA, 5 and 3
Mark Haastrup/Joost Luiten, Europe def. Luke List/Clay Ogden, USA, 4 and 3Rhys Davies/Richard Ramsey, Europe def. Ryan Baca/Ryan Blaum, USA, 6 and 4
Oscar Floren/Stephen Lewton, Europe def. Roberto Castro/Kevin Larsen, USA, 2 and 1
Day-One Singles Matches Results
Pablo Martin, Europe def. Brian Harman, USA, 6 and 5
Alejandro Cañizares, Europe vs. Clay Ogden, USA, 2 and 1
Ryan Baca, USA def. Mark Haastrup, Europe, 3 and 2
Joost Luiten, Europe def. Luke List, USA, 1-up
Roberto Castro, USA def. Richard Ramsay, Europe 1-up
Oscar Floren, Europe vs. Kevin Larsen, USA, 5 and 4
Stephen Lewton, Europe def. Chris Kirk, USA, 1-up
Rhys Davies, Europe def. Ryan Blaum, USA, 4 and 3
Day Two - Foursomes Matches Pairings
Alejandro Cañizares/Pablo Martin, Europe vs. Ryan Blaum/Roberto Castro, USA
Oscar Floren/Mark Haastrup, Europe vs. Ryan Baca/Clay Ogden, USA
Joost Luiten/Richard Ramsay, Europe vs. Brian Harman/Luke List, USA
Rhys Davies/Stephen Lewton, Europe vs. Chris Kirk/Kevin Larsen, USA
About the Palmer Cup
The annual Ryder Cup-style competition features top men and women collegiate players from the United States against their International counterparts. Each team will be comprised of 12 men's and 12 women's golfers. Day one will feature Mixed Four-Ball...
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