OTTAWA – It’s pretty easy to see how much the World Junior Girls Championship means to its participants. And you don’t even need to hear the golfers say anything – and with representatives of 14 different countries, you may not understand them anyway – you just need to look at their smiles.

For the six Canadians, and golfers from around the world, like Elin Esborn of Sweden, the World Junior Girls Championship – starting Tuesday from the Marshes Golf Club about 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa – is the pinnacle of many of their young careers.

“It feels really good to be one of the top three junior golfers in Sweden, but this is amazing,” Esborn says. The 18-year-old from Gothenburg (Sweden’s second-largest city) will be attending the University of North Carolina next year on a scholarship. But this is her first time on an international stage – after competing in the Junior Solheim Cup last week – and she is relishing the opportunity to be in Canada.

And that is exactly the experience Jeff Thompson, the Chief Sport Officer for Golf Canada, had in mind when they brought the idea to the International Golf Federation (IGF) for this particular championship.

“It’s been on our radar screen for the last five years or so,” Thompson explains. “There’s always been the Junior Boys’ in Japan but nothing for the girls. The IGF thought it was a good concept and they said they’d be happy to support us.”

2014 was the inaugural championship at Angus Glen Golf Club, the site of this year’s Pan American Games golf competition, where “Team Canada One” (as host nation, Canada gets two teams) finished third. Brooke Henderson led that squad, and, as everyone knows, has gone on to become a star on the LPGA Tour.

Two members of Golf Canada’s developmental squad are at The Marshes this week – Grace St-Germain (who is from Ottawa) and Alisha Lau. Four other British Columbians round out the rest of Team Canada: Hannah Lee, Euna Hun, and 15-year-old Kathrine Chan. Other than St-Germain and Lau, Team Canada is getting its first taste at international competition.

“This is a benchmarking opportunity for us, and it’s an opportunity for us to see how the girls are stacking up,” says Thompson. “But it’s also an opportunity for the girls to see how they’re stacking up too. This gives the girls an opportunity to see what’s going on around them in the world of golf.”

Golf Canada’s developmental team head coach Ann Carroll says the girls are feeling a new layer of pressure – being on home turf and representing Canada – but part of her job (and coach of ‘Team Canada Two’ Mike Martz) is to get the girls to feel as comfortable as they can so they can perform at their best.

“I think they’re felling very proud to be selected for this team, and we have to lessen that kind of pressure they put on themselves,” says Caroll.

Chan, who is hoping to make the Golf Canada National Team next year, says she feels a little bit more pressure this week to perform well. But, she states she wants to treat this as any other event and have fun.

“It’s so exciting to be here and represent Canada,” she explains.

But if this whole golf thing doesn’t work out for Chan, she admits she has a back-up plan.

“I want to go to college before maybe turning professional. I want to play golf, but I want to be a neurosurgeon too,” Chan says, nonchalantly, of her secondary career choice.

And that’s what this week is about, really.

There are girls who may never make it beyond junior golf, and some who might become household names playing this week. Thompson says he is excited for what the future holds for this event.

“We’ve made a commitment to put some momentum behind it and get it off the ground. We need to get partners engaged who have the same passion for it,” he explains.

There’s no doubt that the talent is here this week, and clearly, the event means a lot to both the participants, and the organizers.

“When you look at the field, the best countries in the world have their best players here,” says Thompson. “I think it’s the premier junior girls event in the world.”

For golfers like Chan, Esborn and all the others, hearing that is worth smiling about.

SAN MARTIN, Calif. – Ireland’s Niall Kearney beat Alan Morin 1 up to give Great Britain and Ireland its first PGA Cup victory on U.S. soil, a 13 1/2-12 1/2 decision Sunday at CordeValle

Great Britain and Ireland cut the Americans’ series lead to 17-6-4 in the event for club professionals.

Kearney got up-and-down for par from behind the 18th green to halve the hole, win the match and give GB&I the Llandudno Trophy. Facing a false front and water beyond the hole, Kearney hit a chip that cleared a deep bunker and rolled within 7 feet.

“I heard my caddie (Eddie Icaza) say, `Just hit it right edge.’ And that is what I did,” Kearney said.

Morin, a PGA assistant professional at The Falls Country Club in Lake Worth, Florida, missed a 45-foot birdie try before Kearney holed his par putt.

