Golf

Darren Clarke’s Europe take big lead into final day of EurAsia Cup

Shane Lowry, alongside Andy Sullivan, maintained his 100 per cent record

Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan congratulate each other after winning their day two match in the EurAsia Trophy. Photo: Arep Kulal/Getty Images
Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan congratulate each other after winning their day two match in the EurAsia Trophy. Photo: Arep Kulal/Getty Images
Sat Jan 16 2016 - 13:51

Darren Clarke’s Europe strengthened their position on the second day of the EurAsia Cup by winning four of the six foursome matches to open up a six-point advantage in Kuala Lumpur.

Just as he had done on Friday, the talismanic Ian Poulter helped clinch the first point of the day as Europe moved 9-3 ahead of Asia with just Sunday’s singles left to come at the Glenmarie Golf & Country Club.

Bernd Wiesberger and Ross Fisher, Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan and Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick were also victorious for Europe, while Soren Kjeldsen and Victor Dubuisson halved their match with Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung.

Poulter, who, along with Wiesberger, gained Europe their first point in the fourballs on Friday, was again to the fore in Saturday's opening match as he and fellow Englishman Danny Willett eased to a 3&2 victory over Byeong-hun An and Thongchai Jaidee.

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Poulter told the European Tour’s official website: “It was good golf. We had all intentions to play smart, keep them under pressure.

“It’s probably their strongest pairing. They played nicely yesterday (in beating Willett and Fitzpatrick 3&1). I think they were probably nine-under par, and we’ve done our job.

“We hit good golf shots. We played the right side of pins. We made no mistakes, no bogeys, and we backed each other up at the right time.”

Ireland’s Lowry and England’s Sullivan teamed up to earn a point for the second day in a row, winning three of the final four holes to triumph 3&2 over Shingo Katayama and Prayad Marksaeng.

Sullivan's compatriot Fisher and Austria's Wiesberger twice hit back from a hole down to defeat KT Kim and Jeung Hun Wang by two holes although Kristoffer Broberg and Chris Wood were beaten by the same scoreline by Kiradech Aphibarnrat and SSP Chawrasia.

English duo Westwood and Fitzpatrick recovered from losing the opening hole to thrash Anirban Lahiri and Wu Ashun 5&4, while Denmark’s Kjeldsen and France’s Dubuisson won two of the final four holes to claim a half and put Europe firmly in the driving seat heading into Sunday.