Team Europe jumps out to 4-2 lead at the Concession Cup
The first three editions of the Concession Cup were lopsided affairs dominated by the Americans but after a lengthy hiatus caused by the pandemic, the Europeans look like they are ready to make up for lost time.
Playing on home soil for the first time in four iterations of the Concession Cup, a reinforced Team Europe won four of six four-ball better ball matches on the opening day of the competition at Real Club Valderamma in Spain.
The European sides of Moises Cobo/Leon Breimer, Martin Birkolz/Mattias Pernheden and Caolan Rafferty/Gregoire Schoeb recorded lopsided victories over their American counterparts, while Rupert Kellock/Stephen Jensen posted a 1 up win over the team of Rusty Strawn/Matthew Sughrue.
Evan Beck/Joseph Deraney took out the Irish duo of Matthew McClean/Hugh Foley, finalists in the U.S. Mid-Amateur held at Erin Hills, 3 and 1, while Georgians Doug Hanzel/Bob Royak downed Trevor Foster/Jody Fanagan, 2 and 1, to account for both points for Team USA.
Captained by 1992 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Danny Yates, Team USA still looks the part of the favorite on paper, however, after being dominated in the first three matches at The Concession Club in Bradenton, Fla., the top mid- and senior amateurs from continental Europe were added a mix of players from Great Britain & Ireland in attempt to create a more level playing field.
The Concession Cup will continue tomorrow with six foursome matches.
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ABOUT THE Concession Cup
Created by supporters of amateur golf, The
Concession Cup is an event designed to celebrate
the
game through international competition while giving
back to worthy causes. The event is a biennial team
competition played between teams comprised of
leading male Mid-Amateurs, Senior Amateurs and
Super Senior Amateurs from the United States
and Europe.
The Concession Cup Committee will select the
participating players through the
following categories:
Six (6) Mid-Amateurs, age 25 to 54.
Six (6) Senior Amateurs, age 55 and older.
Two (2) Senior Amateurs, age 65 and older.
The competition is conducted over three
days through the traditional team match-play
formats of foursome, four-ball and singles.
In honor of two of the greatest amateur competitors
in the history of
the game, a trophy has been commissioned in
the names of United States amateur, Bill
Campbell and British Amateur, Sir Michael
Bonallack – the Campbell/Bonallack trophy will
be presented to the winning team at the
conclusion of the matches.
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