USA defeats Internationals for third straight Bridges Cup win

In what turned out to be an exciting final session, the elite American intermediate amateur team held on to their lead to defeat the international squad, 17-15, to win their third straight. Cup of Bridges.

The 12-man American team came out firing in the opening session on Monday at Hesley Nine Bridges in South Korea, but the internationals bounced back in the three-day competition to get within two points to start Wednesday’s singles session.

But with 12 points won, it really was anyone’s game. And early in Wednesday’s games, it looked like the internationals were using that momentum for a potential comeback.

“After nine holes it really looked like the Internationals might have had a chance to crack it,” said Simon Holmes, a golf professional and Bridges Cup commentator in the country this week.

Internationals – after a strong opening trio of Matthew McCleanHugh Foley and Lukas Michel — won strong matches early, but Drew Kittleson finally put the Reds on the board with a 2-and-1 win over Jacob Austin.

Then the pieces began to fall into place for the Americans.

They took five of their last eight games — Scott Anderson, Andrew Medley and Drew Stoltz all won their games 5 and 4 — to remain unbeaten in three Bridges Cup games.

“The internationals arrived without any real brilliance and they didn’t perform early and were behind by so many points that they thought the game was lost,” Holmes said. “But the way they battled, the intensity of the competition, the amount of stress that was put on today for the players and of course the captains, it just shows that the Bridges Cup, the combination of 8am and CJ, and this concept of team golf in the middle of breakfast is an absolute winner.”

Even after the USA won the 16 points needed to retain the cup, Joseph Deraney, who was 2 under after nine holes in the anchor match against Angus Carrick, won three holes on the back nine, including the 18th with a long bird shot. secure a 1-up win and outright victory for the USA The singles session ended as a 6-6 split between the two teams.

For full results from the 2024 Bridge Cup, click here. Below are the full results from the singles session on day three.

DAY 3 CENTURY RESULTS:

Jack Hirsch

Editor of Golf.com

Jack Hirsh is the equipment editor at GOLF. A native of Pennsylvania, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also *tries* to remain competitive in the local amateurs. Prior to joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a television station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a multimedia journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.