Europe wins 7 of 8 matches to claim the Palmer Cup in a 13.5 to 10.5 victory over the U.S.
NEWCASTLE, County Down (June 30, 2012) – Europe claimed seven of eight matches and halved the other to stage a dramatic comeback and claim the 2012 Palmer Cup at The Royal County Down Golf Club. Team Europe overcame a four-point deficit to win 13.5-10.5. The all-time Palmer Cup results now stands 8-7-1 in favor of the United States.
“After the first day we were very disappointed, of course, and we had a long meeting,” said Europe Coach Rickard Lindberg. “I told them that we could still win this because there were a lot of points out there. I just wanted them to all believe that they could do it and they would have to go deep down within themselves to find something. Yesterday was good. We were pretty much in the same place we were today. We didn’t have the lucky bounces like we did today but today was unreal. I couldn’t be prouder of the guys or their performance. They really took on the situation and they really gave it a shot and came through on top. It was just unreal.
Daan Huizing started Europe’s run by downing Justin Thomas 4 and 3. Huizing won the first two holes with birdie and led by at least 2-up the entire match. He ran his advantage 4-up after seven. Huizing recorded six birdies and an eagle through 15 holes.
Sebastian Cappelen continued the charge for team Europe with a 3 and 2 win against Chris Williams. Williams won the first hole with birdie but Cappelen claimed the next two to go 1-up. Williams claimed Nos. 4 and 5 to reclaim the lead before Cappelen evened the match a hole later. Cappelen took control of the match by winning three-straight holes beginning at No. 11. Williams cut the lead to 2-up at No. 15. Cappelen closed the match with a birdie on No. 16.
Julien Brun set the tone early in his match against Blayne Barber by taking the first hole with eagle in his 6 and 5 victory. Barber would concede the next hole and Brun won No. 4 to run his lead to 3-up. Brun moved to 4-up through eight and won both the 12th and 13th with birdie to close the match.
Robert Karlsson tied the overall team standings downing Patrick Rodgers 2 and 1. Rodgers won the second hole to go 2-up but Karlsson took the next hole to even the match. Karlsson took a lead he would not relinquish after winning No. 5. Karlsson went 2-up after Rodgers conceded the ninth. Rodgers cut the lead to one hole after winning No. 15 but conceded No. 18.
USA’s Corbin Mills led most of his halved match against Thomas Pieters. Mills took the lead with birdie on No. 2 and extended his lead to 2-up through the fifth. Mills conceded No. 6 and No. 10 to move the match back to all square. Mills briefly reclaimed the lead the lead at No. 11 but surrendered it the next hole. He moved to 2-up after winning the 13th and 15th but conceded both Nos. 16 and 18 to halve the match.
Graeme Robertson defeated Derek Ernst, 2 and 1, to take the team lead for Europe. Ernst eagled to take the early lead but Robertson responded by winning both the fourth and fifth holes to move to 1-up. Robertson pushed his lead to 2-up after a birdie on No. 7 but Ernst won the next two to even the match at the turn. Europe regained control when Robertson won Nos. 11, 12 and 14. Ernst would claim both the 15th and 16th holes to cut the lead to 1-up but Robertson closed the match by winning No. 17.
David Booth clinched the Palmer Cup for Europe with a 2-up victory over James White. Booth built a big lead early in the match winning Nos. 2, 3, 7 and 9 for a 4-up lead at the turn. White would battle back using victories at the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th to square the match. Booth would regain the lead after the 16th and win No. 18 for the victory.
Pontus Widegren put the icing on the cake for Team Europe by downing Andrew Yun 3 and 1. Widegren won the third hole by concession to go 1-up. He moved to 2-up after winning No. 9 but won cut the lead in half by taking the 11th. Back-to-back wins by Widegren moved him to 3-up through 14. Yun won No. 15 to cut the lead back to 2-up but conceded No. 17 to close the match for Widegren.
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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