Ireland v. Holland
WILLIE PARKER INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE
Morning Fourballs
The opening morning's format for the first 18 holes was Fourball matchplay. First to the tee for Ireland was the pairing of Liam O'Donovan and James Cleary. After a mammoth battle the Irish pair lost out on the last hole to the Dutch. Next up was Sean Downes and Paul O'Brien against Jos Mentink and Renze Hasper. The two Irish lads won 2&1 to put their team back on level terms. Chrissie Byrne and Brian Webster then teamed up to also win 2&1 against Rene Bloem and Jenno Wolters. Marian Byrne and Ray Murphy were next up for the Irish but they lost their match 4&3 to the powerful combination of Karl Bergh and Klaas Sie. Darren Collins and William Buckley jnr. gave Ireland back the lead with a comfortable 3&2 victory over Patrick Luning and Lennart Swennenhuis. In the final match of the first round, Paudie O'Sullivan and Alan Hanlon were victorious also by a 3&2 margin against Bert Olthuis and Jan Tijhuis, to give Ireland a 4-2 lead going into the second round, which will be singles matchplay.
Morning Singles
Karl Bergh def. Marian Byrne 4&3
Henkrik Koetsier def. James Cleary 3&2
Liam O'Donovan def.Rolf Kwant 2&1
Sean Downes def. Jos Mentink 6&5
Paul O'Brien def. Renze Hasper 4&3
Chrissie Byrne def.Rene Bloem 2&1
Brian Webster def. Jenno Wolters 5&4
Ray Murphy def.Klaas Sie 3&2
Darren Collins def. Patrick Luning 1Up
William Buckley jnr. def.Lennart Swennenhuis 6&5
Paudie O'Sullivan def.Bert Olthuis 3&2
Alan Hanlon def. Jan Tijhuis 3&2
Afternoon Fourballs
After the third round of the day, Ireland again increased their lead. Westmeath's Alan Hanlon and his good buddy Darren Collins were made to fight all the way and eventually got a half from their match against Rolf Kwant and Henkrik Koetsier. The Tipperary pair of James Cleary and Paul O'Brien came through a very tight battle to win on the last hole against Jos Mentink and Renze Hasper. Brian Webster and Liam O'Donovan had an equally tough match which in the end they just lost out in - also on the last hole against Rene Bloem and Jenno Wolters. The Byrne sisters had a comfortable enough win over Karl Bergh and Klaas Sie 3&2. The Cork pairing of Ray Murphy and Paudie O'Sullivan also were victorious over Patrick Luning and Lennart Swennenhuis but only on the last hole as well. And finally Sean Downes and William Buckley jnr. had a solid 2&1 victory over Bert Olthuis and Jan Tijhuis. Four of the six matches went all the way signaling that this contest is by no means over yet. The Irish finished 4.5 to 1.5 winners of the foursomes seesion though which extends the over-all lead to Ireland 18.5, Holland 5.5.
Afternoon Singles
Marian Byrne def. Karl Bergh 1Up
Jos Mentink def. James Cleary 3&2
Liam O'Donovan def. Jenno Wolters 3&2
Sean Downes def.Bert Olthuis 5&4
Paul O'Brien def.Renze Hasper 2&1
Chrissie Byrne def.Klaas Sie 3&2
Brian Webster def.Rene Bloem 2up
Ray Murphy def.Lennart Swennenhuis 4&3
Rolf Kwant def.Darren Collins 3&2
William Buckley jnr. def.Jan Tijhuis 5&4
Paudie O'Sullivan def.Patrick Luning 3&2
Alan Hanlon def.Henkrik Koetsier 4&3
Ireland lead 28.5 to 7.5 after Day 1
Ireland won 56.5 to 15.5
TEAMS:
IRELAND
Alan Hanlon
Brian Webster
Liam ODonovan
Paudie OSullivan
Paul OBrien
James Cleary
William Buckley Junior
Sean Downes
Darren Collins
Ray Murphy
Marian Byrne
Chrissie Byrne
HOLLAND
Patrick Luning
Rolf Kwant
Henk Rik Koetsier
Bert Olthuis
Jan Tijhuis
Renze Hasper
Jenno Wolters
Jos Mentink
Rene Bloem
Klaas Sie
Karl Berg
Lennart Swennenhuis
