NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY, Ireland, April 19 (UPI) -- Colin Montgomerie teamed with Andrew Olcorn in rallying for a foursomes victory Friday that helped give Britain and Ireland a 5-3 lead over Continental Europe after the opening day of the Seve Trophy.
Britain and Ireland won three of the four afternoon foursome matches at the Druids Glen Golf Club after the teams split the four morning greensome matches.
Montgomerie, his team's captain, and Oldcorn defeated Niclas Fasth and Robert Karlsson, 2 & 1. The British side trailed early in what turned out to be the pivotal match of the day.
"It was a good day to finish 5-3 ahead," Montgomerie said. "I would have taken any lead. The morning was very tense for everyone and I am glad I have played every player now. We go to bed in good shape."
Montgomerie may not have slept well after his morning performance in which he paired with Paul Lawrie in a 2 & 1 loss to Robert Karlsson and Thomas Bjorn. In the greensomes format, which was played in the morning matches, all four players hit a drive before each pair plays alternate shots with the preferred tee shot.
Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley posted a pair of wins for Britain and Ireland, including a 1-up win over Raphael Jacquelin and Thomas Levet in the afternoon match.
Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood were responsible for the other afternoon victory for Britain and Ireland, topping Alex Cejka and Thomas Bjorn, 3 & 2.
The only foursome victory by Continental Europe came courtesy of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal, who defeated Steve Webster and Paul Casey, 1-up.
Montgomerie is out to avenge a disappointing loss in the inaugural Seve Trophy in 2000. Ranked in the top 10 in the world at the time, Montgomerie lost to a fading Ballesteros in singles, enabling Europe to capture the event.
In the other greensome matches, Ian Woosnam and Webster of Britain and Ireland defeated Olazabal and Jimenez, 3 and 2; Harrington and McGinley topped Europe's Mathias Gronberg and Alex Cejka, 1-up; and Jacquelin and Levet of Europe took care of Lee Westwood and Clarke, 2 and 1.
The Ryder Cup-style event continues Saturday with four foursome and four fourball events. The tournament concludes with 10 singles matches on Sunday.
