Green, Ikeda prove to be a formidable pair

SHAH ALAM: The success of Malaysia’s Gavin Kyle Green and Japan’s Yuta Ikeda contributing points to Team Asia in the fourball match defeating Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Matthew Fitzpatrick of England on a 2&1 score proves they are a formidable pair in the 2018 EurAsia Cup golf championship.

In the opening round held at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club yesterday, Team Asia took the lead with three and a half points while Team Europe settled for two and a half points.

Green and Ikeda proved that they combined very well to get Team Asia’s second point in match under drizzle and cloudy sky.

“I think it was solid overall. We got off to a shaky start but hung in there strong and we pulled it off.

“Big eagle from Ikeda on 11. A couple of saves, and then birdie on 15 and then birdie on 17. So, it was a strong finish for us,” Green told reporters at the post-round press conference.

Playing as underdogs however did not weaken the spirit of the two players, instead they proved their experience and serenity were able to produce a good result.

“Obviously experience plays a big part but at the same time it’s a different ball game and match play. You make nine and the other person makes three, there’s only one.

“You win the hole, it doesn’t mean anything. When you win one hole, you have got to keep going. It can switch really quick,” he said. -