Met Area Team Trails French-American Challenge
FONTAINEBLEAU, FRANCE (October 24, 2024) -- A clutch putt from Mark Costanza of Baltusrol gathered a crucial point for the Met Area Team in Thursday afternoon's four-ball portion of the 21st French-American Challenge, as he and Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow picked up a full point and put the visitors at a 3.5 to 6.5 deficit to Ligue de Golf Paris Il-de-France at Fontainebleau Golf Club. The Met Area Team faced the same deficit in 2022 before winning seven of 10 singles matches on the final day to win the title.
Related: Scoring
The morning Foursomes session saw the hosts jump out to a 3.5 - 1.5 lead. Pendleton Bogache of Deepdale and Ami Gianchandani of Watchung Valley earned the Met Area team's full point, besting Margaux Brejo and Alexandra Vilatte by a 4-and-2 margin. Six wins from Nos. 4-12 sparked their victory.
Costanza and Tilley secured the other half point, but in the morning it was the French side with the clutch finish, as they made four on the closing hole to win the hole and tie the match.
Adam Friedman of Sterling Farms and MGA eClub - Long Island member Matt Lowe were dominant in their victory over Nicolas Foschia and Esteban Cruz Bonilla, winning by a 5-and-4 margin. The duo only dropped one hole in the match.
France's women sides closed late to grab crucial Four-Ball points, as Alice Kong and Marie-Elodie Prats won Nos. 16 and 17 to earn a 3-and-1 win over Ina Kim-Schaad of Deepdale and Catherine McEvoy of Innis Arden and Mathilde Clasisse and Vilatte won Nos. 13-16 and 17 to flip a one-hole deficit into a 2-and-1 victory over Christina Parsells of Somerset Hills and Gianchandani.
Tilley and Costanza faced a two-hole deficit through 14 holes, but wins on Nos. 15 and 17 earned the Met Area team the advantage heading into the last hole. While Costanza had to avoid trees on his approach, his shot found the green and he rolled in the lengthy, hooking putt that matched a birdie from the hosts and secured the full point.
The 21st French-American Challenge concludes Friday with 10 singles matches.