“I could not tell you exactly what was in my head,” Kearney said about the deciding putt.

David Dixon, Graham Fox, Jason Levermore and Jamie Broce also won matches for GB&I, and Lee Clarke halved with Sean Dougherty. Michael Block, Omar Uresti, Matt Dobyns and Bob Sowards won for the Americans.

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Vicky Hurst locked up an LPGA Tour card for next season, winning the Garden City Charity Classic on Sunday for her second Symetra Tour title of the year.

The 25-year-old Hurst, from Melbourne, Florida, closed with an even-par 72 for a two-stroke victory. She finished at 8-under 208 at Buffalo Dunes and earned $15,000 to jump from 14th to fourth on the money list with $57,058, more than enough to wrap a spot in the final top 10 for an LPGA Tour card.

“I’m very excited,” Hurst said. “I’m a little bit relieved, too, because we only have three tournaments left and if it wasn’t here, it (finishing in the top 10) would only get tougher and tougher. I’m really proud of myself for playing well this week and the last couple of months and I’m looking forward to next year.”

Five strokes ahead entering round, Hurst played the first 13 holes in 2 over, rebounded with birdies on the par-4 14th and par-5 16th and parred the final two holes.

Hurst also won the W.B. Mason Championship last month in Massachusetts, and has six career victories on the tour – the first four in 2008. Last year, the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup player finished 162nd on the LPGA Tour money list.

“The road back has been tough, anyone that plays professional golf knows,” Hurst said. “Last year, I had a little rut in my game and to be able to improve from that and build something positive this year has been huge. I’m excited to be heading back to the tour and play with the big kids again.”

Jersey’s Olivia Jordan-Higgins was second after a 68.

Israel’s Laetitia Beck followed at 5 under after a 66.

Canadian Anne-Catherine Tanguay shot a final-round 3-under 69 to move into a five-way tie for fourth. Fellow Canadians Augusta James and Samantha Richdale held shares of ninth at 2-under 214.

Los Angeles, California’s J.J. Spaun wrapped up Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year honours on Sunday, finishing with $91,193 in earnings on the season to top the Order of Merit and lead five players who earned status on the Web.com Tour for 2016.

Spaun, who posted seven top-10 finishes including a win at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel, will be fully exempt on the 2016 Web.com Tour after finishing $11,297 ahead of No. 2 C.T. Pan of Taiwan. Joining Spaun and Pan in The Five were No. 3 Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ontario, No. 4 Sam Ryder of Longwood, Florida and No. 5. Albin Choi of Toronto, Ontario, who was fifth in the Order of Merit heading into the week, finished T13 and was knocked out of the top five by the Freedom 55 Financial Championship winner Jason Millard of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

“I’m so glad all the hard work paid off, I had a really good season and it means that I’m one step closer to my dream of playing on the PGA TOUR,” said Spaun. “There was always a feeling of envy to see The Five at the end of my first two years, and to be here finally, after three years, it’s a great feeling. All the hard work, all the support that I’ve had, it’s all coming together.”

The 25-year old San Diego State University graduate set the new record for single-season earnings on the Mackenzie Tour and became the first player to record top-five finishes in four straight starts.

“J.J.’s exceptional play this year is a tremendous accomplishment, and we can’t wait to follow his success on the Web.com Tour. Each of the players who earned their way into The Five have distinguished themselves with outstanding season-long performance, and we wish them the very best of luck on the Web.com Tour next season,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday.

“On behalf of Mackenzie Investments, I would like to congratulate the winners of the 2015 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season,” said Jeff Carney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mackenzie Investments. “As we complete the first season of our umbrella sponsorship, we couldn’t be more pleased with the partnership, the players and the positive impact the tour has had on communities across Canada. We can’t wait to see how today’s top five do as they graduate to the Web.com Tour and look forward to cheering on the rising stars of the Mackenzie Tour in 2016.”

Players 6-10 earn spots into Final Stage
In addition to The Five earning status on the Web.com Tour, players finishing 6-10 on the Order of Merit earned an exemption into the final stage of Web.com Tour Q-School, led by No. 6 Choi, No. 7 Michael  Letzig of Kansas City, Missouri, No. 8 Drew Weaver of Atlanta, Georgia, No. 9 Adam Svensson of Surrey, British Columbia. and No. 10 No. 8 Kevin Spooner of West Vancouver, British Columbia.

