GB&I takes narrow advantage into singles

Britain and Ireland won the afternoon foursomes against Continental Europe by 2-1/2 points to 1-1/2 on Saturday to take a one-point lead into the last-day singles in the Seve Trophy.

Trailing by two points overnight in the Ryder Cup-style competition, Colin Montgomerie's side won the morning greensomes 3-1 before completing their fightback at the end of the day with an overall advantage of 9-1/2 points to 8-1/2.

Montgomerie again played a captain's role but praised his "young guns", in particular his playing partner Nick Dougherty, after his charges had edged ahead of Jose Maria Olazabal's team.

A 30-foot putt late in the day by Englishman Dougherty earned the British duo a one up win in the final match against Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber to put Britain and Ireland in front.

"To get back from 4-1 down to lead is great," said Montgomerie. "That's a lot of credit to young guns, including Nick."

Olazabal said: "The boys played their best and three matches went to the 18th this afternoon to show how close it is.

"We have our backs to the wall a little bit so we'll have to do our best in the singles."

Britain and Ireland might have been further ahead but for a missed four-foot birdie putt by Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell on the final hole of the morning greensomes.

His miss earned Miguel Angel Jimenez and Emanuele Canonica an unexpected half point in a match where McDowell and partner Stephen Dodd had never trailed.

Montgomerie dropped himself from the morning action and Olazabal, following suit in the afternoon, watched as his French pairing Jean-Francois Remesy and Thomas Levet took an early advantage against Irishmen Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington.

In the opening match of the afternoon, the French pair went one up at the fifth and were never headed until the 17th when their opponents won the hole.

However, Remesy chipped in for a birdie three at the last while Harrington missed from around six feet for the match to be halved.

In the second match, Englishmen David Howell and Paul Casey recovered after trailing by two after seven holes and took charge after the turn before beating Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Italy's Emanuele Canonica 2 and 1.

The tightest contest, between Britons Ian Poulter and Bradley Dredge and Swedes Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson, was finally clinched one up by Continental Europe after a bit of needle between the sides.

Englishman Poulter, who on Thursday felt the wrath of his captain for practising instead of following the team, proved to be just as spiky as his renowned haircut by showing clear dissent after being asked by his opponents to complete what he felt were concession putts.

Poulter later said he had not been upset, adding: "It was just good old matchplay."

Captain Olazabal commented: "It's up to the players. If they don't want to concede putts, they don't have to."

Britain and Ireland's lead hinged around Dougherty's 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th which helped him and Montgomerie seal a a vital point after halving the last with Bjorn and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber.

With Bjorn beaten, Stenson remained the only undefeated player in the match.

Sunday's final day features 10 singles matches, with Montgomerie and Olazabal, who is standing in for the unfit Seve Ballesteros, playing against each other in the first match.

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