United Arab Emirates
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Bonallack Trophy tied at 10-10
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Asia-Pacific lead Patsy Hankins Trophy 11.5 - 8.5
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12 singles matches left to play on final day at Al Hamra
The second of three days of match play golf between Europe and Asia-Pacific's best amateur players started and ended under the floodlights at Al Hamra Golf Club, UAE.
Heading into the final day singles session, which will see all 12 players on each team go head-to-head in individual matches, the men's match is tied 10-all, while the European ladies' have a 3-point deficit to surmount.
Thursday's two Bonallack Trophy sessions were a near repeat of Wednesday's in the men's competition. The Asia-Pacific team again took the advantage in the morning foursomes session before the visitors closed the gap in the afternoon once more.
Jose Luis Ballester (ESP) and Pablo Ereño Perez (ESP) continued their winning streak with a 2&1 win in the foursomes, while English duo Dominic Clemons and Charlie Forster delivered Europe's only other point of the morning session.
Asia-Pacific entered the afternoon with a one-point advantage, which they were unable to retain as the visitors fought back in the fourballs. An incredibly tight session, with all matches decided by 2 holes or less, saw the first three points go to Europe before the home side clinched the final two matches by a single hole.
European wins came from Peer Wernicke (GER) and Tim Wiedemeyer (GER), Filip Jacubcik (CZE) and Benjamin Reuter (NED), as well as a fourth straight victory this week from the Spanish pairing of Ballester and Ereño Perez.
The two men's teams have nothing to separate them heading into the final day singles at a score of 10-10. As trophy holders, Asia-Pacific need at least 6 points on Friday to retain the trophy, while the Europeans must score 6.5 or more to reclaim the silverware.
In the Patsy Hankins Trophy, the European side had the tough task of trying to close a 4-point deficit from a disappointing opening day.
Myrte Eikenaar's team won their first session of the week in the foursomes to narrow the gap, winning 3-2 with points from Carolina Lopez-Chacarra (ESP) & Emma Bunch (DEN), Beth Coulter (IRL) & Aine Donegan (IRL), and Carolina Melgrati (ITA) and Marie Madsen (DEN).
The women's afternoon fourballs may have been one of the tightest sessions in the history of the contest. Four of the five matches went down the 18th, with three of them finishing in a tie.
Of the other two matches, Min-Seo Jeong (KOR) and Elia Galitsky (THA) won their match 2&1 for the APGC team, while Lottie Woad (ENG) made a crucial birdie on the 18th alongside Beth Coulter (IRL) under the floodlights to win the match 1-up and tie the session.
The European side will have a 3-point deficit to overcome in the final day singles.
