U.S. four-ball charge leads to 9-7 edge after Day Two

Sparked by a highlight-reel shot from Butch Sheehan Saturday afternoon, the United States forged a two-point edge over Great Britain & Ireland in the 23rd PGA Cup. The competition will be decided in the 10 Sunday singles matches.

By Bob Denney, PGA of America

GREENSBORO, Ga. -- Butch Sheehan of Rancho Mirage, Calif., struck one of the highlight-reel golf shots of the 23rd PGA Cup Saturday afternoon, a gem of a 5-iron approach for a tap-in birdie on the 16th hole to propel the United States to a key four-ball victory and help earn a 9-7 lead over Great Britain & Ireland.

Sheehan's heroics were needed for the United States to retain any chance of reclaiming the Llandudno Trophy in the premier international event for PGA Golf Professionals. The duel at The Oconee Course at Reynolds Plantation comes down to 10 Sunday singles matches, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The United States must muster 4 1/2 additional points, while Great Britain & Ireland needs six in its mission to become the first from its side of the Atlantic to win this competition on U.S. soil.

"I think the most exciting thing about today's play was that it puts us in a strong position for tomorrow, needing 4 1/2 points," said U.S. Captain Roger Warren of Kiawah Island, S.C., the Honorary President of The PGA of America. "Coming off of this second day and getting 5 1/2 out of the 8 points was a huge, huge deal for us."

Sheehan, the oldest competitor in U.S. PGA Cup history at 57, hit his approach at 16 from 187 yards, which resulted in assuring no worse than a halve against England's James Whatley and Paul Wesselingh with two holes remaining. However, Wesselingh extended the match when he made a four-footer for birdie at 17, while Thelen and Sheehan failed on two short birdie attempts.

That left the challenging 18th hole, where U.S. hopes have waned through the first two days. However, Thelen and Sheehan each hit the green with their approaches, while Whatley's found the edge of Lake Oconee off the left side of the green. Partner Wesselingh was short of the green and his ensuing pitch came up eight feet short. Thelen then two-putted for the 2-up victory.

"We finally won on the 18th hole and that's very satisfying," said Sheehan. "Tim is such a good player and you're always in the game no matter where he is. He's a hell of a partner."

Great Britain & Ireland Captain Gary Alliss said his team's lone afternoon four-ball victory was a mental boost. That was supplied in a 2 & 1 win by George Ryall and Duncan Muscroft over Ron Philo Jr. of Amelia Island, Fla., and Lee Rinker of Jupiter, Fla.

"If we had lost all four this afternoon with some incredible golf, that would have been very disappointing," said Alliss. "The fact that it (a match victory) was the last one of the day will keep them a little buoyed up. My boys played really well. The U.S. Team was fantastic. They really did play well. Hats off to them.

"It was wonderful golf to watch. These guys are working club pros and that quality of this for me to watch was like regular tour golf. It was fantastic -- as exciting as The Ryder Cup."

Alliss remained confident that his team would battle even harder Sunday.

"They've got to just go out and play the best they can," he said. "They've still got a good opportunity to really make a name for themselves -- all out there for themselves, all trying to put a point on the board. I think they really want it. We're still close enough, easily close enough to bring this home."

Warren said the Sheehan-Thelen victory was a big lift to the U.S. Team.

"In putting the pairing together and putting Butch and Timmy together, first of all they like each other and enjoy playing together," said Warren. "And, I don't think you can ever discount the heart of Butch Sheehan and the way he's competing out here. And, Tim Thelen is a guy any cat would want to have on his team. He's just digging in the dirt trying to do anything to win."

The other afternoon four-ball wins were supplied by Mike Small of Champaign, Ill., and Alan Schulte of Fishers, Ind., in a 2 & 1 triumph over Ireland's John Dwyer and England's Danny Taylor. Schulte closed the match by sinking a six-footer at the par-5 17th hole.

And Chris Starkjohann of Cardiff by the Sea, Calif., and Chip Sullivan of Daleville, Va., downed Andrew Barnett of Wales and Craig Goodfellow of England, 2 & 1.

"I did not want to go another hole, I guarantee you," said Schulte. "Those guys played some tremendous golf in the middle. We were up by three holes after nine, but we each missed short birdies on 10. It was not over.

"I didn't know what to expect before I arrived, but I can tell you that I've seen a lot of great golf this week."

Sullivan and Starkjohann were the anchors of the U.S. Team with two key wins. They also downed Barnett and Muscroft of Padova, Italy, 3 & 2, in the Morning Foursomes. In the fading afternoon sun, Starkjohann closed out the four-ball match by making a downhill eight-foot birdie putt.

"I got here late, but it's good to be here now," said Starkjohann, who arrived early Thursday morning and had only one practice round. "I'm hoping I have my legs under me tomorrow."

"We had nine birdies between this morning's round and this afternoon's round," said Sullivan, the reigning PGA Professional National Champion. "We had no bogeys. It seems like we blend well together. He brings me up when I'm down and hopefully, I can bring him up a little bit."

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