Juniors give Torrance's troops a boost

Europe's youngsters gave Sam Torrance's troops a boost when they won the Junior Ryder Cup 9½-2½ at The K Club, Co Kildare, yesterday.

After two days of keen competition in sunny, if chilly weather, Europe bucked the trend by becoming the first home side to come out on top in the fourth staging of the biennial event. They now lead the series 3-1.

Going into the second day three points adrift, the United States needed a fast start in the mixed fourballs if they were to turn the tables and they seemed to be on track when they led in four matches approaching the turn.

But Europe turned things around on the back nine, none more so than the pairing of Carmen Alonso from Spain and Frenchman Tony Raillard.

One down at the turn to Jenny Suh and Taylor Hall, that quickly became two when Hall birdied the 10th. However, the European pair then reeled off three successive birdies, Alonso holing a 60-foot bunker shot at the 11th and a 15-foot putt on the 12th.

Raillard then got down in four at the long 13th, while Alonso picked up another birdie at the 15th to put them ahead for the first time. They held this slender lead to the end to win by one hole, coming home in 32.

Two other matches went to the final green with Europe winning each, while in the bottom tussle, Germany's Denise Simon and Peter-Max Hamm closed out their match on the 17th with a 2 and 1 victory. Simon (18) had made an explosive start with birdies at the three opening holes to put her team two-up.

Spain's Emma Cabrera also made a fast start with two opening birdies as she and Benjamin Regent from France completed a 6 and 5 triumph over Lauren Mielbrecht and Travis Esway.

America's lone second-day success came in the top match where Mallory Code and Casey Wittenberg beat an off-colour Katarina Wendinig from Austria and Farren Keenan 5 and 4, the Americans claiming three birdies in the 14 holes played.

JUNIOR RYDER CUP - DAY TWO

EUROPE 5 USA 1 (Europe names first): Katarina Werdinig & Farren Keenan lost to Mallory Code & Casey Wittenberg 5 and 4, Carmen Alonso & Tony Raillard bt Jenny Suh & Taylor Hall 1 hole, Dewi Claire Schreefel & Matteo del Podio bt Stephanie Connelly & Adam Porzak 1 hole, Emma Cabrera & Benjamin Regent bt Lauren Mielbrecht & Travis Esway 6 and 5, Claire Grignolo & Raphael de Sousa bt Jennifer Davis & Shaun Felchner 2 holes, Denise Simon & Peter-Max Hamm bt Tiffany Chudy & Colin Wilcox 2 and 1.

OVERALL: Europe 9½ USA 2½.