Europe near EurAsia Cup win despite Asia fightback

Sport360 staff 13:27 28/03/2014
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  • Battle lines: The inaugural AsiaCup has divided golf's governing bodies.

    Europe remained on course for victory in the inaugural EurAsia Cup despite a spirited fightback from Asia on the second day in Kuala Lumpur.

    After being whitewashed 5-0 in Thursday's fourballs, Thongchai Jaidee's side hit back to take three points from Friday's foursomes. 

    Prayad Marksaeng and Kim Hyung-sung beat Thomas Bjorn and Thorbjorn Olesen, while Anirban Lahiri and Siddikur Rahman defeated Joost Luiten and Victor Dubuisson.

    And it could have been even better for the home side, who at one point led in four of the matches and were level in the other, with Europe captain Miguel Angel Jimenez helping deny Jaidee victory in the opening contest.

    For the second day running the 50-year-old Jimenez made two eagles at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club before a superb approach to the 18th set up team-mate Pablo Larrazabal for a birdie to snatch half a point against Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

    Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Stephen Gallacher also halved their match with Koumei Oda and Hideto Tanihara thanks to a birdie on the 17th, although the European pair missed another birdie chance on the last to win having let slip a three-hole lead.

    Europe's only winners were Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson, who came from behind for the second match running to beat Gaganjeet Bhullar and Nicholas Fung 21.

    "At the end of the day I am happy," Jimenez said. "We managed to half a couple of matches and win another one. It was a tough day in the heat and Asia played very well today.

    "At one point it looked like it was going to be the opposite of yesterday but we managed to get the points and 7-3 is a good lead for tomorrow."

    Jimenez's side now need just three and a half points from Saturday's 10 singles matches to secure overall victory.

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