GB&I STEAL A MARCH ON THE AMERICANS AT THE PGA CUP
Simon Thornton lining up a putt on the opening day of the PGA Cup at The K Club where GB&I lead 6-2. (Photo: The PGA)
James Freeman stole the show with a sensational hole in one in the afternoon fourballs as Great Britain and Ireland whitewashed the Americans on their way to a 6-2 lead after day one of the PGA Cup at The K Club.
Freeman’s moment of glory came on the par-3 second to set he and Gareth Davies on their way to a 5&3 win over Garrett Sapp and Austin Hurt. There were also wins for Simon Thornton and Ash Mansell, Graeme Robertson and Gavin Hay, and Toby Hunt and Ben Amor as they trounced the US side in horrendous afternoon conditions.
GB&I hope to be celebrating just an eighth PGA Cup title on Sunday and a first since 2017 but Friday belonged to Freeman who achieved the moment of his career.
“I’ll remember that one forever. It’s my seventh hole in one,” beamed the Rotherham Golf Club man who also has a 59 to his name.
“To see the shot disappear, it was a tough shot hit it left hand side, one bounce bit of release and went in. What a moment, brilliant for us both to get the game square. It’s great to do it but ultimately it’s only a win on one hole so we had to press on. It’s the moment of my career I couldn't have picked a better time to do it.”
GB&I captain David Scott was utterly thrilled with his side’s performance but warned of an American fightback in more pleasant weekend conditions.
“The weather really turned nasty out there but most of my guys on the first tee were smiling like Cheshire cats. Our guys have experienced it and their mindset was positive, they went out there thinking bring it on, let’s do this. Everyone played great, a lot of birdies, a lot of great support and teamwork. For Simon and Ash to win 2UP was huge it was key to have a clean sheet.
“We are 40 per cent there or so and the weather is getting an awful lot better so I am sure the Americans will have a word to say about tomorrow but we will be ready for them. We are excited to be in this position but we will keep our feet on the ground.
A dramatic morning saw GB&I get out of the foursomes session level pegging at 2-2 with the USA despite being down in three matches at one stage.
“We dug in this morning it looked like we were going to go 3-1 down but managed to get that point over the line. That was magical and set us in a really good position at lunch we were all feeling pretty buoyant,” said Scott.
Having trailed 2-1, the third match involving Freeman and Davies against Zach Haynes and Garrett Sapp went the distance. The GB&I pair of Freeman and Davies came from one down with three to play to win on the 18th.
Superb winning putts on 16 and 17 from Freeman turned the game on its head and after Freeman almost completed a sensational hat trick of winning putts as his 70-foot eagle effort somehow turned its nose up at the hole, the Americans putt for eagle stayed above ground.
In the top match Thornton and Matt Ford lost control around the turn and were beaten 5&4 by Ben Kern and Michael Kartrude as the USA put the first point on the board.
Shortly after, the Scottish duo of Robertson and Hay levelled the tie with a 4&3 win over Austin Hurt and Ryan Lehahan.
It looked like the Americans were going to take control of the contest early on after Tyler Collett and Jesse Droemer won the anchor match 3&2 thanks as they pulled away with two birdies in three holes to win the 14th, 15th and 16th. But there was to be a twist in the tail through Davies and Freeman who provided late fireworks to ensure things we level pegging going into the afternoon fourballs.
As the weather turned sour with strong winds and nasty showers, GB&I began the fourball session well, moving up in all four matches after nine holes and they never looked back.
In truly horrendous conditions it was the hosts who pulled away with Freeman and Davies, Hunt and Amor winning early while Robertson and Hay and Thornton and Mansell did well to shake off the American rally late on to cap off a heavenly afternoon in hellish
weather.