Britain and Ireland took a two-point lead against Continental Europe on the opening day of the Seve Trophy match at El Saler near Valencia today. The home team's only winners in the first session of fourballs were German Alex Cejka and France's Raphael Jacquelin, who took the first six holes against Justin Rose and Ian Poulter and then withstood a fightback for a four and three victory.
David Howell came up with a superb four-iron to under three feet on the last to give himself and Lee Westwood a win over Continental Europe captain Seve Ballesteros and his old Ryder Cup partner Jose Maria Olazabal.
Paul Casey's three closing birdies enabled him and Brian Davis to defeat Ignacio Garrido and Miguel Angel Jimenez two and one, while Padraig Harrington and Phillip Price were last-green winners over Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia.
Captain Colin Montgomerie and fellow Scot Paul Lawrie's halved match with Volvo Masters champion Fredrik Jacobson and fellow Swede Niclas Fasth made the score 3 1/2-1 1/2 going into the second fourballs tomorrow.
Draw for the second day fourballs: (Continental names first, Great Britain and Ireland lead 3 1/2-1 1/2 after first day):
10:25 Sergio Garcia & Thomas Bjorn v Lee Westwood & David Howell
10:40 Raphael Jacquelin & Alex Cejka v Paul Lawrie & Colin Montgomerie
10:55 Miguel Angel Jimenez & Ignacio Garrido v Paul Casey & Brian Davis
11:10 Fredrik Jacobson & Niclas Fasth v Padraig Harrington & Phillip Price
11:25 Jose Maria Olazabal & Seve Ballesteros v Ian Poulter & Justin Rose
Filed by Johnny Proby
