Davis High School senior Cole Ponich lost his singles match Tuesday, but he already had played a major role in helping the U.S. team take the lead on the way to a victory in the 11th Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris.
Ponich, who is committed to BYU, and his partners won two matches Monday, providing two key points in the 12½ -11½ win. The Americans have beaten Europe six straight times in the Junior Ryder Cup — ever since Utah native Tony Finau’s teams lost to Europe in 2004 and ’06 — but this competition was close all the way.
The Americans kept the Cup by holding onto the 7½-4½ lead they took after the first day, although Europe won seven of the 12 individual matches.
Ponich lost 2 and 1 to Robin “Tiger” Williams of England, after making some critical shots in his team matches Monday. He teamed with William Moll of Texas for a 2-up victory in the foursomes (alternate shot) competition, coming through with three consecutive clutch putts on the front nine — including a 30-foot birdie on No. 5.
In the afternoon mixed four-ball matches, he joined 14-year-old Alex Pano of Florida for a 2-and-1 win. The key shot was Ponich's chip-in birdie on No. 16, resulting in what Pano described as “the greatest moment I've ever seen on a golf course.”
Standing 5 yards off the green Ponich said his ball landed on his exact aiming point. Pano followed with a birdie on No. 17 to close the match.
The junior teams will play a six-hole exhibition Wednesday at Le Golf National, the site of the Ryder Cup matches that begin Friday with Finau as a member of the U.S. team. Ponich plans to stay and watch Finau play this weekend, then return home to prepare for next week’s Class 6A state tournament at Saratoga Springs.