Europe comfortably retain Palmer Cup

EUROPE retained the Palmer Cup trophy by defeating the United States 14½-9½ at Ballybunion.

The victory was the largest in the series for the Europeans and moves the all-time record of the event to 4-3-1.

The United States won three of the morning foursomes to move to within four points, 10-6, after trailing 9-3 after the first day of competition.

JJ Jakovac and Ryan Moore claimed the first match for the Americans, downing the Spanish duo of Gonzalo Castaño and Alejandro Cañizares, 2-up. Europe hit back to win the second match one up, when Francesco Molinari and Martin Rominger defeated Matt Every and Chris Nallen.

But Team USA took victories in the final two matches of the morning, when Jason Hartwick and Chris Stroud won 2 and 1 against Rhys Davies and Gareth Maybin and Jack Ferguson and Billy Hurley came from behind to defeat Lars Brovold and Alex Norén.

Ferguson and Hurley lost the first four holes and didn’t lead until paring the 18th hole for victory.

However, Europe claimed the first three singles matches of the afternoon to retain the cup.

Brovold downed Hurley 8 and 6, Davies defeated Every 3 and 2, and Castaño overcame Moore 4 and 3.

For the record, Nallen claimed the next point for the US with a 3 and 1 win over Martin Rominger.

Cañizares won the final match for the Europeans when he defeated Jakovac 2-up in a match he led only in the final two holes.

The United States claimed the next two matches, both 2 and 1 victories by Stroud and Hartwick, while Ferguson and Molinari halved the final match of the competition.

“The guys on the first day played exceptionally well, especially in the afternoon, to give us a 9-3 advantage,” said Europe Head Coach Graham Kaye.

“This morning the US came out fighting and gave us a little shock in the foursomes. We went into the afternoon singles with a four-point lead but I felt pretty confident. My guys played very well in difficult conditions, as did the United States, but I think that yesterday is what did it for us.”