Irish duo on song as hosts boost title hopes

IRISH stars Jonathan Caldwell and Shane Lowry played a key role in helping Great Britain and Ireland establish a comfortable first-day advantage against the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy match at Kingsbarns yesterday.

Seeking their fifth consecutive success in the biennial contest, the hosts are 7½-4½ ahead at the halfway stage, requiring only another 4½ points from the 12 available today to retain the trophy.

Walker Cup man Caldwell from Clandeboye and Lowry of Esker Hills recorded excellent foursomes wins and then Lowry battled to an honourable share of the spoils with new European champion Stephen Gross in the singles while Caldwell went down 3&1 to Alexandre Kaleka.

In the top foursomes clash Caldwell lined up with Scottish champion Callum Macaulay — and they always held the upper hand against Amateur Champion Reinier Saxton and Tim Sluiter whom they beat by 3&1.

Lowry partnered Wallace Booth and they overwhelmed Kaleka and Benjamin Hebert by 4&3 as Britain and Ireland completed a clean sweep of the foursomes. Captain Colin Dalgleish sticks with the same foursomes pairings this morning.

Meanwhile, in the Jaques Leglise Boys match being run concurrently with the St Andrews Trophy battle, Europe lead Britain and Ireland 7-5 after taking the singles 5-3.

There were mixed fortunes for the two Irish players in the side Luke Lennox and Alan Dunbar.

They lined up together in the foursomes and recorded a splendid 5&3 victory over 2007 British Boys Open Amateur champion Emilio Cuartero and Carlos Pigem.

Dunbar halved his singles match with Maximilian Kieffer while Lennox was rested. This morning Dunbar and Lennox play together again in the second day foursomes.