HUA HIN – Japanese teen phenomenon Ryo Ishikawa beat Italy’s Matteo Manassero in the battle of the young guns on Friday to help Asia to a 2-2 tie with Europe after the opening day of the Royal Trophy. The 19-year-old Ishikawa, a nine-time winner on the Japan Tour, teamed up with good friend Shunsuke Sonoda to overcome Manassero, 17, and Spain’s Pablo Martin by 3 and 2 in the alternate-shot foursomes at Black Mountain Golf Club.
Europe player/captain Colin Montgomerie partnered Welshman Rhys Davies to a 2 and 1 victory over 29th-ranked South Korean Kim Kyung-Tae and Yuta Ikeda, a four-time winner on the Japan Tour last season, in the final match. Scotland’s Montgomerie skippered Europe to a 8
