Staff Reports
So far, Erica Shepherd’s overseas golf experience has gone perfectly.
Shepherd was a part of two match-play victories Monday, helping the United States get out to a 7½ to 4½ lead after the first day of action in the Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris.
In the morning, Shepherd teamed with Lucy Li to surge past Annabell Fuller and Amanda Linner, 5 and 3. Up by one hole after the first nine, Shepherd and Li turned it up on the back side, winning holes 10 through 12 and then finishing up by taking the 14th and 15th as well.
That victory helped the Americans head into the afternoon with a 4-2 lead.
Then, in her mixed four-ball match, Shepherd and Canon Claycomb got on top early by winning the first two holes against Linner and Conor Gough. The Europeans came back and took the third and seventh holes to square the match, but Shepherd and Claycomb went back in front on No. 9 and extended that lead by winning the 11th.
The match ended at 5 and 3 after the American duo claimed holes 13 through 15. Shepherd helped seal the deal with a chip on 15 that led to a decisive birdie.
Shepherd is playing in a singles match against Emilie Alba-Paltrinieri this morning as the United States looks to raise the Cup for the sixth straight time.
