Thursday, December 19, 2024

Foley & McClean star for Internationals but USA win Bridges Cup – Irish Golfer Magazine

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Matthew McClean and Hugh Foley were victorious in their singles matches for the International side but it was the USA who edged to their third successive Bridges Cup title.

The singles session was halved at 6-6 but USA held on to win 17-15.

Trailing by two heading into the final day singles, McClean and Foley were picked first and second and they delivered for the hosts winning 3&2 and 2&1 respectively.

Dreams of an unlikely comeback were sparked when Lukas Michel made it three wins from three to start the singles session and both sides traded two wins each before the Stars and Stripes won four of the next five to turn the tide in their favour.

Andrew Medley, Henry Shimp, Drew Stoltz and Joseph Deraney earned the crucial points for the Americans to make it three in a row in the contest.

Foley and McClean ended the contest in Korea with a 100% record as a partnership after securing two comprehensive victories in both foursomes and fourball matches on day two.

Pitting a dozen of the leading mid-amateurs from the United States against a dozen top internationals in Ryder Cup format, the two Irishmen both lost their opening fourball matches with different partners before being paired together for a 3&2 win over Scott Strickland and Peter Tomasulo in the afternoon foursomes on day one. It was a session that the Internationals won 3-1 having gone down 5-1 in the opening session.

Unsurprisingly, they were sent out again in the morning fourball matches on day two and were in devastating form as they covered their 15 holes in seven-under and cruised to a 5&3 win. The session would finish three points apiece, leaving the United States leading by two with the afternoon foursomes and final-day singles yet to come.

The U.S. lead would remain two points clear at the end of the day, but once again Foley and McClean would be the star performers, not making a single bogey in the alternate shot format and birdieing the first, fourth, fifth and 13th holes on their way to a 5&4 victory.

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