Europe scripted a remarkable comeback to snatch a handy 6-4 lead over Asia-Pacific at the end of day one of the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy here on Wednesday.
Down 2-4, the European golfers seemed down and out. To make matters worse for the team Mario Galiano (Spain) and Renato Paratone (Italy) sprayed their second stroke on the par-five ninth hole at the KGA course into the water.
FalteringThe Asia-Pacific combination of Joshua Munn (New Zealand) and Shinichi Mizuno (Hong Kong) inexplicably failed to hammer home the advantage, and faltered with a three-putt finish.
The Europeans roared back with a miraculous escape to seal a near-impossible victory on the hole, and then went on to win the match.
“To lose from that position was disappointing, and it played on our minds for the rest of the day.
“We never really recovered from that,” said Brad Schadewitz, the Asia-Pacific team’s vice-captain, on why his squad lost the last four consecutive matches.
In the morning session, Asia-Pacific’s familiarity with the fourballs format saw them take a 3-2 advantage.
They, however, rarely compete in the foursome format, which contributed to their subsequent slump.
Experience apart, Europe was also served well by the English pair of Ashley Chesters and Ryan Evans, who collected two valuable points. Evans, in particular, stood out by consistently sinking the birdies and the odd eagle.
It was a disappointing day for India’s lone representative, Karun Taunk.
The nation’s leading amateur golfer — partnering Munn — went down to Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan and Dermot McElroy in the fourballs event.
The Jamshedpur golfer did not compete in the foursomes.
A 6-4 lead is hardly decisive, and European captain Andrew Morgan was the first to admit as much. “We cannot afford to have any more poor sessions,” he reiterated.
The scores:
Foursome: Europe 2 - Asia-Pacific 3; Fourballs: Europe 4 - Asia-Pacific 1; Overall: Europe 6 - Asia-Pacific 4.