Players finishing 11-20 earn an exemption into the second stage of Web.com Tour Q-School

After sleeping on the 36- and 54-hole leads, Jason Millard of Murfreesboro, Tennessee posted a final-round 68 and outlasted Ryan Williams of Vancouver, British Columbia in a playoff to win the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, the final event on the 2015 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada schedule. With the win and a first-place check of $36,000, Millard jumped from No. 30 to No. 5 in the final Order of Merit to earn status on the Web.com Tour for the 2016 season.

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ontario, finished T8 to clinch Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honors which comes with a $25,000 prize.

Millard, who had missed three of four cuts heading into the week, rebounded nicely with four rounds in the 60s including a second-round 7-under-par 63. Millard and Williams went back and forth most of the final round, with the two drawing even at 15-under-par after a Williams bogey on the 17^th hole. After both made pars on the 18^th hole in regulation, the duo played two sudden-death playoff holes, both on No. 18. After matching pars on the first hole, Millard converted a two-putt par from 15 feet while Williams was unable to get up-and-down from the front of the green, missing a par putt from 10 feet that would have extended the playoff.

“I kept hitting driver in the playoff on 18 to take the trees out of play on the right,” Millard said. “The pin was on the left and it gave me a lot of green to work with. That’s how I’ve been playing it all week and it paid off on the second playoff hole.”

As for the bonus of earning Web.com Tour status by finishing fifth in the Order of Merit, Millard said his position heading into the week helped him relax.

“I was 30^th (on the Order of Merit) coming into the week, so I felt like I had no pressure compared to the guys in the top five or the top 10, I was just trying to have a good week,” he said.  “Earning Web.com Tour status is what we play for all year long and the fact I’ll be able to play on that tour next year feels great. Honestly, I don’t think it has hit me yet, I’m sure it will sink in on the drive home.”

Williams was foiled in his bid to win back-to-back Freedom 55 Financial Championships, having captured last year’s event down the road at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club.

“I’m really proud of myself, I put myself in position to win,” Williams said. “It’s been an up-and-down year, but coming into the last event, as defending champion, and have a chance to win in a playoff is pretty satisfying. I have to credit Jason, who played great all week.”

Pendrith, the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year, had five top-10 finishes in 2015, including three playoff losses. He graduates to the Web.com Tour after finishing third in the Order of Merit with $60,736, $5,969 ahead of Albin Choi of Toronto, Ontario.

“This was our third year presenting the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, and we’re fortunate to be working with a partner like the Mackenzie Tour who have given so many aspiring young players an opportunity to move on to PGA TOUR success,” said Mike Cunneen, Senior Vice-President, Freedom 55 Financial. “As a Canadian organization that believes in inspiring freedom and confidence for the future, it was a privilege to recognize young Canadian golfers on the Tour with the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player Award, and help them achieve their goals and dreams. We look forward to doing this again next year.”

“We’re thrilled to see Taylor put on a great performance this season to be named Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “Our thanks and gratitude go out to Freedom 55 Financial for all their support of our Tour, including these awards. Thanks to them, some of our best and brightest players are able to take a big step forward in achieving their goals and dreams.”

“I’m thrilled to be the Freedom 55 Financial Player of the Year and finish in The Five,” said Pendrith. “While today didn’t go the way I wanted, it was nice to close out the season accomplishing some of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year. While I wasn’t able to win, I gave myself a lot of confidence by putting myself in that position on a consistent basis.”

Freedom 55 Financial established the Canadian Player of the Week award in 2013 to recognize top Canadian players on the Mackenzie Tour. At each event, Freedom 55 Financial presented this award to the Canadian player who had the lowest total score. Winners also received $2,500 to use toward attaining future goals.

HE SAID IT:

“I kind of blacked out there on the back nine, hitting it close and making putts. That’s definitely the best I’ve ever played in a golf tournament, especially on this golf course. It was a lot of fun. It’s a great golf course, it’s short but it makes you pay attention on every shot you hit.” – Curtis Reed on his bid for 59, which ended one shot short in a 10-under 60.

