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EurAsia Cup: Europe rallies for stunning win in Sunday singles

By Mike Randleman

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - JANUARY 14: Tyrell Hatton of Europe tees off during the singles matches on day three of the 2018 EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM at Glenmarie G
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - JANUARY 14: Tyrell Hatton of Europe tees off during the singles matches on day three of the 2018 EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM at Glenmarie G /
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Team Europe dominates Sunday singles for a comeback win at the EurAsia Cup

The EurAsia Cup came down to the wire in Sunday singles, and even a home course advantage wasn’t enough for Team Asia to stop the European juggernaut once the momentum started to swing.

Entering Sunday’s action at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a 6.5-5.5 lead, the Europeans showed why they were the pre-tournament favorites with an 8.5-3.5 thrashing in singles to retain the cup 14-10.

“I’m delighted the way these 12 came out. They have been fantastic all week,” Europe captain Thomas Bjorn said in a report from the BBC. “We had a really good group and we worked hard. It was mostly up to them last night and they wanted to go out and show what they are really about and they certainly did that.”

First off for the Europeans Sunday was Alex Norén who cruised to a 4&2 win against Asia’s most unproven player, Nicholas Fung (world No. 335). Norén, ranked No. 19, won 4&2.

Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson and Bernd Wiesberger also won in the first half of the lineup with Poom Saksanin’s victory over Paul Casey the only red on the board for Asia early.

Alexander LĂ©vy, Thomas Pieters and Tyrrell Hatton also won to give Europe victories from its No. 3 to No. 9 slots in the lineup.

Pieters struck the winning put in his 1-up win over Byeong-hun An.

“It’s always nice to get the winning point,” Pieters said. “I got off to a good start, then played pretty poorly during the middle, then made a couple of very good birdies.”

Reigning European Tour Order of Merit winner, Fleetwood, led the way for the Europeans. He was a perfect 3-for-3 with a 4&3 four-ball win with fellow Englishman Paul Casey against An and Kiradech Aphibarnrat to begin on Friday. Fleetwood teamed with Stenson on Friday to polish off SSP Chawrasia and Anirban Lahiri 3&2 in foursomes. Fleetwood finally had to play the 18th hole Sunday in a 2&1 win against Chawrasia in the third match of the day that set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

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Hatton of England also picked up three points with a 5&4 win with Ross Fisher over Lahiri/Chawrasia Friday, a 2&1 victory Saturday with Casey against Aphibarnrat/An and a 2&1 singles win against Lahiri.

One of the more underrated players in the world, No. 37 Yuta Ikeda of Japan, was a bright spot for Asia as the only member to earn three points. Ikeda teamed with Gavin Green Friday and Saturday to best Pieters/Matthew Fitzpatrick 2&1 and Cabrera-Bello and LĂ©vy 1UP Saturday. On Sunday, Ikeda took care of business again on the 18th hole with a 1UP win against Fisher.

Asia was captained by India’s Arjun Atwal.

Europe is now 2-0-1 in the EurAsia Cup, with each edition held in Kuala Lumpur.

Next: World Amateur Tour: Experience the pro life, for a price

The 2018 edition was a lot closer than the 2016 European romp by a 18.5-5.5 final.

Individual Eurasia Cup records

Europe

Tommy Fleetwood — 3-0

Tyrrell Hatton — 3-0

Henrik Stenson — 2-1

Thomas Pieters — 2-1

Paul Casey — 2-1

Bernd Wiesberger — 1-1-1

Rafael Cabrera-Bello — 1-1-1

Matthew Fitzpatrick — 1-1-1

Ross Fisher — 1-2

Alex Norén — 1-2

Alexander Lévy — 1-2

Paul Dunne — 0-3

Asia

Yuta Ikeda — 3-0

Haotong Li — 2-0-1

Poom Saksanin — 2-1

Hideto Tanihara — 2-1

Phachara Khongwatmai — 2-1

Gavin Green — 2-1

Nicholas Fung — 1-1-1

Sung-hoon Kang — 1-1-1

Kiradech Aphibarnrat — 0-3

SSP Chawrasia — 0-3

Anirban Lahiri — 0-3

Byeong-hun An — 0-3

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