GB&I extend lead on second day

England's Lee Westwood and David Howell led from the front again as Britain and Ireland extended their lead over Continental Europe on the second day of Seve Trophy on Friday.

Britain and Ireland won three of the day's five fourball matches at El Saler to end with 6-1/2 points, three clear of Seve Ballesteros's team in the Ryder Cup-style event.

Westwood and Howell, who beat Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal on Thursday, this time saw off Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia by a massive five and three.

In-form Westwood hit two eagles and four birdies, leaving him eight-under for the second consecutive day.

He closed his match with a 15ft eagle putt on the 15th. Howell contributed three birdies.

"We have fitted well as a team," Westwood said. "We never really gave Thomas and Sergio a chance to get back into the match." Alex Cejka and Raphael Jacquelin scored their second point with a two and one win over Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie. The Scots had birdied four of the first five holes.

Brian Davis and Paul Casey overcame Ignacio Garrido and Miguel Angel Jimenez by two holes, their second two-hole victory in the event. Casey scored birdies on the last two holes, including a chip in from the bunker on the 17th.

"That shot came just at the right time because I hadn't been putting the way I wanted to," said Casey. "It was very tense out there."

Swedes Niclas Fasth and Fredrik Jacobson won a close encounter with Phillip Price and Padraig Harrington on the last when Fasth holed a putt from off the green.

Justin Rose and Ian Poulter won the final game after a fightback from Ballesteros and Olazabal to win three and two. The Englishmen had been five up with seven to play.

"It is a long way back for anyone to come back from five down in an 18-hole match but I suppose if any is going to do it, it is Seve and Olly," Poulter said.

"They showed us that, no matter what you might think, a hole is never finished until the ball is in the cup."

Holders Britain and Ireland had led 3-1/2 to 1-1/2 after the opening day.

Continental Europe won the inaugural competition at Sunningdale in England but Britain and Ireland levelled the series last year at Druids Glen in Ireland.

Four greensomes -- where both players drive off before choosing one ball -- are scheduled for Saturday morning with four foursome matches -- where pairs share a single ball -- to follow in the afternoon. There will then be 10 singles matches on Sunday.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page