NOTES:

• Weather: Mostly sunny with some clouds in the afternoon. High temperature reaching 18 degrees Celsius. Moderate winds NNW up to 11 km/h.
• Los Angeles, California’s J.J. Spaun wrapped up Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year honours on Sunday, finishing with $91,193 in earnings on the season to top the Order of Merit and lead five players who earned status on the Web.com Tour for 2016. Spaun, who posted seven top-10 finishes including a win at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel, will be fully exempt on the 2016 Web.com Tour after finishing $11,297 ahead of No. 2 C.T. Pan of Taiwan. Joining Spaun and Pan in The Five were No. 3 Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., No. 4 Sam Ryder of Longwood, Florida and No. 5.
• Curtis Reed of San Antonio, Texas posted the low round of the year on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada on Sunday with a 10-under par 60. His scorecard included eight birdies on an eagle on No. 10. An eagle chip on the par-4 18^th hole resulted in a tap-in for the 60, the lowest score on the Mackenzie Tour since Brady Schnell shot a 13-under-par 59 in the second round of the 2014 ATB Financial Classic. Reed’s previous career low was 64 in Round 1 of the Wildfire Invitational. Reed started the day T29 but improved to T5 with the round of 60, his second career top 10.
• Bogey-free rounds: Curtis Reed (60); Ryan Brehm (63); Michael Miller (64); Mackenzie Hughes (64); Clayton Rask (65).

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Jason Day has plenty of rivals at the moment, but very few peers.

Day’s runaway victory Sunday in the BMW Championship vaulted him to No. 1 in the world ranking, backing up a boast the then little-known Australian made during a conference call with reporters in 2007 – and for which he was roasted on more than one occasion since.

“I remember sitting on my mom’s bed and thinking that (predicting he’d be No. 1 someday) might not go over too well,” laughed Day, who turns 28 next month.

It didn’t.

“I expected to get a little bit (of criticism), but not the response that I got from practically everyone,” Day recalled, another championship trophy poised within arm’s reach. “But it’s good to sit in this chair right now.”

His 2-under, final-round 69 and 22-under total at Conway Farms was good for a six-shot victory over rookie Daniel Berger. Scott Piercy finished third, seven strokes back.

The win was Day’s fifth on tour this season and his second in the FedEx Cup playoffs. In addition to leap-frogging Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy to claim the top spot in the world ranking, it made him the front-runner in the 30-man field heading to East Lake in Atlanta next weekend for the series finale.

“Whatever Jason Day is doing, or which course he’s playing, it’s ridiculous,” said Danny Lee, who’s at No. 19.

That was hardly an exaggeration here.

Day zoomed out to a big lead by shooting 61 and 63 in the first two rounds and was never seriously challenged. If he manages a win in Atlanta, it could make the race for Player of the Year – an award Spieth appeared to lock up by winning the Masters and U.S. Open earlier in the summer – closer than anyone would have anticipated just six weeks ago.

But Day has been on an incredible run since narrowly missing at the British Open. In his six starts since, he has won four times – the Canadian Open, the PGA Championship for his first major and the two FedEx Cup events – and played at a sizzling 101-under par clip.

“I think it might change some people’s minds about (player of the year) if I go ahead and win next week,” he said. “But we can’t deny what Jordan has done in the in the major championship this year. For a 22-year-old kid to accomplish what he’s done … that has been an amazing ride.

“I still think,” Day added a moment later, “it’s him.”

His fellow players aren’t so sure. When Rickie Fowler was asked to pick between the two, he replied, “I’m glad it’s not my decision” – forgetting that he’ll have to cast a ballot at season’s end.

But the battle for No. 1 wasn’t the only drama hanging over the tournament. The quest to make the 30-man field heading to East Lake produced its own share of winners and losers.

Berger will be the only rookie and Harris English, who missed earning a spot by a single shot each of the last two seasons, shoe-horned himself into the 30th spot with a birdie at the 18th.

On the downside, Daniel Summerhays finished 31st after dunking a tee shot at the par-3 11th, and Justin Thomas lost his chance to join Berger as the only other rookie in Atlanta when Dustin Johnson birdied the final two holes.

Day, on the other hand, will head to the finale more in control of his fate than he has been in a long time. He and Colin Swatton, who’s been his mentor and coach since age 12 and doubles as his caddie now, set out a plan years ago to have Day reach No. 1 in the world by age 22.

“Six years late,” Day said, stifling a grin. “But, I mean, better late than never, right?”

David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., carded a 7-under 64 to vault into a tie for 28th place.

