LACK of links experience was a factor behind Europe's 19 1/2-41/2 thrashing of the US at Prestwick in the 10th Palmer Cup, the annual collegiate tournament.
It was a record for the contest that began 10 years ago and brings the score in the series to 5-4 for the US with one tie.
Leading 10-2 overnight, Europe won the foursomes 4-0, and the US cause was lost long before the final session of singles, the honour of holing the winning putt falling to Welsh Walker Cup player Rhys Jones.
The singles went Europe's way by 5 1/2-21/2 for a final score that left the US squad shaking their heads. The Europeans had been stronger on paper, but not by that much.
None of the young US squad had previously played links golf in the UK while every one of the European team played last week at Royal St George's in the Amateur Championship.
Painfully, the Americans discovered their maxim of "hit it high and watch it fly" does not always work in capricious winds and on uneven terrain where low ball flights and bump-andruns can be more effective.
Pablo Martin, the Spaniard who attends Oklahoma University, said: "In the US, we never play short of the green and let the ball run up, like you do here. Inside 120 yards, it is always a wedge, but on links, even when you think there is not much wind, it is deceptive and it is easy to lose control of the ball in the air."
It was an amateur swansong for fellow Spaniard Alejandro Canizares, son of Ryder Cup player Jose Maria. He will make his professional debut at Little Aston on Wednesday in Open Championship qualifying.
Like Martin, he collected four points, taking his tally in four Palmer Cups to 13-3, a record that may never be beaten. His singles record is a perfect 8-0, but he had to hole a six-footer at the last for a onehole victory over Ryan Baca. "I'm very happy with my last shot as an amateur, " he smiled.
Richie Ramsay, the lone Scot, won his morning foursomes with Dutchman Joost Luiten but lost by one hole to top-ranked American Chris Kirk. Ramsay missed a fourfoot birdie putt for a half at the last and blotted his copybook by hurling his ball away in disgust.
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