Continental Europe Rallies at Seve Trophy

Alex Cejka and Raphael Jacquelin kept their record perfect at the Seve Trophy on Saturday, leading a comeback by Continental Europe against defending champion Britain-Ireland.

Britain-Ireland had been ahead by three points at the start of the day but leads 10-8 entering Sunday’s last 10 singles in the Ryder Cup-style event.

Cejka and Jacquelin, a German-French pair, scored a 3 and 2 win over Englishmen Brian Davis and Paul Casey in the morning greensomes on El Saler’s links course.

In greensomes, both players drive and then pick the best shot to play the rest of the hole in foursome format. Foursomes are one drive only from each pair.

Cejka and Jacquelin later improved their record to 4-0 by downing previously unbeaten Englishmen David Howell and Lee Westwood 5 and 3 in foursomes.

Justin Rose teamed with English countryman Ian Poulter to hand Sergio Garcia and Thomas Bjorn yet another defeat, winning the last match of the day 2 and 1 against the Danish-Spanish pair to secure a split of the foursomes.

“When we saw the draw we knew we were in for a tough match,” Poulter said. “It was very pleasing to take it to them as we did.”

Niclas Fasth and Fredrik Jacobson, who won the season-ending Volvo Masters last week at Valderrama, also stayed undefeated.

British-Irish captain Colin Montgomerie finally won, teaming with Padraig Harrington to beat Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ignacio Garrido 2 and 1 in foursomes.

Britain-Ireland’s only win in the morning came in the last match, with Westwood and Poulter stopping Garcia and Seve Ballesteros 3 and 1.

Jose Maria Olazabal, Garcia and Bjorn have yet to win a match in the third edition of the event, named after Ballesteros, the former five-time major winner.

Continental Europe won in 2000 at Sunningdale, England. Last year, Britain-Ireland was the winner at Druids Glen, Ireland.