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Chez Reavie won the Web.com Tour Finals’ Small Business Connection Championship by a stroke Sunday to regain his PGA Tour card.

Reavie, the 2008 Canadian Open winner, made a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th for a 6-under 66 and 15-under 273 total at River Run. The 33-year-old former Arizona State player earned $180,000 to push his series total to $203,000 and lock up a PGA Tour card. He tied for 10th last week in Indiana in the finals opener after finishing 166th in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings.

“It feels good to win again,” said Reavie, five strokes behind leaders Eric Axley and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo entering the round. “I had played well during the summer, so I felt good about my future but you never know. You come into these tournaments and it’s all on the line. You have to play great to get through and fortunately I was able to do it today. It’s fantastic.”

He played the PGA Tour this season on a major medical extension following surgery on his left wrist.

“Being hurt for a while and not knowing what it’s going to be like when you come back isn’t easy,” Reavie said. “It’s very gratifying to know that hard work has finally paid off.”

Grillo, Jamie Lovemark and Steve Marino tied for second. Lovemark closed with a 67, Marino shot 68, and Grillo 72. They each earned $74,667.

Playing the group ahead of Reavie, Lovemark missed a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 18. Later, Grillo missed a 15-footer, and Marino a 12-footer.

“I had a good number for my 5-wood into the 18th green and I just pushed it a little bit,” Grillo said. “The first putt I hit way too hard, but it was difficult to judge. The second putt was a double-breaker and it went just a little more left than I thought.”

He has made $103,667 in the series to wrap up a PGA Tour card.

“If you would have told me at the start of the week that I would finish second, I would have taken it,” Grillo said. “I now have my PGA Tour card for next year, so I’m happy.”

The tournament was the second in the four-event series that features the top 75 players from the Web.com Tour money list, Nos. 126-200 in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings and non-members such as Grillo who earned enough money to have placed in the top 200 had they been eligible to receive points.

The top 25 players on Web.com regular-season money list – Lovemark was 12th, and Marino 19th – earned PGA Tour cards. They are competing against each other for tour priority, with regular-season earnings counting. The other players are fighting for another 25 cards based on series earnings.

Lovemark jumped to No. 5 on the combined money list, and Marino moved to No. 8.

Axley shot a 76 to tie for ninth at 10 under.

For the second consecutive round, Canadian Brad Fritsch shot a 72 to finish tied for 43rd place.

ST. LEON-ROT, Germany – After being infuriated by a call they found unsportsmanlike, the Americans staged the biggest comeback in Solheim Cup history Saturday to wrest the trophy back from Europe.

Paula Creamer defeated Germany’s Sandra Gal to complete the turnaround and secure a 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory for the United States, which had trailed by four points going into the singles.

The match turned after American rookie Alison Lee was penalized for picking up the ball when she thought her putt was conceded in the morning fourballs, which had been suspended on Saturday. The 20-year-old missed a birdie putt on the 17th hole and then picked up the ball as Europe’s Charley Hull was already walking toward the last hole – only for Suzann Pettersen to claim Europe hadn’t conceded the short putt. The umpire intervened and Europe was awarded the hole – and eventually won the match.

“There’s no way they could ever justify that. I don’t care what you say, you just don’t do that to your peers,” U.S. captain Juli Inkster said. “I don’t know if my team needed to be fired up anymore, but they were real fired up.”

And they dominated the singles to claim their first title since 2009, denying the Europeans their first threepeat. The U.S. extended its series lead to 9-5. No team had ever come from more than two down going into the singles.

“I am so proud of our team. We were in there this morning and we were just so fired up and ready to get out there and just play good golf,” Creamer said. “And this was so awesome. I played great. Seeing the girls and seeing the red on the board, I’m so proud of them.”

Europe led 10-6 going into the 12 singles but could only win three and draw another. Home golfer Caroline Masson missed the last big chance to retain the cup for Europe, before Gerina Piller made her more difficult 9-foot putt to win her match by one hole and keep American hopes alive.

Cristie Kerr then had nine birdies in 11 holes as she beat Hull 3 and 2, and Angela Stanford ended her nine-match losing streak to beat Pettersen 2 and 1, before Creamer completed the turnaround.

