Published July 17, 2008 on September 25, 2018

United States Takes 7 ½ – 4 ½ Lead Over Europe After First Day of 2018 Junior Ryder Cup

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The United States will take a three-point lead into the final session of the Junior Ryder Cup after the first day of the biennial event at Golf Disneyland, in Paris.

The two-day tournament, which comprises of two teams of 12 of the best male and female junior players from Europe and the United States, began with Foursomes – which saw the Americans take a 4-2 lead – followed by Mixed Fourballs.

After a strong start from the Europeans, which saw Austria’s Emma Spitz and Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad grab the first point of the day 4&3 over Rose Zhang and Alexa Pano, boys Canon Claycomb and Ricky Castillo then earned the first US point of the tournament 4&3 over Spaniards David Puig and Eduard Rousaud Sabate.

The formidable US pairing of Lucy Li and Erica Shepherd grabbed an early 3-1 lead over England’s Annabell Fuller and Sweden’s Amanda Linner, only to see Europe tie it up quickly. But after taking six out of eight holes between the seventh to the 15^th, Li and Shepherd claimed a resounding 5&3 victory.

In a toe-to-toe match, American boys Cole Ponich and William Moll were level with English pair Robin “Tiger” Williams and Connor Gough, before winning the final two holes to claim a 2up triumph.

Elsewhere Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard halved with Akshay Bhatia and Michael Thorbjornsen, while Italian duo Alessia Nobilio and Emilie Alba Paltrinieri finished all square with Yealimi Noh and Rachel Heck.

During the afternoon Mixed Fourball sessions the Europeans started brightly with a commanding 5&4 victory from Alba-Paltrinieri and Rasmus Hojgaard over Bhatia and Noh.

Following an excellent comeback from Rousaud and Lindblad – who birdied three of their five closing holes to halve with Castillo and Zhang – the Americans fought back with three consecutive victories from Ponich and Pano, Claycomb and Shepherd, plus Moll and Heck.

But it was Europe who had the final word with Williams and Fuller winning the last match of the day 1up – courtesy of a stunning finish of three birdies in three holes.

United States 7 ½ – Europe 4 ½ 

Morning Foursomes

Match 1 – Emilie Alba-Paltrinieri/Alessia Nobilio (EUR) Halved Yealimi Noh/Rachel Heck (USA)

Match 2 — Nicolai Hojgaard/Rasmus Hojgaard (EUR) Halved Akshay Bhatia/Michael Thorbjornsen (USA)

Match 3 – Emma Spitz/Ingrid Lindblad (EUR) 4&3 over Rose Zhang/Alexa Pano (USA)

Match 4 – Canon Claycomb/Ricky Castillo (USA) 4&3 over David Puig/Eduard Rousaud Sabate (EUR)

Match 5 – Lucy Li/Erica Shepherd (USA) 5&3 over Annabell Fuller/Amanda Linner (EUR)

Match 6 – William Moll/Cole Ponich (USA) 2up over Conor Gough/Robin Tiger Williams (EUR)

 

Afternoon Mixed Fourballs

Match 1 – William Moll/Rachel Heck (USA) 2&1 over Nicolai Hojgaard/Alessia Nobilio (EUR)

Match 2 — Emilie Alba-Paltrinieri/Rasmus Hojgaard (EUR) 5&4 over Akshay Bhatia/Yealimi Noh (USA)

Match 3 – Eduard Rousaud Sabate/Ingrid Lindblad (EUR) Halved Ricky Castillo/Rose Zhang (USA)

Match 4 – Cole Ponich/Alexa Pano (USA) 2&1 over David Puig/Emma Spitz (EUR)

Match 5 – Robin Williams/Annabell Fuller (EUR) 1up over Micahel Thorbjornsen/Lucy Li (USA)

Match 6 – Conor Claycomb/Erica Shepherd (EUR) 5&3 over Conor Gough/Amanda Linner (EUR)