• Seve Trophy

Continental Europe take two-point lead

Nicolas Colsaerts helped earn Europe a point on day one of the Seve Trophy © Getty Images

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Continental Europe took control after the fourballs on day one of the Seve Trophy, claiming a two-point lead in France.

Scottish duo Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher earned Great Britain and Ireland's only full point after beating Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Bjorn 3&2 in the top game.

But Europe, helmed by victorious Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, bounced back by winning three of the other four matches and halving the other to lead by three and a half points to one and a half in their quest to end a run of six straight defeats in the event.

The scores were levelled when Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Nicolas Colsaerts beat Marc Warren and Scott Jamieson 5&3, with Mikko Ilonen and Thorbjorn Olesen holding on to defeat Tommy Fleetwood and Chris Wood, a result which ended Wood's unbeaten record in the event.

Francesco Molinari managed to snatch a half with Matteo Manassero when he birdied the last against Paul Casey and Simon Khan. However Joost Luiten and Gregory Bourdy then saw off Jamie Donaldson and David Lynn 2&1.

Olazabal was encouraged by his team's efforts. He said: "Joost played extraordinarily well today and made a bunch of birdies, Thorbjorn also played very well.

"It was a great experience for them but the main thing is to win points and I think the team is really happy today."

Great Britain and Ireland captain Sam Torrance said: "They played very well. Our boys played very well too but they made a few more birdies than us. Our turn tomorrow.

"You put your best match out first and they stood up to be counted with a great win, Fleetwood and Wood had a great comeback and that could have gone either way. It looked like 4-1 down and it almost could have turned to 3-2 ahead but that's golf."

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