Jacob Bridgeman makes the final putt on the 18th hole to win his match and give the US team a commanding 9-3 lead. (Photo from the AJGA)

Trent Phillips and Jacob Bridgeman combined in a morning four-ball match to put points on the board for the US team at the Junior Presidents Cup Matches.

The two Inman golfers won their opening match 2 up over the team of Sean Maruyama of Japan and Karl Vilips of Australia.

Kevin Britt, the Director of Instruction at The Country Club of Spartanburg is watching the matches with special interest on the two local players.

“Jacob made an amazing pitch shot from off the green that ran right into the hole. It helped wrap up the win. Trent made a birdie on the same hole,” said Britt.

In the afternoon alternate shot match the two Palmetto State golfers were split up. Phillips joined with Noah Goodwin of Texas to put the first win on the board in the second session.

Phillips and Goodwin topped Garrick Higgo of South Africe and Rayhan Thomas of India 4&3.

“Trent just played great all the way around. Everything seemed to be working for him. He rolled in about a 15 footer to wrap up the match,” said Britt.

Bridgeman and his partner Akshay Bhatia from Wake Forest, NC had their match come down to the 18th hole.

On the final hole the two Carolina golfers held a 1 up lead and needed a win or a half to pick up another point for the United States.

Bridgman’s pitch ended up 8 feet behind the pin. Bhatia pushed the putt about four feet past the hole leaving Bridgeman the task of cleaning it up for the win.

The side of Christo Lamprecht and Luca Filippi bogeyed the final hole so when the future Clemson golfer rolled in the short putt the US had another win.

At the end of the first day the United States team has a commanding 9-3 lead on the scorebord. The International team would have to sweep the singles matches on Tuesday to have any chance at a win.

“I saw some great golf today,” said Britt. “Great shots all over the course. If a kid needed a 35 foot putt he made it. If someone needed a great pitch shot he got it. The quality of play was exceptional and this is not an easy golf course,” he said.

The two South Carolina golfers will now compete in singles compeition on Tuesday. Phillips will face off with Jayden Schaper of South Africa. Schaper won the South African boys under 19 championship this year.

Bridgeman will match up with Filippi again in his singles match. Filippi is from South Africa and was the top ranked under 19 year old player in the country last year.

“Watching all the kids play I don’t think our two take a back seat to any of the other golfers here. Trent and Jacob are every bit as good as any of the players and better than a lot of them,” said Britt.

Video from the AJGA

Live scoring is available at http://www.ajga.org.