PGA Tournaments' News

Derby duo Paul Wesselingh and James Whatley fought bravely on the second day of the 23rd PGA Cup but it was not enough to prevent GB&I slipping to a 9-7 deficit against USA at The Oconee Course in Georgia.

USA edged a thrilling morning of foursomes to level the scores at 6-6 by lunch. And the home team extended their supremacy in the afternoon fourballs, winning three matches to GB&I's one to take a two-point lead going into the final day.

In the foursomes, Wesselingh (Kedleston Golf Club) and James Whatley (East Midlands Golf Club) halved their match against the formidable pairing of Mike Small and Ryan Benzel after Wesselingh, competing in his fifth PGA Cup, holed a four-foot putt to win the final hole.

Wesselingh said: "I wasn't too nervous on that final putt. James gave me a few tips on the way round because I'd been missing a few short putts because the greens are so quick.

"James thought I was moving a bit too much and I was fine after that.

"It was a real tough match - any match in foursomes is tough. And to get a result like that was fantastic."

Andrew Barnett and Duncan Muscroft slipped to a 3&2 defeat to Chip Sullivan and Chris Starkjohann.

Michael Nesbit and Craig Goodfellow fell to an agonising loss against Ron Philo Jr. and Tim Thelen after Newcastle-based Nesbit had dropped his putt just short of the 18th pin to miss a golden opportunity to win the hole and halve the match.

But there was something for GB&I to celebrate in the morning session and it came courtesy of Jon Bevan and George Ryall who played a stunning final hole to secure a 2UP win over Alan Schulte and Don Yrene.

The duo were 5UP with just six holes left to play, but a spirited fightback from the Americans took the match to the final hole.

But a majestic 20ft putt from Ryall ensured they won the hole and posted the first win of the day for GB&I.

The Americans stretched their lead in the afternoon, though, with the sweltering heat taking its toll on the GB&I team.

Wesselingh and Whatley slipped to a 2DOWN defeat to Thelen and 57-year-old Butch Sheehan, and Wesselingh admits the conditions knocked him out of his stride.

"I must admit that the heat did get to me out there, it was overpowering," he said. "Even the Americans were asking if it was fit to carry on, but I suppose everyone's got to play in it."

John Dwyer and Danny Taylor (Swingers, Lichfield), who sat out the morning foursomes, were defeated by the in-form Small and Schulte 2&1, while Andrew Barnett and Craig Goodfellow lost by the same scoreline to the pairing of Starkjohann and Sullivan.

The one bright spot for GB&I in the afternoon was the 2&1 victory for Muscroft and Ryall against Philo Jr. and Lee Rinker.

It gave the GB&I side a timely fillip at the end of the gruelling day and ensures they go into the final day within touching distance of their opponents.

"This was a big point," said GB&I captain Gary Alliss.

"If we had lost all four that would have been disappointing but the fact we've got the final point of the day in a way makes it feel better.

"Paul Wesselingh said to me immediately after that that was the point that keeps us in it for tomorrow.

"My boys played really well but the US team were just fantastic today. Hats off to them.

"It was hard today but it was always going to be hard. The US were going to come out fighting, temperatures were nearly touching 90 degrees and it was hard but I'm proud of the way they performed."

Pairings for the Sunday singles: