Europe Takes First Day Lead at Palmer Cup Team presented by Fisher Capital Partners

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. – Following a dominant morning four-ball session, Europe rode an early winning streak in afternoon singles matches to hold a 7.5-4.5 lead at the 2009 Palmer Cup presented by Fisher Capital Partners at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

Europe claimed the first three matches of the morning four-ball session. Henrik Norlander and Robin Wingardh claimed 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 Euros would claim 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.”
Palmer Cup Presented by Fisher Capital Partners
Cherry Hills Country Club
June 4

Europe 7.5 United States 4.5

Four-Ball Matches Results
Jorge Campillo/Tim Sluiter, Europe def. Bud Cauley/Trent Leon, USA, 2-up
Henrik Norlander/Robin Wingardh, Europe def. Erik Flores/Adam Mitchell, USA, 6 and 4
Leonardo Motta/Andrea Pavan, Europe def. Mike Van Sickle/Steve Ziegler, USA, 2-up
Morgan Hoffmann/Cameron Tringale, USA def. Stephan Gross/Chris Paisley, Europe, 2-up
Europe leads 3-1

Singles Matches Pairings
Bud Cauley, USA def. Robin Wingardh, Europe, 4 and 3
Jorge Campillo, Europe def. Mike Van Sickle, USA, 1-up
Tim Sluiter, Europe halved Cameron Tringale, USA
Leonardo Motta, Europe def.  Morgan Hoffmann, USA, 2-up
Stephan Gross, Europe def. Erik Flores, USA, 3 and 1
Steve Ziegler, USA def. Andrea Pavan, Europe, 2 and 1
Adam Mitchell, USA def. Chris Paisley, Europe, 4 and 2
Henrik Norlander, Europe def. Trent Leon, USA, 3 and 2
Europe leads 7.5-4.5

June 5 Foursomes Matches Pairings
Jorge Campillo/Tim Sluiter, Europe vs. Bud Cauley/Mike Van Sickle, USA
Stephan Gross/Chris Paisley, Europe vs. Erik Flores/Steve Ziegler, USA
Leonardo Motta/Andrea Pavan, Europe vs. Trent Leon/Adam Mitchell, USA
Henrik Norlander/Robin Wingardh, Europe vs. Morgan Hoffmann/Cameron Tringale, USA