Team Asia enjoyed its best opening day performance in the history of the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM by leading 3 Ā½- 2 Ā½ Ā against Team EuropeĀ on Friday.
Team Asia has never led in the past two editions of the EurAsia Cup but their Fourballs performances showed the continent is ready to challenge for its first win at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
Koreaās Byeonghun An and Thailandās Kiradech Aphibarnrat suffered a 4&3 defeat to the English pair of Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey in the opening match.
However, the tide was immediately turn with Malaysiaās Gavin Green combining effectively with Japanās Yuta Ikeda in the second match to beat Belgiumās Thomas Pieters and Englandās Matthew Fitzpatrick 2&1.
Thailandās Phachara Khongwatmai and Japanās Hideto Tanihara then landed another blow to Team Europeās EurAsia Cup title defence by defeating Swedenās Alex Noren and Irelandās Paul Dunn by two holes.
The biggest upset of the day came when Koreaās Sunghoon Kang and Thailandās Poom Saksansin brought down Major winner Henrik Stenson and Franceās Alexander Levy comprehensively with a 5&4 victory.
Indiaās Anirban Lahiri and S.S.P. Chawrasia struggled against Ross Fisher and Tyrrell Hatton, losing 5&4 to the English duo.
But it was Chinaās Li Haotong, who completed a memorable day for Asia when he sunk a 15-feet birdie putt on 18 to halve his match with Austriaās Bernd Wiesberger and Spainās Rafa Cabrera Bello.
Team Asian captain Arjun Atwal was thrilled with his team’s start and believes a relaxed attitude will continue to be the key to success this week.
āIām really happy about todayās results and how the day went especially Li Haotongās match. That was very important for me as that half point was really a psychological boost for the team.
āThe players in my team are all champions and they know what to do to win. All I want them to do is to stay relaxed and continue to have funĀ tomorrow,ā said Atwal.
