Europe trails Ballesteros golf event 3-2

PARIS, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Great Britain and Ireland leads Continental Europe 3-2 after the first day at the Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros golf tournament at Paris.

GBI secured its Day 1 lead in the four-ball competition, led by the record-equaling 6 and 5 win by England's Chris Wood and Anthony Wall over Sweden's Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson.

"I wanted to play Stenson at some point," Wood said.

"I think I raised my game against really top players," Wall added. "You have something to prove. They are the benchmark."

The other GBI win Thursday was by the Northern Ireland duo of Graeme McDowell-Rory McIlroy over Soren Kjelsen-Alvaro Quiros 4 and 3.

Europe's wins were Anders Hansen-Francesco Molinari over Robert Rock-Steve Webster 4 and 3 and Spain's Miguel-Angel Jimenez-Gonzalo Fdez-Castano over Ross Fisher-Nick Dougherty 2 and 1.

The biennial Ryder Cup-like event formerly was called the Seve Trophy.

Europe has not won it since 2000, its inaugural year.