Star double act at Foxhills

Rob Coles and Andy Raitt underlined how they are a formidable fourball combination with a vital victory for the second successive afternoon.

The pair secured a crucial point with a 1-up success on the final green to edge Great Britain and Ireland into an overall 8.5-7.5 lead going into the Sunday singles.

It meant that Albert MacKenzie’s side preserved the one-point advantage that they held at the start of the second day.

Coles and Raitt trailed 2-down early on to Rich Berberian Jr and Adam Rainaud but surged back, winning three holes ahead of the turn.

The back-nine saw the match ebb and flow before the GB and I duo’s par on 17 inched them one clear walking to the last.

They duly found the green in two and Raitt delivered the key blow, laying all but dead a lengthy eagle try.

Coles and Raitt’s triumph followed their 3 and 2 win against Rod Perry and Jamie Broce 24 hours earlier.

Raitt said: “Looking at the board, I think it was an important victory. It was a great match – really good fun.

“I love playing with Rob. I enjoyed yesterday afternoon and this afternoon as much as any game of golf I can remember. That was really good fun.”

Coles was equally complimentary about his partner and said: “Andy’s just so relaxed.

“I played the first morning and was trying too hard to make birdies, trying to push too much.

“But Andy is so chilled – he sort of brought me back down. He is a good influence.”

Singles Sunday starts at 9.30am with the hosts being led off by Damien McGrane against Mark Brown.

Coles is next on the tee at 9.40am, taking on Josh Speight, while Raitt is tasked with facing Dave McNabb at 10.10am

Sunday's Singles

09.30: Damien McGrane vs Mark Brown

09.40: Robert Coles vs Josh Speight

09.50: Chris Currie vs Rod Perry

10.00: Matthew Cort vs Jamie Broce

10.10: Andrew Raitt vs Dave McNabb

10.20: Chris McDonnell vs Rich Berberian Jnr

10.30: Greig Hutcheon vs Paul Claxton

10.40: Garry Houston vs Omar Uresti

10.50: Phillip Archer vs Matt Dobyns

11.00: David Higgins vs Adam Rainaud