Lingmerth Europeans down at Palmer Cup

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Former Razorback David Lingmerth and the European Team at the Palmer Cup have their work cut out for them as they trail 6-2 after the first day at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. Lingmerth played well for the Europeans, but dropped both of his matches allowing the Americans to jump out to the early lead with two days worth of match left on the schedule.

Opening with a four-ball round in the Ryder Cup style tournament, Lingmerth and teammate Patrick Spraggs of England stepped on the course against David Chung and Jonathan Randolph. All square through four holes, the Americans would win the fifth, but the Europeans would make it all square again after the sixth hole. Again square after the seventh, the Americans would win the eighth and ninth holes to take a two hole lead after the front nine. The American team would go three up after 13 and facing elimination on the 16th, Lingmerth would post back-to-back birdies to force a deciding 18th hole for the point. Staring down another birdie putt, Lingmerth just missed the cup and he and Spraggs would concede the hole as the Americans looked at a one-foot putt for par.

Lingmerth and Spraggs were not as good in the second round of the day, the foursome portion of the tournament. Dropping the first hole, the Europeans fell behind by five holes by the eighth hole and lost the match five and four. Lingmerth and Spraggs did win back-to-back holes on the 10th and 11th, but lost 12 and 13 to finish off the match.

With the team scores tied at two after the four ball round, the Americans dominated the foursomes and picked up a sweep. The sweep was the first by either squad at the Palmer Cup since the Americans dominated the round two singles matches at Caves Valley in 2007.

The Palmer Cup continues with a round of singles matches next. Lingmerth is slated to face John Chin (UC Irvine) in the second match of the day.