Kelly Tidy in action at Gleneagles today. Image by courtesy of Getty Images.

Americans jump into a


9-3 lead at Gleneagles

By SARAH GWYNN
European Tour Press Officer
The United States, winners by 20-2 in Kentucky two years ago, stamped their authority on the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup by finishing the first day leading nine points to three.
The visitors enjoyed a fine start at The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, venue for The 2014 Ryder Cup, by winning the morning foursomes 5-1, and extended their advantage in the afternoon mixed four-balls by winning four and losing two of the six matches.
It leaves Europe with a tough task in the 12 singles matches tomorrow morning, the final session of the biennial contest for girls and boys under the age of 18.
In cold and wet conditions over Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course, a stark contrast to the fine weather in the last three practice days, the USA had a major boost when Anthony Paolucci and Jordan Spieth beat Albert Eckhardt and Kristoffer Ventura 5 and 4 in the first match out.
Americans Emma Talley and Cassy Isagawa then claimed three holes in a row from the 14th to win 3 and 2 against British women's amateur champion Kelly Tidy and Curtis Cup reserve Amy Boulden, and Juhana Kukkonen and Thomas Detry lost 2 and 1 Jim Liu and Denny McCarthy.
Chris Lloyd and Moritz Lampert got Europe off the mark with a half point against Oliver Schniederjans and Justin Thomas, and Isabella Deilert of Sweden and Klara Spilkova of Czech Republic finished all square against Alison Lee and Kristen Park for another half.
But any hopes of a European revival in the first session were dashed when French duo Manon Mollé and Manon Gidali lost on the 18th to Doris Chen and Ginger Howard, having had a two-hole lead earlier in the match.
In the afternoon four-balls, Eckhardt and Spilkova raised European spirits with a 4 and 3 victory over Paolucci and Park, but they were followed with defeats for Lloyd and Boulden by Spieth and Lee (3 and 2), and Lampert and Tidy by Thomas and Tally (4 and 3).
Liu and Chen saw off Ventura and Deilert 2 and 1 and Kukkonen and Mollé were defeated by Schniederjans and Howard, but Detry and Gidali ended the day on a high note for Europe by beating McCarthy and Isagawa 3 and 2.
European captain Gary Stangl said: “I’m speechless. It’s a really disappointing start for us.”

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