Morgan Pressel, Alison Lee, Michelle Wie and Cristie Kerr also won for the U.S., while Lexi Thompson won half a point in her all-square match against Carlota Ciganda of Spain.

“This is probably the closest knit group we’ve ever been a part of. We never stopped believing,” Stanford said.

Pressel defeated Catriona Matthew of Scotland by 2 holes, Lee defeated Gwladys Nocera of France 3 and 1, Wie had eight birdies in a huge 6 and 4 win over Caroline Hedwall of Sweden, while Lizette Salas defeated Azahara Munoz of Spain 3 and 1.

Karine Icher of France defeated Brittany Lincicome 3 and 2, Melissa Reid of England beat Brittany Lang 2 and 1, and Anna Nordqvist of Sweden finished with a birdie to best Stacy Lewis 2 and 1.

But after an emotional day, it seemed it was the Americans who had actually benefited from the controversial call against Lee.

Both Lee and Hull were in tears after that match, and Inkster used the incident as motivational fuel in her team talk before the singles.

“Charley was walking off the green and Suzann was already off the green so there was no doubt in my mind that that putt was good,” Lee said. “I didn’t even think twice about it. So I just picked it up.”

Europe captain Carin Koch said the ball went too far to concede.

“The rules are the rules. You have to follow the rules,” Koch said.

After lifting the trophy, Inkster was ready to move on from the controversy.

“I’m over it,” she said. “We got the cup.”

MONZA, Italy – Rikard Karlberg of Sweden beat Martin Kaymer in a playoff to win the Italian Open on Sunday for his first European Tour victory.

On the second playoff hole at the par-4 18th, Karlberg sunk a birdie putt following an impressive second shot out of the rough.

That came just after Kaymer missed his slightly longer putt.

“I don’t want to win on his mistake, I wanted to do a birdie,” Karlberg said. “To do it against Kaymer is incredible.”

Kaymer, who entered the final round with a share of the lead, also just missed long birdie butts on the 17th and 18th holes in regulation after having wasted a three-stroke lead.

The 247th-ranked Karlberg shot a 5-under 67 in the final round while Kaymer, the former top-ranked German, had a 2-under 70. They finished with a 19-under total of 269.

It’s been quite a stretch for Karlberg, who came out of qualifying school, recently got married, moved back to Sweden from Abu Dhabi and has twins on the way with his wife.

“A lot of things are happening this year,” he said.

Both Karlberg and Kaymer came away with pars from the opening playoff hole, also at the 18th.

Seven golfers finished one stroke back in a tie for third: Joakim Lagergren and Jens Fahrbring of Sweden, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Danny Willett of England, David Lipsky of the United States, Lucas Bjerregaard of Denmark and Fabrizio Zanotti of Italy.

Kaymer made three bogeys in five holes on the back nine and required a birdie on the 16th to get alongside Karlberg, who crept up through the field and had three birdies on the final five holes.

“I didn’t think I had a shot,” Karlberg said. “But sometimes you get lucky and I got into a playoff.”

SAN MARTIN, Calif. – Cameron Clark and Niall Kearney beat Sean Dougherty and Grant Sturgeon 2 and 1 in foursomes Saturday to help Great Britain and Ireland tie the United States 8-8 in the PGA Cup.

The competition for club professionals will end Sunday at CordeValle with 10 singles matches.

“Everybody keeps saying how balanced both teams are, how great both teams are,” U.S. captain Allen Wronowski said. “This is as equally as matched a game as you can have.”

The U.S. leads the series 17-5-4 – and has never lost on home soil.

“Never say never,” GB&I captain Jon Bevan said. “It’s got to change sometime. I’ve got the right personalities in place and the right characters on the golf course. However, I would never, ever underestimate the opposition.”

The other three afternoon foursomes matches were halved. Bob Sowards and Jamie Broce of the United States tied Gareth Wright and Jason Levermore; Americans Michael Block and Stuart Deane split with Lee Clarke and Alex Wrigley; and U.S. teammates Matt Dobyns and Ben Polland tied Graham Fox and David Dixon.

In the morning fourballs matches, Sturgeon and Alan Morin beat Michael Watson and Paul Hendriksen 4 and 2, Dougherty and Omar Uresti halved with Fox and Dixon; Wright and Levermore topped Block and Deane 3 and 2; and Kearney and Wrigley edged Dobyns and Polland 1 up.