<p>Max Kennedy escapes from a bunker at Lahinch. Picture courtesy Brian Arthur/Lahinch GC </p>
“Dream team” Sara Byrne and Max Kennedy rallied to win their mixed foursomes on the last and help the Internationals head into the singles tied 18-18 with the USA in a thrilling Arnold Palmer Cup battle at Lahinch.
Wind and the occasional rain squall made the pristine County Clare links a massive test for some of the game’s top amateurs.
But the hosts rallied from 13-11 down after a 7.5-4.5 loss in the morning foursomes to win the mixed foursomes 7-5 and leave the destiny of the title in the lap of the gods heading into Sunday’s 24 singles clashes.
Day 2 afternoon mixed foursomes
Day 3 Sunday singles pairings (two-tee start)
After Byrne and Kennedy came from two down with six to play to beat Ben James and Amanda Sambach two up, China’s Wenyi Ding ripped his approach to ten feet at the par-five 18th and Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist rolled in the eagle putt to give them a one-up win over Women’s Amateur champion Melanie Green and Michael La Sasso to level the scores heading into the final day.
Kennedy and Byrne were in trouble against Sambach and me’s world number four James before the Royal Dublin man hit a stunning tee shot to seven feet at the par-four 13th that arguably turned the match around.
After a win there, they took the 14th in birdie and the 15th in par to go one-up, then came back from losing the 16th to par with a pair of winning fours at the last two holes.
“Absolutely delighted," Byrne said. “Me and Max always knew that we just needed to rally on at the end.
“The 13th was the turning point. We said we just wanted momentum from anything and he put it to seven feet and I was like, this is it.
"It was frustrating for me on the greens more than anything else. I've been striking it really great for the last couple of weeks
“But honestly, Max has been helping me a lot confidence-wise. He kind of willed it into the hole today with me. So it was good.”
Kennedy’s cut drive against the strong left-to-right wind at the 13th was key in his second win alongside Byrne.
“Two for two, dream team,” the University of Louisville man beamed. “It was some win in the end. It was class. Me and Sara just ground it out all day and didn’t give them a whole lot.
“We gave them a couple at the start but ended up making a couple of birdies coming in and sealed the deal there at the last, it was fantastic.
“It’s always up in the air going into the singles because there’s so many matches. But I’m looking forward it. It should be a long, tough day, but I’m confident in us getting the win.”
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Kate Lanigan and Ryan Griffin fought back from five down after 10 holes to take Mary Mulcahy and Jackson Van Paris to the 18th but came up empty-handed as the Americans closed with a birdie to win two-up.
International coach Barry Fennelly was gutted for the Irish pair but pleased overall to head into the singles with the scores tied.
“To be honest, I think it's a good result because we struggled a bit this morning in the foursomes,” Fennelly said.
“The girls are extremely strong, and I expected a few of the top matches (to win) early this morning, and it didn't happen, and the guys rallied really, really well.
“So to come back out fighting again and start fast, I think we had a really good session this afternoon here.
"Again, mixed foursomes is such a tough format for the players, playing something that most of them haven't done and they've been absolutely superb.
“The energy, the commitment level has been fantastic so pretty happy. Like anything, you'll always look at a few holes there - Hannah Darling and Phichaksn Maichon were in a great game, but they just stumbled towards the end.
“But listen, stuff like that at the last is just fantastic. An eagle finish by Wenyi Ding and Louise to tie it up, that's great.
“You never want to be psychologically behind, so I think this is a pretty decent result. It's so tight every day with the teams so well-matched, so we'll take it and come out fighting tomorrow.
“Sara and Max have been sensational. They really rose to the occasion. But I’m gutted for Ryan and Kate.
"They battled back but got an awful lie left at the 18th and they were forced to lay up. But they have been fantastic, and it is all to play for tomorrow.”
Article Link: Internationals tie USA 18-18 heading into Arnold Palmer Cup singles at Lahinch - News - Irish Golf Desk