SAINT-NOM-LA-BRETECHE, France, Oct 5 AFP – Great Britain and Ireland golfers dominated the afternoon foursomes on Saturday, winning three out of four matches to level the Seve Trophy 9-9, ahead of the singles finale.
After Europe won the morning session for the first time in the tournament’s foursomes history, Sam Torrance’s men bounced back in the final four matches at the Saint-Nom-La-Breteche Golf Club.
Debutants Joost Luiten and Gregory Bourdy were Europe’s only afternoon winners as they made it four wins from four which means both men have the chance to become the first to win five matches at the biennial competition.
The day once again provided plenty of drama and it was only English duo Paul Casey and David Lynn’s 18th hole victory which drew the teams level at the end of play for the first time since opening day.
Firstly, it was Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Marc Warren of Scotland who came back twice before late birdies at 15 and 16 propelled them to a 2 and 1 victory over struggling Thomas Bjorn and Finn Mikko Ilonen.
It was the third time in four sessions that Great Britain and Ireland had notched up the first point as Bjorn lost for the third straight match.
Ilonen has just one point from three outings.
Scottish duo Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher then levelled the match at 8-8 day when they won an erratic match against previously unbeaten Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and his Spanish partner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
After the Europeans bogeyed the 13th and Lawrie and Gallacher extended their lead with a 15th hole birdie, two parred holes were enough to give Torrance’s men their second straight point.
With just two matches remaining in the days play, it came down to who would hold their nerve and forge a narrow advantage to take into Sunday’s singles.
Dutchman Luiten and Europe’s lone Frenchman Bourdy took on the Tour’s tallest player in Chris Wood, at 209cm, and Scott Jamieson of Scotland.
The Europeans threw away a two hole lead before being pegged back at the 12th but a bogey by their opponents at the difficult par four 13th put Bourdy and Luiten back in front.
Another birdie for Europe at the 16th appeared to wrap up the match with two to play but a spectacular bunker shot from Wood, which rolled straight into the cup pulled his team within one, heading to the final hole.
A wayward tee-shot by Jamieson blew their chances of a draw and a birdie from Bourdy was enough for a two hole victory.
“We will do our best but we’ll have to see tomorrow,” said Bourdy about a potential five win record for either himself of fellow rookie Luiten.
“We were very confident today especially towards the end.”
The final match of the day also went down the final green but again Torrance’s men had the last laugh as a birdie handed English pairing Casey and Lynn the final point of the day and left the teams level at 9-9.
Sunday will feature 10 singles matches with 14 1/2 points needed for victory.
