By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
at Centurion Club
After an enthralling first day of the inaugural GolfSixes at Centurion Club in England, europeantour.com turns its attention towards the knockout stages and the four quarter-final ties set for Sunday morning.
Sixteen teams started out first thing on Saturday with each two-man international side facing three six-hole round-robin clashes on day one in St Albans.
With three points awarded for a win and one apiece for any tied matches,Englandprogressed as winners of Group A withDenmarkin second,Thailandtook the spoils in Group B as Scotland also advanced.
Portugalproved impressive in topping Group C on ‘Hole Difference’ with second placedAustralia, while France went undefeated in Group D asItalyleft it late to secure the eighth and last quarter-final spot.
But now, the knockouts approach. Super Sunday, Finals Day, whatever you want to call it, it’s going to be real.
Now, just eight teams remain…
1205: ENGLAND VS. ITALY
The hosts against the Italian youngsters. The English Ryder Cuppers versus the continental up-and-comers. England’sAndy SullivanandChris Woodwere awarded a hero’s welcome by the home faithful on Saturday but after two draws, the English crowd had to wait until the third session of the day to see the top seeds claim a first win in the shape of a 4-0 drubbing of the Netherlands, with it snatching first place in Group A.
Despite being the youngest team in the competition, with a combined age of just 44, Italy’sMatteo ManasseroandRenato Paratore–much like quarter-final opponents England – left themselves a lot to do. Manassero proved hero at the tail-end of both the second and third matches, snatching a draw with France after a brilliant second shot into two feet at the par five sixth before holing a 20-footer from off the green to take down Sweden.
This has all the hallmarks of being a classic, thrust-and-parry match play tie. While England have created the second most birdie opportunities through three matches thus far (13), Italy have only missed one of 18 Greens in Regulation. Don’t blink…
1220: DENMARK VS. FRANCE
Thorbjorn OlesenandLucas Bjerregaardalways had the makings of a fine team, bringing plenty of style, aggression and pizzazz to the Danish side. Following draws with the Netherlands and the host nation, Denmark bludgeoned their way to a 1-0 win over the Indians to claim second spot in Group A, with Bjerregaard recording the biggest hit of the day at the ‘Power’ long driving fourth, a staggering 357 yards, no less.
They’ll play the effervescent French side ofGregory Bourdyand last week’s winner,Alex Levy, another dynamic duo who can go seriously low. The Frenchmen registered birdies on ten of their 18 holes on Saturday, taking seven points – two wins and a draw – from their three round-robin encounters. Ominous…
1235: THAILAND VS. AUSTRALIA
The only two non-European sides to make the quarter-finals will duke it out in the last eight as Thailand’sKiradech AphibarnratandThongchai Jaideeface AustraliansSam BrazelandScott Hendon Sunday. Joint top-scorers thus far with France, the Thais drew with Spain before recording victories over Belgium and Scotland, also hitting an impressive 17 of 18 Greens in Regulation on the first day in England.
In a closely-fought, Group C, meanwhile, the Australians went from the sublime to the ridiculous and back to the sublime, finishing second on Hole Difference to Portugal after beating the Americans before getting thumped 4-0 by the Portuguese. Thanks to a brilliant 25-footer from Hend at the last, they won the last two holes to take maximum points against Wales and with it progress into Sunday. A heavy-weight bout, in all senses of the word…
1250: SCOTLAND VS. PORTUGAL
In the last of the quarter-final match-ups,Richie RamsayandMarc Warren’sScotland side will take on Portugal’sRicardo GouveiaandJose-Filipe Lima.
The Portuguese got off to a blistering start, winning their opening two matches against USA and Wales a combined 8-0. Despite losing out to Australia in their third match, Lima and Gouveia shot a combined 61 on Saturday, lower than any other side so they are serious danger men.
Scotland were also 100 per cent through two matches, making the most of the par fives at eight under par through six of the longest holes on Saturday thanks to three eagles and two birdies. They’ll be high on confidence and some hearty British support and could be another side to watch out for on Sunday.
