GLAMORGANSHIRE Golf Club Juniors kicked off their Annual three-day Ryder Cup competition on Sunday, September 20.

This year, Cameron Jones was given the honour of captaining the USA team and Dan Anderton the honour of captaining the European team. In the run up to day one, the Team captains met with the Tournament director, Steve Morris, to select teams and early Sunday morning the captains were busy strategising on the best pairings for day one Fourball matches.

As the mist rose on a very autumnal morning, anticipation was high amongst the gathering crowds to see the captains selection of pairings to battle it out on day one.

Team USA all wore their customary red shirts and all flew the Stars and Stripes flags proudly from their golf bags, a typically brash and intimidating approach from the Americans led by captain Cam who was excited about the prospect of winning away from home and bringing the trophy back to his Florida mansion on American home soil.

In a much more subdued manner, the Europeans turned out in their sky blue kit with each player wearing a Team Europe pin badge with thoughts of "Seve" and all the European greats that had gone before them. Captain Dan sent his team to the practice area whilst he went around each of the American players to welcome them to this year’s home venue: The Glamorganshire.

Samuel Ryder would have been so proud to see the impact of his aspirations to bring the two continents together in a respectful way through the power of golf.

In match one, the opening four ball pairings were juggled around as both captains were seeking to gain an advantage in the opening match. Team USA captain Cam had put out his favoured pairing of super Savs and JP, although it hadn't gone unnoticed that USA talisman JP was suffering from some late night exuberations back at his hotel room after the opening ceremony, luckily there was plenty of water on hand to rehydrate the young American party animal.

Captain Dan, in a late move, switched his first pairing to the "in form" Charlie Jones who has proved a bit of a nemesis for JP this season on the tour and Joe "Mighty" Morris who may not be the longest hitter on tour but his accuracy off the tee and short game should prove to be a good balance to take on the favoured American pairing.

In match two, first time European team player, Ralph O`Carroll was partnered with seasoned campaigner Matt George to take on Morgan "the Yank" Crimp and the fiercely competitive Jacob Sweeney.

Sweeney with his trademark Umbrella in hand, was prowling around the first tee in anticipation of this mouth watering contest against Europe where he was seeking revenge from last year's disappointing results.

O`Carroll and George were in relaxed mood chatting to fans and taking in the atmosphere of the Ryder Cup. Some great drives off the shortened first tee and it looked like advantage Europe in match two on the first hole although "The Yank" would have something up his sleeve to silence the home crowd.

In match three, the young guns of world golf were on the biggest stage of their golfing careers with both captains making the decision to blood their young rookies to get a taste of the event and to settle early nerves.

Some controversy surrounded Osian being switched from Team USA to Team Europe at the very last minute, apparently captain Dan had challenged his residency qualification for USA and discovered a great, great grandmother from Wales. Playing partner and younger of the George brothers was delighted with the late switch and commented to the press “With a name like 'Osian' how could he possibly be anything but Welsh, I'm proud to have him as my new playing partner".

The American pairing were clearly unsettled by this late controversy and Ryder Cup first timer Ben looked very nervous indeed.

However, his partner Freddie who comes from a long tradition of family golfers was able to calm him down and calm his nerves before he smashed his drive straight down the middle of the first fairway - game on.

In match four, with so many of the experienced Glamorganshire Ryder Cup players absent from the day one squad, it came down to a straight "shoot out" between the two captains who agreed to play the first and skip the second, third and fourth agreeing halves in order to lead the way in the competition and to make sure they finished early to get back out on the course to support their players.

Having watched all his young team drive down the fairway, captain Cam was under a little pressure to follow suit.

However, the pressure of captaincy was clearly getting to the American and he pulled out an iron to play safe on the first tee, he then proceeded to hit his ball no more than 20 yards off the tee into the heavy rough.

Seizing the opportunity, lefty captain Dan took out the big gun and drove it down to within a short pitch of the green but the American recovered well and put the pressure on the European captain who misjudged the speed of the green and three putted to get away with a half - this would prove costly.

With all games underway, starter for the day and rules official "Scotty" retired to the clubhouse to rest his brain after trying to calculate all the 3/4 handicap differences in each match - and he's an accountant.

All matches were fiercely battled out and after the earlier and much publicised "gimme" or "no gimme" in the Solheim Cup, respect for the tradition of the great game was restored with all players making sure there were "no gimmies" all day.

After all matches were completed the scoreboard was a sea of red. Team USA were able to relax and celebrate their early success after achieving a white wash in the fourballs matches. Team USA are leading 4-0 ahead of the foursomes event scheduled for Sunday, October 4.

With the Americans too strong on day one, Team Europe captain Dan will need a rethink on his pairings before day two foursomes, a format which has always traditionally suited the European players. This could be the greatest defeat of all time or do the Europeans have it in them to begin an early comeback?

For information about junior golf membership and winter coaching, please contact Steve Morris on 02920 701185 or glamgolf@btinternet.com.