Horschel and U.S. team fall to Europe in 2008 Palmer Cup
Friday, June 27, 2008 | Men's Golf
The European team gained momentum after sweeping the morning session and carried it through to the afternoon singles matches to come from behind and claim the 2008 Palmer Cup title, 14-10. The United States still holds the edge in the overall record (6-5-1) but the Americans have lost the last three events held in Europe.
Florida's Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) and teammate Adam Mitchell (Georgia) lost their morning foursome match, and Horschel halved his singles match in the afternoon.
The U.S. team held a one point lead going into the day, but the European side came out firing and took all four matches in the alternate-shot format. The Euro tandem of Jonas Blixt (Florida State/Sweden) and Jonas Enander Hedin (Charlotte/Sweden) evened the overall team score with a 4 and 3 win against Aaron Goldberg (San Diego State) and Michael Thompson (Alabama). The lead went back and fourth on the front nine, but the Swedish duo won four out of the next five holes to win the match.
Scott Borrowman (Stirling/Scotland) and Charles Ford (Tennessee/England) put Europe back in the team lead by downing Horschel and Mitchell, 3 and 1. The Americans won the fourth hole to go 1-up, but Europe evened the score with a birdie on the next hole. The Euros would also win the seventh hole to take the lead for good. The two sides traded the next four holes before Europe claimed Nos. 13 and 14. Team USA would trim the lead back to two holes on the 16th before conceding the match on the 17th.
Jorge Campillo (Indiana/Spain) and Tim Sluiter (Southern California/Netherlands) won the second hole and never looked back in their 3 and 2 victory over Kevin Chappell (UCLA) and Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State). Europe completed the sweep with the only match that went the complete 18 holes when Jonathan Caldwell (South Alabama/Northern Ireland) and Gareth Shaw (East Tennesee State/Northern Ireland) edged Derek Fathauer (Louisville) and Chesson Hadley (Georgia Tech), 1-up.
The Europeans headed into the afternoon match with a 9.5-6.5 lead over the Americans. The first singles match between Campillo and Fowler was halved, but Blixt earned a point to extend the Europeans lead with a 2 and 1 win over Thompson. Enander Hedin clinched the Cup for Europe when he downed Mitchell 3 and 2.
Florida's Horschel lead for most of his match against Ford, gaining a two-hole lead with wins at four and five. Ford battled back to all square but Horschel pushed his lead back to two claiming the 12th and 15th. He failed to finish it off though posting bogey on the final two holes and settling for the halve.
Caldwell won Europe's final match of the Palmer Cup when he beat Goldberg 3 and 2. Hadley won the Americans first match of the day with a 1-up victory over Gareth Shaw. Local favorite Borrowman halved Chappell in a match in which the Scotsman never trailed. Team USA's Fathauer claimed the final match of the 2008 event, 3 and 1, over Tim Sluiter.
Enander Hedin of Taby, Sweden, and Thompson of Tucson, Arizona, were named recipients of the Michael Carter Award. The Carter award is given to a player from each side that best represents the qualities represented by the Palmer Cup.
2008 Palmer Cup presented by Monster at Glasgow Golf Club Gailes Links
Day Two Results
Glasgow Golf Club Gailes Links
Irvine, Scotland
Europe
United States
Foursomes Matches Results
Jonas Blixt/Jonas Enander Hedin, Europe def. Aaron Goldberg/Michael Thompson, USA, 4 and 3
Scott Borrowman/Charles Ford, Europe def. Billy Horschel/Adam Mitchell, USA, 3 and 1
Jonathan Caldwell/Gareth Shaw, Europe def. Derek Fathauer/Chesson Hadley, USA, 1-up
Jorge Campillo/Tim Sluiter, Europe vs. Kevin Chappell/Rickie Fowler, USA, 3 and 2
Day-Two Singles Matches Results
Jorge Campillo, Europe halved Rickie Fowler, USA
Jonas Blixt, Europe def. Michael Thompson, USA, 2 and 1
Charles Ford, Europe halved Billy Horschel, USA
Chesson Hadley, USA def. Gareth Shaw, Europe, 1-up
Scott Borrowman, Europe halved Kevin Chappell, USA
Jonas Enander Hedin, Europe def. Adam Mitchell, USA, 3 and 2
Jonathan Caldwell, Europe def. Aaron Goldberg, USA, 3 and 2
Tim Sluiter, Europe vs. Derek Fathauer, USA, 3 and 1
-UF-
