GB&I WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF FAMOUS PGA CUP WIN
GB&I will take a commanding 11.5-4.5 lead into the final day of the PGA Cup at The Club. (Photo: The PGA)
A sensational finish from Graeme Robertson and Gavin Hay at The K Club made it four wins from four matches as a pair as they helped Great Britain and Ireland to within two points of their first PGA Cup victory since 2017.
GB&I have tied or won all four sessions after winning the foursomes and halving the fourballs to roar into a seemingly unassailable 11.5-4.5 lead against a beleaguered USA team who haven’t got going at the K Club.
The day belonged to Scottish duo Robertson and Hay who, after beating Tyler Collett and Jesse Droemer, repeated the feat with a superb victory on the 18th against Collett and Garrett Sapp.
Robertson birdied 14 and 15 to move the hosts 2up match before the Americans halved the deficit. A closing birdie from Robertson sealed the 1hole win and ensured GB&I couldn't lose the session.
"It was good, I lost my game a bit today I was struggling off the tee but my partner was there to bail me out, we couldn't get any putts to drop at all. Graeme got a few birdies on the back nine. A great way to get the win at the last," said Hay.
"It was a great match, some crucial birdies. I fell away at the end but my partner was there to bail me out," added Robertson.
GB&I continued their first day momentum into the Saturday morning session, winning the first three foursomes matches and only being denied back to back session whitewashes by a stirring comeback from American pair Zach Haynes and Ryan Lenahan who came from four down through 10 to snatch a half point from Ash Mansell and Harry Casey.
The score was 9.5-2.5 after the morning session which meant that GB&I could win their first PGA Cup since 2017 if they won all four afternoon fourballs.
After GB&I pulled away on Friday afternoon in some horrendous conditions it was expected that a picture perfect Saturday would coincide with an American fightback. But the hosts proved they can play come rain, hail or shine as they forged further ahead.
The first blue point of the morning came courtesy of PGA in Ireland captain Simon Thornton and Matt Ford as they avenged their day one defeat of Michael Kartrude and Ben Kern with a 4&2 victory.
Victories then followed from Robertson and Hay who were 3up early on against Tyler Collet and Jesse Droemer before sealing the deal on 17 for a 2&1 win. Then came the turn of GB&I star pairing James Freeman and Gareth Davies who won four holes in a row around the turn to go from 3down through six to win by 1hole.
Into the fourballs and the dominance continued with Toby Hunt and Ben Amor defeating Kartrude and Austin Hurt 2&1. The tie was level through six before both GB&I players shared four birdies in five holes to take the game away from their opponents.
A long awaited first USA victory since Friday morning was confirmed by Brian Bergstol and Brendon Bingaman as they overcame star duo James Freeman and Gareth Davies 3&2.
After the heroics of Robertson and Hay, the fourball session ended 2-2 courtesy of Lenahan and Haynes who were 2&1 victors over Ford and Ash Mansell.
PGA in Ireland captain Thornton will lead out Great Britain and Ireland into the Sunday singles and he will take on Kartrude for the third straight day.
GB&I captain David Scott has gone heavy at the top with Mansell, Robertson and Hay all out early. Should an American fightback materialise there is depth towards the bottom order in Amor, Davies, Freeman and Casey.
At this stage it very much looks of a case of when rather than if GB&I can get over the line for a famous win at the Kildare venue and an eighth PGA Cup overall.