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Spain takes lead at golf’s World Cup
By The Associated Press
Saturday, November 29, 2008 | No comments posted.
SHENZHEN, China — While Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal were dreaming about breaking 60, the other teams were just trying to survive Friday in the World Cup of Golf.
Jimenez and Larrazabal settled for a 9-under 63, a remarkable score in the difficult foursomes format of team golf. The two-day total of 17-under 127 was still good enough for a four-shot lead over Australia (68) and first-round leader Germany (69).
Sweden (67) was five back, and the United States (69) and Ireland (68) were six off the pace of Spain, which opened with a 64 on Thursday playing the easier fourball.
The sensational round gives Spain a strong chance to win the event, which usually goes to the team that plays best in foursomes where scores are typically higher. In foursomes, teams only play one ball and alternate the shots. Fourball is easier because each golfer plays his own ball, but the team only counts the best of the two scores on each hole.
Today returns to fourball with more foursomes on Sunday.
“If they (Spain) go out and play two good rounds, it’s going to be very tough to beat them,” said American Brandt Snedeker, who teamed with former British Open champion Ben Curtis.
The Spanish picked up seven strokes on the front nine with five birdies and an eagle. They were 8-under after 10 holes and 9-under after 11.
The German team of Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka — leaders at 10-under after the first round — managed a 69 with three birdies on the back nine.
The Americans got themselves back into the tournament with birdies on the last four holes —all on birdie putts by Curtis.
Lexus Cup
SINGAPORE — Jeong Jang and Candie Kung beat Annika Sorenstam and Angela Stanford 3 and 2 on Friday to help Asia split the six opening alternate-shot matches in the Lexus Cup, Sorenstam’s final LPGA Tour-sanctioned event before she retires.
Sorenstam, set to end her Hall of Fame career next week in the Ladies European Tour’s Dubai Ladies Masters, is the International team’s playing captain.
The Asian teams of Song Hee Kim and Inbee Park, and Yani Tseng and Seon Hwa Lee also opened with victories on the Singapore Island Country Club’s Bukit Course.
Kim and Park beat Helen Alfredsson and Christina Kim 3 and 2, and Tseng and Lee held off Suzann Pettersen and Natalie Gulbis 2 and 1.
The International teams of Cristie Kerr-Karen Stupples, Paula Creamer-Nicole Castrale and Katherine Hull-Nikki Campbell won their matches.
Kerr and Stupples beat Sarah Lee and Na Yeon Choi 2 and 1, Creamer and Castrale edged Asian captain Se Ri Pak and Eun Hee Ji 2-up, and Hull and Campbell beat Namika Omata and Mayumi Shimomura 3 and 1.
Asia won 15-9 last year at The Vines in Perth, Australia, for its second straight victory. The International team won the inaugural matches 16-8 in 2005 at Tenah Merah in Singapore, and Asia won 12 1/2-11 1/2 at Tenah Merah in 2006.
Jimenez and Larrazabal settled for a 9-under 63, a remarkable score in the difficult foursomes format of team golf. The two-day total of 17-under 127 was still good enough for a four-shot lead over Australia (68) and first-round leader Germany (69).
Sweden (67) was five back, and the United States (69) and Ireland (68) were six off the pace of Spain, which opened with a 64 on Thursday playing the easier fourball.
The sensational round gives Spain a strong chance to win the event, which usually goes to the team that plays best in foursomes where scores are typically higher. In foursomes, teams only play one ball and alternate the shots. Fourball is easier because each golfer plays his own ball, but the team only counts the best of the two scores on each hole.
Today returns to fourball with more foursomes on Sunday.
“If they (Spain) go out and play two good rounds, it’s going to be very tough to beat them,” said American Brandt Snedeker, who teamed with former British Open champion Ben Curtis.
The Spanish picked up seven strokes on the front nine with five birdies and an eagle. They were 8-under after 10 holes and 9-under after 11.
The German team of Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka — leaders at 10-under after the first round — managed a 69 with three birdies on the back nine.
The Americans got themselves back into the tournament with birdies on the last four holes —all on birdie putts by Curtis.
Lexus Cup
SINGAPORE — Jeong Jang and Candie Kung beat Annika Sorenstam and Angela Stanford 3 and 2 on Friday to help Asia split the six opening alternate-shot matches in the Lexus Cup, Sorenstam’s final LPGA Tour-sanctioned event before she retires.
Sorenstam, set to end her Hall of Fame career next week in the Ladies European Tour’s Dubai Ladies Masters, is the International team’s playing captain.
The Asian teams of Song Hee Kim and Inbee Park, and Yani Tseng and Seon Hwa Lee also opened with victories on the Singapore Island Country Club’s Bukit Course.
Kim and Park beat Helen Alfredsson and Christina Kim 3 and 2, and Tseng and Lee held off Suzann Pettersen and Natalie Gulbis 2 and 1.
The International teams of Cristie Kerr-Karen Stupples, Paula Creamer-Nicole Castrale and Katherine Hull-Nikki Campbell won their matches.
Kerr and Stupples beat Sarah Lee and Na Yeon Choi 2 and 1, Creamer and Castrale edged Asian captain Se Ri Pak and Eun Hee Ji 2-up, and Hull and Campbell beat Namika Omata and Mayumi Shimomura 3 and 1.
Asia won 15-9 last year at The Vines in Perth, Australia, for its second straight victory. The International team won the inaugural matches 16-8 in 2005 at Tenah Merah in Singapore, and Asia won 12 1/2-11 1/2 at Tenah Merah in 2006.
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