Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates: Asia-Pacific drew first blood in the 12th edition of the Bonallack Trophy and the fourth staging of the Patsy Hankins Trophy.
Despite both losing the first of the five foursomes matches at Al Hamra Golf Club, Rishi Narain’s men’s side and Joanne McKee's ladies team staged stirring fightbacks, winning three and halving one of their remaining contests.
Going into the afternoon fourballs, the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation teams both held a 3½-1½ lead, The men are aiming to defeat their European Golf Association counterparts for a third time in succession, while the women are seeking to reclaim the title they surrendered in Spain in 2023.
“All credit to the boys. It was a tremendous effort,” said Narain, whose decision to send out all New Zealand and Japanese pairings paid dividends.
While Kiwis Joshua Bai and Zack Swanwick defeated Germany’s Tim Wiedemeyer and Peer Wernicke 3&2, the Japan duo of Rintaro Nakano and Taishi Moto repelled England’s Charlie Forster and Dominic Clemons, one-up.
In another close contest, Thai Pichaksin Maichon and China’s Zhou Ziqin produced a brilliant late charge to beat Sweden’s Algot Kleen and Arni Sveinsson of Iceland 2&1.
After watching Zhou make a birdie putt at 16 to go one-up, Pichaksin holed a 35-footer for another birdie at 17 to seal the point.
In the final match on the course, Enrique Dimayuga of the Philippines and Indian Kartik Singh salvaged a half-point after winning the 18th hole in dramatic style against Estonian Richard Teder and Ukrainian Lev Grinberg.
Dimayuga struck a brilliant driver off the deck from 320 yards to reach the green in two. Singh, who had chipped and putted beautifully all day, then rolled a 55-foot putt to within tap-in distance. The Europeans were unable to match that birdie, ensuring a two-point advantage for Asia-Pacific after the first session.
Europe’s solitary point came in the opening match with Spaniards Jose Luis Ballester and Pablo Ereno Perez withstanding a late comeback from Singaporean Hiroshi Tai and Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Minh to win 2&1.
In the Patsy Hankins Trophy, there were notable triumphs for the pairings of Mamika Shinchi and Aira Nagasawa, Jeong Min-seo and Arianna Lau and Mirabel Ting and Zhou Shiyuan.
Japan’s Shinchi and Nagasawa were too strong for Ireland’s Beth Coulter and Aine Donegan, winning 4&3, while Malaysian Ting and China’s Zhou combined for a 3&1 success against the Swedish duo of Nora Sundberg and Louise Rydqvist.
Korean Jeong and Hong Kong China’s Lau also delivered the goods, overcoming Spaniard Carolina Chacarra and Denmark’s Emma Kaisa Bunch 2&1.
Chinese Taipei’s Cindy Hsu Huai-chien and New Zealander Vivian Lu claimed an important half for captain McKee’s team against Italian Francesca Fiorellini and Spain’s Rocio Tejedo.
As in the Bonallack Trophy, Europe’s only win came in match one when the English pair of Patience Rhodes and World Amateur Golf Ranking number one Lottie Woad steamrollered the Thai twosome of Eila Galitsky and Suvichaya Vinichaitham, 6&5.
SESSION 1: PATSY HANKINS TROPHY FOURSOMES RESULTS – ASIA-PACIFIC 3.5 EUROPE 1.5
Eila Galitsky and Suvichaya Vinichaitham (Asia-Pacific) lost to Lottie Woad and Patience Rhodes (Europe) 6&5
Mamika Shinchi and Aira Nagasawa (Asia-Pacific) beat Beth Coulter and Aine Donegan (Europe) 4&3
Cindy Hsu Huai-chien and Vivian Lu (Asia-Pacific) halved with Francesca Fiorellini and Rocio Tejedo (Europe)
Jeong Min-seo and Arianna Lau (Asia-Pacific) beat Carolina Chacarra and Emma Kaisa Bunch (Europe) 2&1
Mirabel Ting and Zhou Shiyuan (Asia-Pacific) beat Nora Sundberg and Louise Rydqvist (Europe) 3&1
SESSION 1: BONALLACK TROPHY FOURSOMES RESULTS – ASIA-PACIFIC 3.5 EUROPE 1.5
Hiroshi Tai and Nguyen Anh Minh (Asia-Pacific) lost to Jose Luis Ballester and Pablo Ereno Perez (Europe) 2&1
Pichaksin Maichon and Zhou Ziqing (Asia-Pacific) beat Algot Kleen and Arni Sveinsson (Europe) 2&1
Rintaro Nakano and Taishi Moto (Asia-Pacific) beat Charlie Forster and Dominic Clemons (Europe) 1-up
Joshua Bai and Zack Swanwick (Asia-Pacific) beat Tim Wiedemeyer and Peer Wernicke (Europe) 3&2
Enrique Dimayuga and Kartik Singh (Asia-Pacific) halved with Richard Teder and Lev Grinberg (Europe)
SESSION 2: BONALLACK TROPHY FOURBALLS DRAW
Hiroshi Tai and Thanawin Lee (Asia-Pacific) v Jose Luis Ballester and Pablo Ereno Perez (Europe)
Pichaksin Maichon and Zhou Ziqin (Asia-Pacific) v Algot Kleen and Arni Sveinsson (Europe)
Rintaro Nakano and Taishi Moto (Asia-Pacific) v Filip Jakucik and Bebnjamin Reuter (Europe)
Joshua Bai and Zack Swanwick (Asia-Pacific) v Tim Wiedemeyer and Peer Wernicke (Europe)
Kartik Singh and Jeffrey Wong Ngai-shen (Asia-Pacific) v Richard Teder and Lev Grinberg (Europe)
SESSION 2: PATSY HANKINS TROPHY FOURBALLS DRAW
Sophie Han and Ren Yijia (Asia-Pacific) v Marie Madsens and Beth Coulter (Europe)
Mamika Shinchi and Aira Nagasawa (Asia-Pacific) v Aine Donegan and Patience Rhodes (Europe)
Jeong Min-seo and Arianna Lau (Asia-Pacific) v Lottie Woad and Rocio Tejedo (Europe)
Eila Galitsky and Vivian Lu (Asia-Pacific) v Carolina Melgrati and Carolina Chacarra (Europe)
Cindy Hsu Huai-chien and Zhou Shiyuan (Asia-Pacific) v Nora Sundberg and Francesca Fiorellini (Europe)
