SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – The United States holds a 6-4 lead after the first day of the Palmer Cup at a rainy Rich Harvest Farms with West Waterford and Maynooth University's Gary Hurley playing his part in an afternoon comeback.

Europe won three of the five matches of the afternoon fourball sessions after Team USA held a 4-1 lead after the opening foursomes round that saw Hurley and Stirling's Swiss star Mathias Eggenberger beaten one up by Anders Albertson and Jack Maguire.

“We made a ton of birdies this morning, which you sometimes don’t see in that format (foursomes),” said American Head Coach Bruce Heppler. “Obviously we got off to a good start but we are playing a really good team so you knew there would be some comeback in the afternoon.

"The afternoon looked liked it was not going to go well and Hunter (Stewart) and Robby (Shelton) came back and won their match. So, we got two points out of the afternoon when it looked like it could have been a total whitewash. It’s just fun to watch these types of players play.”

Europe quickly cut into the United States’ lead by claiming the first two matches. Thomas Detry and Adrian Meronk won the first hole of the opening match of the four-ball session and led throughout in their 4 and 3 drubbing of Lee McCoy and Ollie Schniederjans.

Detry birdied No. 1 and both players followed with a birdie on the second to move to 2-up. Schniederjans birdied the fifth to cut the lead to 1-up. The two sides traded Nos. 9 and 1. Detry birdied both the 11th, 12th and 15th to close the match.

In the second match the American duo of Kyle Jones and Carr Vernon held a 1-up lead from the second to fifth holes. The match was all square until No. 13 when Europe claimed back-to-back holes with a Gary Hurley birdie and both he and Mathias Eggenberger carded par on No. 14. Europe closed the match with a 3 and 2 victory with a pair of birdies on No. 16.

Team USA came from behind to claim match No. 3 when Robby Shelton and Hunter Stewart downed Rowin Caron and Clement Sordet, 1-up. Europe took an early lead with birdies from Rowin Caron on No. 3 and and Clement Sordet on No. 7 to move to 2-up. Shelton birdied Nos. 10 and 12 to even the match. Shelton would roll in another birdie on No. 17 to give the Americans their first lead. Both sides parred the final hole.

Europe claimed its third point of the afternoon when Max Rottluff and Matthias Schwab beat Anders Albertson and Jack Maguire, 2 and 1. Rottluff birdied the first and Europe led throughout. Europe moved to 3-up after back-to-back wins at Nos. 4 and 5. T

Team USA cut the led to 2-up with a Jack Maguire birdie at No. 7 but Europe claimed the next hole with a Rottluff birdie. Rottluff put Europe 4-up with an eagle No. 11 before the Americans cut the lead to 2-up thru 14.

Beau Hossler and Maverick McNealy won the final point of the day, downing Spain’s Pep Angles and Jon Rahm, 2 and 1. Angles birdied the first hole and Europe held a 1-up lead on four of the first six holes. The Americans moved to 1-up when it won two-straight with McNealy eagle on No. 7 and a pair of birdies on the eighth.

Europe would move the match back to all-square with a Rahm birdie at No. 10. Team USA took the lead for good with McNealy’s birdie at No. 13 anc moved to 2-up with a pair of birdies at No. 15.

Third-round singles matches tee off Saturday at 8:30 am. The event ends with another rounds of singles on Sunday

Palmer Cup, Rich Harvest Farms, June 12

United States 6, Europe 4

First Round Foursomes Results

Match 1: Lee McCoy/Ollie Schniederjans, USA def. Thomas Detry/Jon Rahm, Europe, 4 and 3
Match 2: Kyle Jones/Carr Vernon, USA def. Max Rottluff/Matthias Schwab, Europe, 3 and 2
Match 3: Robby Shelton/Hunter Stewart USA def. Rowin Caron/Clement Sordet, Europe, 3 and 2
Match 4: Anders Albertson/Jack Maguire USA def. Mathias Eggenberger/Gary Hurley, Europe, 1-up
Match 5:  Pep Angles/Adrian Meronk, Europe def. Beau Hossler/Maverick McNealy, USA, 3 and 2

Second Round Fourball Results 

Match 6: Thomas Detry/Adrian Meronk, Europe def. Lee McCoy/Ollie Schniederjans, USA, 4 and 3
Match 7: Mathias Eggenberger/Gary Hurley, Europe def. Kyle Jones/Carr Vernon, USA, 3 and 2
Match 7:  Robby Shelton/Hunter Stewart, USA def. Rowin Caron/Clement Sordet, Europe, 2-up
Match 9:  Max Rottluff/Matthias Schwab, Europe def. Anders Albertson/Jack Maguire USA, 2 and 1
Match 10:  Beau Hossler/Maverick McNealy, USA def. Pep Angles/Jon Rahm, Europe, 2 and 1

Third Round Singles Pairings 

Match 11: Lee McCoy, United States vs. Thomas Detry, Europe
Match 12: Ollie Schniederjans, United States vs. Jon Rahm, Europe
Match 13: Carr Vernon, United States vs. Max Rottluff, Europe
Match 14: Kyle Jones, United States vs. Adrian Meronk, Europe
Match 15: Robby Shelton, United States vs. Rowin Caron, Europe
Match 16: Hunter Stewart, United States vs. Mathias Eggenberger, Europe
Match 17: Anders Albertson, United States vs. Clement Sordet, Europe
Match 18: Jack Maguire, United States vs. Gary Hurley, Europe
Match 19: Beau Hossler, United States vs. Matthias Schwab, Europe
Match 20: Maverick McNealy, United States vs. Pep Angles, Europe