June 30, 2006
ATLANTA – Europe posted a record-breaking 19.5-4.5 victory at the 2006 Palmer Cup, sweeping Friday’s foursomes matches and taking five of the eight singles matches at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, Scotland.
Georgia Tech’s Roberto Castro and Kevin Larsen were not able to help the cause of the United States team, dropping close singles matches and their foursomes matches on Friday.
The former record was a 19-5 U.S. win against GB&I in the inaugural Palmer Cup in 1997 at Bay Hill. The Americans’ only points Friday came in singles wins by Duke’s Ryan Blaum and Georgia’s Chris Kirk, while Utah’s Clay Ogden halved his match.
Spain’s Pablo Martin had to come from behind twice in his match against Castro. The Tech junior from Alpharetta, Ga., birdied the first hole before Martin evened the match with a birdie on No. 3. Castro retook the lead on the next hole with a conceded birdie but Martin won both the sixth and seventh. Martin would extend the lead to 4-up by claiming Nos. 11-13. A Castro birdie at the 15th reduced the lead to three but he could not cut the lead any further as both players parred the 16th.
Joost Luiten of the Netherlands came from behind to defeat Larsen on No. 18 – 1-up – in a match that Larsen led for 14 holes. The American led by three holes after seven and was up two with five to play but Luiten birdied Nos. 14, 16 and 17 to even the match. Luiten knocked his tee shot on 18 within inches of the hole while Larsen’s ensuing tee shot went out of bounds and he conceded the hole.
2006 Palmer Cup — Day Two Results
Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland
Europe 19 1/2, United States 4 1/2
Foursomes Matches Results
Alejandro Cañizares/Pablo Martin, Europe def. Ryan Blaum/Roberto Castro, USA, 6 and 5
Oscar Floren/Mark Haastrup, Europe def. Ryan Baca/Clay Ogden, USA, 1-up
Joost Luiten/Richard Ramsay, Europe def. Brian Harman/Luke List, USA, 3 and 2
Rhys Davies/Stephen Lewton, Europe def. Chris Kirk/Kevin Larsen, USA, 4 and 3
Singles Matches Results
Pablo Martin, Europe def. Roberto Castro, USA, 3 and 2
Ryan Blaum, USA def. Oscar Floren, Europe, 4 and 2
Mark Haastrup, Europe def. Brian Harman, USA, 5 and 3
Alejandro Cañizares, Europe def. Ryan Baca, USA, 1-up
Joost Luiten, Europe def. Kevin Larsen, USA, 2-up
Stephen Lewton, Europe halved Clay Ogden, USA
Rhys Davies, Europe def. Luke List, USA, 3 and 2
Chris Kirk, USA def. Richard Ramsay, Europe, 1-up
