The national golf team pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in its history on Sunday, winning eight of the twelve singles matches at Lakeshore Golf Club to take the Continental Team Cup by 16 points to 14.
Captain Ruben Castell’s side had looked beaten after a disastrous Saturday, when it lost five of eight team matches and went into the final day trailing the Continental Select team 11 to 7. Needing at least 8.5 points from the singles, Castell sent out his strongest players first.
A wave of early wins
The gamble paid off. Erik Lindahl beat the visitors’ top-ranked player 4 and 3 in the opening match, and within two hours the leaderboard around the course had turned from red to blue. By mid-afternoon, the home team had won five matches and the crowd of 28,000 sensed something special.
I told them on Saturday night that nobody would remember the first two days if we played the singles like we meant it. They did more than that.
Ruben Castell, team captain
The decisive moment came on the 17th green. Jonas Ekdahl, a 23-year-old playing in his first team event, faced a curling eleven-meter putt to win his match and secure the 15.5th point. It dropped into the center of the hole, and Ekdahl threw both arms in the air as teammates sprinted onto the green.
I didn’t even read it properly. I just knew it had to get to the hole. Then I heard the noise and couldn’t hear anything else.
Jonas Ekdahl, team rookie
A first win on home soil
It was the team’s first victory in the event on home soil and only its third overall. The Continental Select team, which had won the previous two editions, finished with two wins and two halved matches on Sunday.
Visiting captain Marcel Duval praised the home side, calling it the toughest final day he had seen as a player or captain.
The team will be honored at a reception in Riverton later this week. The next edition of the cup will be played away in two years.
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Comments 3
I was on the 17th when that putt went in. The ground was shaking. Best day of sport I have ever seen live.
Ekdahl, remember the name. Ice in his veins at 23.
Sending out the big names first was a bold call from Castell. Saturday looked hopeless.