The International team finished strong Saturday to remain in front of the United States through three days of the Presidents Cup outside Chicago, holding a 10 1/2-7 1/2 lead.
Chris Gotterup and Cameron Young combined to win two matches for the U.S. at Medinah Country Club’s No. 3 course, creating at least some suspense for Sunday’s final day.
In the last two matches to go complete in afternoon foursomes, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Australia’s Min Woo Lee upended Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark by 3 and 2 and then Canadians Corey Conners and Nick Taylor needed all 18 holes for a 1 up triumph against Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman.
The International tandem recovered from Taylor’s tee shot into the rough on the last hole to post par and avoid halving the match.
Gotterup/Young rolled to a 6 and 4 victory against Australia’s Adam Scott and South Korea’s Sungjae.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele edged South Korea teammates Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim by 2 and 1.
In morning four-ball, the U.S. claimed a 2 1/2-1 1/2 edge to narrow its gap after the International team swept five foursomes matches Friday.
Gotterup/Young defeated Conners/Taylor by 2 and 1, while Scottie Scheffler and Burns had the same margin against Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune.
The International team prevailed 2 and 1 with Kim/Kim topping Collin Morikawa and Clark by 2 and 1.
Each team earned a half-point on a draw with Lee and Im vs. Justin Thomas and Jackson Koivun, but the U.S. side failed to protect a 2 up lead. On No. 16, Lee/Im drew even despite a bogey because Thomas and Koivun each hit shots into the rough and couldn’t recover.
