By Jesse Dodson On September 25, 2025 2:11 UTC
By the time the singles matches arrived during the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup at Marco Simone in Rome, Italy, the competition was all but decided, with Europe eventually winning 20 ½ – 9½. This year, in New York, the competition is much tighter.
The United States Team will go into Thursday’s singles matches with only a two-point cushion, extending their lead today at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove and finishing the day with 10 points to Europe’s 8.
“The matches are so tight and the competition is incredible,” said U.S. Captain Suzy Whaley, Past President of the PGA of America and a PGA Master Professional. “It was back and forth all day.”
To begin Wednesday’s mixed four-ball session was a rematch between Europe’s Sara Brentcheneff and Hugo Le Goff and America’s Asterisk Talley and Miles Russell. The U.S. got off to a blazing start, winning the first four holes with three birdies and a par to go 4-up.
Like their match Tuesday afternoon in mixed foursomes, the French duo were not phased, winning holes 6, 7 and 9. After swapping birdies on holes 14 and 15, the U.S. held a 1-up lead into the par-4 17th hole, where Russell closed the match with a 10-foot birdie.
“Got off to a nice start and we didn’t really play poorly midway through, we just didn’t give ourselves any looks and (Europe) made some birdies to make it tight at the end,” said Russell, the Florida State University commit.
The top-ranked U.S. juniors in the AJGA Boys’ and Girls’ rankings learned from each other after being paired together twice before the Junior Ryder Cup turns to singles matches.
“It’s been fun getting to learn from each other’s games,” said Talley, who recently committed to Stanford University. “We feed off each other.”
The other two full points secured by the U.S. came from Maryland’s Zoe Cusack and Kansas’ Lunden Esterline, winning 2 & 1 and Lily Peng and Giuseppe Puebla with their 4 & 2 win over Europe’s Alice Kong and Lev Grinberg.
Europe secured their first point of the day when Spain’s Nagore Martinez and Callixte Alzas of France carded four team-birdies to win 3 & 2 over American’s Hamilton Coleman and Rayee Feng.
Giving additional momentum to Team Europe was Denmark’s Benedicte Brent-Peterson who birdied 17 and proceeded to drive the 18th green on the 330 yard par-4, earning Europe another point alongside teammate John Doyle of Ireland.
“Knowing that we had momentum, that’s important,” Brent-Peterson said of her mindset before her tee shot. “You kind of wish for this (opportunity) the whole season, playing back home in Europe, and it’s finally come to life. It’s an honor.”
The final match of the day ended in a tie following near birdies from American Anna Fang and European Oscar Couilleau, leaving a narrow lead into tomorrow’s singles, with 12 available points up for grabs.
“Fantastic golf,” said European Captain Stephen Gallacher following play. “We knew it was going to be among the 24 best in the world. We’re two points back going into singles, anything can happen.”
Team Europe will look to rally from behind to win their first Junior Ryder Cup in America since 2004, when they claimed the cup at Westfield Group Country Club in Westfield Center, Ohio.
“It’s on their shoulders,” Gallacher continued. “There’s a chance to re-write history tomorrow, we’ve not won away for over 20 years, and we’re going to try and do it for the Continent.”
As for Captain Whaley’s message to her team tonight, “I want them to have grit and determination; I want them to have perseverance,” Whaley said. “If they get down, we’re not going to worry about it, we’re going to bounce back. We’re going to go out with our pairings as strong as we possibly can, and at the end of the day, the best team wins.”
Announced earlier today, due to the forecast of inclement weather on Thursday, and the adjusted scheduling at Bethpage Black, the Junior Ryder Cup will stay at the historic Nassau Country Club with singles matches beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET.
The final matches at Nassau C.C. are open to the public for spectating and media.
