TURNBERRY, Scotland — The Internationals seized control of the fourth Bridges Cup on Monday, building a 6.5-3.5 lead over the United States after two sessions on the King Robert the Bruce course at Trump Turnberry. After three straight American victories in the event's history, the Internationals won both the morning fourball and afternoon foursomes to move three points clear on a demanding links test shaped by Scottish autumn weather.
The Americans struck first. Scott Anderson and Hoyt McGarity won the opening fourball 3 and 2, and Cody Massa and DJ Lantz followed with a 1-up victory. The Internationals answered with a sweep of the final three morning matches, as Jacob Austin and Lukas Michel won 4 and 3, Jonathan Bale and Dan Faccini won 3 and 2, and Gavin Dear and Josh Jamieson delivered a 6-and-5 rout. "We couldn't ask for more to be up three after the first two sessions," International vice captain Darragh Coghlan said. "What I've learned about my team today is they are damn good at golf. I watched some spectacular golf out there today, so really proud of the boys. They performed admirably."
Conditions worsened for the afternoon alternate-shot matches, with drizzle, cold and wind testing precision on a layout tightened by gorse, guarded approaches and contoured greens. Angus Carrick and Calum Hill never trailed in a 5-and-4 win to open the session, Andrew Davidson and James White added a 3-and-2 victory, and Caolan Rafferty and Colm Campbell edged Dennis Bull and Andrew Price 1 up after not leading until the 17th hole. The U.S. salvaged late points when Drew Stoltz and Pete Tomasulo won 1 up and Drew Kittleson and John Peterson tied Bale and Faccini for a half-point.
The pairings highlighted deep amateur pedigrees on both sides. Michel became the first international winner of the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 2019, Dear helped Scotland win the 2008 World Amateur Team Championship and represented Great Britain and Ireland in the 2009 Walker Cup, while Jamieson made three birdies in his first five holes Monday. Rafferty represented GB&I in the 2019 Walker Cup and Campbell won the Irish Amateur Open in 2016 and 2022, while Kittleson was runner-up in the 2008 U.S. Amateur and Peterson won the 2011 NCAA individual title at LSU. "The matches were close," U.S. captain Jeff Fujimoto said. "Some guys made a few more putts than us on the other team. Tomorrow we've got a big day. We've got to figure out the pairings and have a strong day tomorrow."
The King Robert the Bruce course, playing alongside the famed Ailsa — No. 18 in GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the World — hosted the opening 10 matches. The competition moves to the Ailsa on Tuesday for five fourball and five foursomes matches before 12 singles decide the Bridges Cup on Wednesday. Tuesday's opening fourball tees off at 8:20 a.m. local time, with 22 points still available and the Internationals chasing their first title.