A superb rally from Team Asia meant the inaugural EurAsia Cup ended in a 10-10 draw after a thrilling final day at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur.
Asia trailed 7-3 overnight going into the singles session and had been 5-0 behind after the first day’s fourball session, so few gave Thongchai Jaidee’s team a chance.
But Asia won the singles 7-3. With the score tied at 9
With both players on the 18th green in two, Fernandez-Castano putted down to 4ft, while Tanihara’s effort stopped a foot and a half from the hole. Under intense pressure, the Spaniard held his nerve to roll his par effort into the back of the cup before conceding the Japanese player’s putt.
“I’m happy the way I performed under pressure but I have to say that was the most nervous I’ve ever been,” said the seven-time European Tour champion. “However, you just need to look around you at what is going on here. This is big. This is going to be the next big thing in golf and I’m really proud of being part of the first edition.”
Wins for Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Kim Hyung-sung, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri over Thomas Björn, Pablo Larrazabal, Thorbjorn Olesen and Victor Dubuisson, allied to Prayad Marksaeng’s half point against Jamie Donaldson, saw the overall scores levelled at 8-8½.
Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman then moved Asia ahead for the first time in the three days with a 4 and 3 win over Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher before Dutchman Joost Luiten held his nerve to hole a four-footer for a winning par-4 against Koumei Oda, of Japan, to bring parity once again.
It left the outcome of the entire contest on the match between Fernandez-Castano and Tanihara – the half point being a fitting conclusion.