June 26, 2008
IRVINE, Scotland - Recent San Diego State graduate Aaron Goldberg (Encinitas, Calif.) defeated Europe's Jonas Enander Hedin, 2-up, in match play on Thursday to help Team USA grab a 6.5-5.5 lead after the first two rounds of the 2008 Palmer Cup at Glasgow Golf Club's Gailes Links. The 12th annual tournament features the top American collegiate players against their European counterparts in a Ryder Cup-style format.
Goldberg led wire-to-wire in his victory over Enander Hedin, a native of Taby, Sweden, who just completed his eligibility as a collegian in the United States at Charlotte. Goldberg won the first, fourth and fifth holes, but was unable to put his adversary away as Enander Hedin made things interesting after posting birdies on No. 13 and 17. However, a Goldberg par on the 18th hole ended the drama, giving Team USA its third triumph in a five-match winning streak during singles competition.
Earlier in the day, Goldberg was paired with 2008 NCAA champion Kevin Chappell of UCLA as the American duo halved its match against Jonathan Caldwell and Gareth Shaw in four-ball competition. Goldberg and Chappell found themselves in early trouble after dropping the first four holes and losing a fifth on No. 7. The tandem regrouped at this juncture, taking four of the next seven holes thanks to a pair of birdies by Goldberg on No. 8 and 14 and another by Chappell on the 13th. A Shaw birdie on No. 16 moved the match to dormie before Chappell turned the tables with birdies on the final two holes, including a chip-in out of the bunker the 18th to halve the contest.
The 2008 Palmer Cup concludes Friday with foursome matches in the morning, followed by a final round of singles play in the afternoon. Goldberg and Alabama alumnus Michael Thompson will take on the tandem of Enander Hedin and fellow Swede Jonas Blixt in an alternate-shot format during the morning session.
2008 Palmer Cup
At Irvine, Scotland
Glasgow Golf Club--Gailes Links
Round One Results (Four-ball)
Jonas Blixt/Jonas Enander Hedin (Europe) def. Chesson Hadley/Adam Mitchell (USA) 1-up
Jonathan Caldwell/Gareth Shaw (Europe) halved Kevin Chappell/Aaron Goldberg (USA) Derek Fathauer/Michael Thompson (USA) def. Scott Borrowman/Charles Ford (Europe), 2 and 1
Jorge Campillo/Tim Sluiter (Europe) def. Rickie Fowler/Billy Horschel (USA), 4 and 2
Round Two Results (Singles Matches)
Chesson Hadley (USA) def. Jonathan Caldwell (Europe), 2 and 1
Rickie Fowler (USA) def. Charles Ford (Europe), 4 and 3
Aaron Goldberg (USA) def. Jonas Enander Hedin (Europe), 2-up
Jonas Blixt (Europe) def. Adam Mitchell (USA), 5 and 4
Kevin Chappell (USA) def. Jorge Campillo (Europe), 4 and 3
Derek Fathauer (USA) def. Gareth Shaw (Europe), 1-up
Scott Borrowman (Europe) def. Billy Horschel (USA), 1-up
Tim Sluiter (Europe) def. Michael Thompson (USA), 1-up