No luck for the Irish but Europe still extends Bonallack lead
Raking the bunkers in Bangalore. Picture via @DermotMcElroy
Gavin Moynihan and Dermot McElroy didn't win a point but Europe still extended its lead over Asia-Pacific in the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy ahead of the final day singles in India.
Leading 6-4 overnight, Europe won four of the five fourballs in the morning, their only defeat coming when Moynihan and McElroy lost 3 and 2 to Australians Geoff Drakeford and Taylor MacDonald at Karnataka Golf Association (see graphic below) in Bangalore.
The Peter Thomson designed Karnataka Golf Association course. (Click to enlarge).
Now 10-5 in front, Europe could only share the afternoon foursomes session 2 ½ - 2 ½ but will be tough to beat in the singles with a 12 ½ - 7 ½ advantage.
Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy - Scoreboard
McElroy was rested but Moynihan still ended up with another defeat in partnership with Denmark's Mads Soegaard, losing 1 up to Kenta Konishi and Daichi Sato.
Golf is a mad game! Played well in both matches 2day and lost them! Already looking to singles tomorrow!👍#matchplay #anythingcanhappen
— Gavin Moynihan (@GavinMoynihan) March 27, 2014With 12 singles matches remaining, Europe needs just four points to retain the Trophy but non-playing captain Andy Morgan of Wales is taking nothing for granted.
“Asia-Pacific team was in the same kind of situation seven years ago and they won the tournament on the final day so I am worried about it this year as well," he told reporters. "As per our strategy, we are going to focus on winning the maximum singles matches tomorrow.
“It's been a harder afternoon as a couple of turnarounds in the afternoon didn’t allow us to take our point total really high. Our boys went into trouble, sand bunkers and trees on the last two or three holes at the end of the afternoon and we can’t afford that kind of sloppy finish tomorrow.”
Moynihan is out at No 8 in the singles against India's Karan Taunk with McElroy set to face Konishi in the anchor match.
