Lewton helps Europe to record Palmer Cup win
Europe romped to a record-breaking 19.5 - 4.5 victory over
the United States to regain the Palmer Cup at Prestwick Golf
Club in Scotland after dominating the annual contest between
the university students of both continents from the start.
After losing the trophy a year ago in America, Europe were
in irresistible form and had the contest won before the final
series of singles. Under the wily captaincy of Peter McEvoy,
Europe took the opening series of fourball matches 4-0, led
10-2 after the first day, while another clean sweep in the
second day foursomes left them in an unassailable position.
Europe got off to a flier by sweeping the four-ball matches,
the first time this has happened in four-balls and the first
sweep in any format since the Americans swept the foursomes
matches in the inaugural contest in 1997.
Stephen Lewton, the only Englishman in the team, and Sweden's
Oscar Floren won the bottom match 2 and 1 over Roberto Castro
and Kevin Larsen, 2 and 1. Europe maintained their dominance
in the first series of singles, Lewton winning the final point
of the day with by beating Chris Kirk by one hole to leave
his side 10-2 ahead.
When the second day dawned, Europe needed just two more wins
and a half to reclaim the cup and they did it in style by
sweeping the morning foursomes matches.Lewton, this time partnering
Rhys Davies of Wales, claimed a 4 and 3 victory over Chris
Kirk and Kevin Larsen, the Europeans closing out the match
with birdies on the 14th and 15th.
While the final series of singles was academic, Europe were
still in superb form, winning five of the eight contests.
Spain's Pablo Martin twice came from behind to beat Roberto
Castro 3 and 2, while Mark Haastrup of Denmark defeated Brian
Harman, 5 and 3.
Ryan Blaum won the first point of the day for the Americans
against Oscar Floren, but Spain's Alejandro Canzares won his
eighth-straight singles match in Palmer Cup competition and
concluded his career with a 13-3 record in the event by beating
Ryan Baca 1-up.
There were also victories for Joost Luiten of the Netherlands
and Rhys Davies from Wales, while Lewton and Clay Ogden produced
the only halved match of the contest. Lewton led for much
of the contest and was never behind. The Englishman was two-up
with three to play, but Ogden won the 16th with bogey, the
17th with birdie and eagled the 18th to level.
The European victory is its second successive in Europe and
their third of the last four. The United States now leads
the series, 5-4 with one tie.
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