OWINGS MILLS, Md. (June 8, 2007) � Former ETSU star Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales) defeated Ben Hogan Award winner Chris Kirk 4-and-2 in Friday afternoon's single matches, but that victory was one of only two singles match victories for the Europeans, as the United States claimed six of the eight final session singles matches to post an 18-6 victory at the Palmer Cup presented by Monster at Caves Valley Golf Club. The win moves the all-time series to 6-4-1 in favor of the Americans.
"After the success we had yesterday afternoon, it would have been very easy to come out complacent today," said Team USA Head Coach Mike McGraw. "This morning's matches were key. If we had been swept this morning, it would have been back to a tight ball game but we got down to business and put ourselves in a great position where we only needed a halve to win back the Palmer Cup."
Luke list clinched the victory for the Americans with a 6 and 5 victory over Gordon Yates. List never trailed in the match and lost only one hole.
The Americans would also claim the next three matches. Billy Horschel won the first two holes in his 4 and 3 win against Oscar Floren and would push lead to 3-up thru five. Floren would even the match after No. 10. Horschel would win four of the next five to close out the match. Brian Harman beat ETSU rising senior Gareth Shaw (Lisburn, Northern Ireland) 1-up. Harman held 1-up leads after Nos. 2 and 4, but Shaw would take a 1-up lead at the turn. The two went back to all square thru 10 but Harman would take the lead at No. 12 and extend it to two holes thru 15. Shaw would claim the next two holes to even the match before bogeying the 18th to drop the match. Jamie Lovemark lead all but one hole against Mark Haastrup in his 2 and 1 win. Lovemark went 3-up thru 8 but Haastrup would cut the lead to one hole after Nos. 11 and 14. Lovemark birdied the 17th for the victory.
Davies produced Europe's first win after downing Chris Kirk, 4 and 2. Davies took the lead with birdie at No. 2 and extended his advantage to two holes thru six. Kirk would claim the next two to even the match but Davies would win the next four. Kirk would cut the lead to 3-up by winning No. 4 before Davies closed out the match with a birdie two holes later.
