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Team Europe Refuses To Surrender
Dec 18, 2004, 3:46 PM

Marcus Chamat

Facing the stark reality of an early trip home, Team Europe sent a message to their American combatants by winning the final two matches of the night Saturday, and trimming Team USA's lead to 9-6 at the Mosconi Cup in Egmond aan Zee, Holland.

Having swept the three double matches Saturday afternoon, the U.S. squad entered the evening's singles matches leading 8-4. The defending champions extended their advantage to five matches when firecracker-hot Rodney Morris drilled Germany's Thomas Engert, 5-1, in a sporty 30 minutes.

But Team Europe captain Oliver Ortmann stemmed the U.S. onslaught with a 5-1 win over struggling Tony Robles. Sweden's Marcus Chamat then pulled off a stunningly easy 5-2 win over Earl Strickland, sending the packed partisan house into near hysteria and his Euro teammates to bed with visions of a comeback dancing in their heads.

The 11th running of the transatlantic Ryder Cup-styled team event will conclude with a maximum of eight singles matches on Sunday.