Shah Alam, Malaysia, 16-01-2016
CHAWRASIA & KIRADECH GIVE TEAM ASIA ITS ONLY WIN ON DAY 2 OF EURASIA CUP
EUROPE LEADS 9 – 3 GOING INTO THE FINAL DAY
Source: Asian Tour
Lone Asian victors, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and S.S.P. Chawrasia, have vowed to fight till the end after Europe opened up a six-point lead following the conclusion of day two at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM on Saturday.
Kiradech and Chawrasia, who lost their opening fourball match on Friday, dovetailed superbly in the foursomes format to hold off Kristoffer Broberg and Chris Wood by 2-holes at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
With Asia losing four matches and Malaysia’s Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung securing a half point, Europe now leads Asia 9-3 with Sunday’s 12 singles matches remaining.
Chawrasia and Kiradech were always in control in their foursomes match, going 3-up at the turn. Wood and Broberg fought back with birdies on 12 and a par on 17 to trail by 1-down but Kiradech, Asia’s number one in 2013, rolled in a 20-foot birdie on the last to secure a priceless point for Team Asia.
Chawrasia was delighted they managed to play to their strengths and redeemed themselves after losing in the fourball session.
“Kiradech is a long hitter and I’m good in my short game. So we complemented each other well. If he made a mistake with his drives, I can help recover in the short game and vice versa. That was our plan which worked out really well,” said Chawrasia.
Reigning Asian Tour number one Anirban Lahiri of India who teamed up with Wu Ashun for his Foursomes match on Saturday, lost out to the pair of Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick by a 5 & 4 margin.
Lahiri, who has lost his two matches here, said Asia must come out fighting in the singles session. “Obviously this is an uncomfortable but familiar position to be in. Having said that, I think we have to do what we did the last time around.
“As a team, we haven't made enough birdies this week, and tomorrow, all of us are going to go out there and just be aggressive. I think that's what Captain Jeev has told us. He believes in us, and he just wants us to go out there and show everyone our spirit, our character and just go for everything.”
With Team Europe needing only 3 ½ points to win the EurAsia Cup, Team Asia Captain Jeev Milkha Singh has rallied his men to re-live the spirit of ’14 as they go into Sunday’s singles session.
Singh said: “Looking back two years ago, we were in a similar situation and the boys pulled through. I still believe with the pairings that have come out, my boys are going to do well tomorrow.
“I think in golf, I believe in the saying, anything is possible until the last putt is not holed out. So I'm hoping and I believe that my boys are going to go out there and give it their best shot. I just told them, and I'm going to repeat myself … you know, when your back is against the wall, the only way is up, or you've just got to push yourself. So I think that's what they are going to do. I think there's no other option.
“And they said, ‘yes, we are going to give our best’ and I believe them. They want to go out there and they want to give their best shot possible.”
Singh, a former two-time Asian Tour number one, is hoping his men will have better joy on the greens on Sunday. “I think the Asian players, my team, where the boys have lacked is putting. I think they have hit the ball really well. I've been watching them and they have missed a lot of putts. I think to get the momentum going, you have to hold putts in match-play situations,” said Singh.
Overall Score
Europe 9 Asia 3
Saturday’s Foursomes Results (Team Europe first)
Ian Poulter/Danny Willett bt Byeonghun An/Thongchai Jaidee 3 & 2
Bernd Wiesberger/Ross Fisher bt K.T. Kim/Jeunghun Wang 2-UP
Kristoffer Broberg/Chris Wood lost to S.S.P. Chawrasia/Kiradech Aphibarnrat 2-UP
Shane Lowry/Andy Sullivan bt Prayad Marksaeng/Shingo Katayama 3 & 2
Soren Kjeldsen/Victor Dubusison and Danny Chia/Nicholas Fung halved
Lee Westwood/Matthew Fitzpatrick bt Anirban Lahiri/Wu Ashun 5 & 4
Sunday’s Singles Matches (Team Europe first)
Match 1: 8.35am Ian Poulter vs Danny Chia
Match 2: 8.45am Danny Willett vs Byeonghun An
Match 3: 8.55am Andy Sulliva vs Thongchai Jaidee
Match 4: 9.05am Matthew Fitzpatrick vs Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Match 5: 9.15am Shane Lowry vs Anirban Lahiri
Match 6: 9.25am Bernd Wiesberger vs K.T. Kim
Match 7: 9.35am Lee Westwood vs Nicholas Fung
Match 8: 9.45am Ross Fisher vs Jeunghun Wang
Match 9: 9.55am Chris Wood vs S.S.P. Chawarasia
Match 10: 10.05am Kristoffer Broberg vs Shingo Katayama
Match 11: 10.15am Victor Dubuisson vs Wu Ashun
Match 12: 10.25am Soren Kjeldsen vs Prayad Marksaeng
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