Europe leads United States by three

points at halfway in Palmer Cup

FROM THE PALMER CUP WEBSITE
Following a dominant morning four-ball session, Europe rode an early winning streak in afternoon singles matches to hold a 7 1/2-4 1/2 lead at the end of the first day's play in the two-day 2009 Palmer Cup students' international match, presented by Fisher Capital Partners, at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.
Europe claimed the first three matches of the morning four-ball session. Henrik Norlander and Robin Wingardh gained the first points of the matches when the won five straight holes - including a stretch when the Swedes went eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie - to down Erik Flores and Adam Mitchell.
The pairing of Jorge Campillo and Tim Sluiter and the Italian duo of Leonardo Motto and Andrea Pavan pushed Europe’s lead to 3-0 after each claimed 2-up victories.
Morgan Hoffmann and Cameron Tringale earned the only American points of the opening session - 2-up - in a match it led for all but four holes.
Bud Cauley pulled Team USA to within a point by earning the day’s first singles victory, but the Europeans won three of the next four matches.
Campillo needed seven birdies - including on his last three holes - to edge Mike Van Sickle, 1-up, in a back-in-forth match.
Cameron Tringale led for nine holes before halving with Holland’s Sluiter. Motto grabbed the lead on No. 11 versus Hoffmann before eventually winning 2-up. Stephan Gross recorded the first of seven birdies to win the first hole in his match against Erik Flores and led throughout in a 3 and 1 triumph.
The Americans attempted a late-round rally when Steve Ziegler won four-straight holes - and tallied four birdies in five holes - for a come-from-behind, 2 and 1 victory against Pavan.
Adam Mitchell took advantage of a Chris Paisley bogey on No. 13 and double bogey on No. 14 and followed with a pair of birdie holes for a four-hole run of his own to win 4 and 2.
Norlander dashed Team USA’s hope of pulling any closer when he downed Trent Leon, 3 and 2, to give Europe a 7.5-4.5 lead at the close of the day.
“The four-ball and foursomes in any team sport play a huge part and we got off to a good start with a 3-1 victory,” said Europe head coach Dean Robertson. “The Swedish boys came out hot and we had good performances by Jorge (Campillo) and Tim Sluiter and the Italian boys Leonardo Mott and Andrea Pavan.”
FIRST DAY SCOREBOARD
EUROPE 7 1/2, UNITED STATES 4 1/2
Four-Ball Matches
Europe 3, United States 1
(European names first)
Jorge Campillo & Tim Sluiter bt Bud Cauley & Trent Leon 2 holes.
Henrik Norlander & Robin Wingardh bt Erik Flores & Adam Mitchell 6 and 4.
Leonardo Motta & Andrea Pavan bt Mike Van Sickle & Steve Ziegler 2 holes.
Stephan Gross & Chris Paisley lost to Morgan Hoffmann & Cameron Tringale 2 holes.
Singles
Europe 4 1/2, United States 3 1/2
Wingardh lost to Cauley 4 and 3.
Campillo bt Van Sickle 1 hole.
Sluiter halved with Tringale.
Motta bt Hoffmann 2 holes.
Gross bt Flores 3 and 1.
Pavan lost to Ziegler 2 and 1.
Paisley lost to Mitchell 4 and 2.
Norlander bt Leon 3 and 2.

FRIDAY'S FOURSOMES LINE-UP
Jorge Campillo & Tim Sluiter v Bud Cauley & Mike Van Sickle.
Stephan Gross & Chris Paisley v Erik Flores & Steve Ziegler.
Leonardo Motta & Andrea Pavan v Trent Leon & Adam Mitchell.
Henrik Norlander & Robin Wingardh v Morgan Hoffmann & Cameron Tringale.