An inspired GB&I completed the first stage of a much-needed comeback on day two of the PGA Cup as they won the morning fourballs 3-1 to reduce the US's advantage to two.

A rousing morning session was a must for Gary Alliss's men after finishing the first day 6-2 down to an American side that had set the pace on day one.

But, as Alliss predicted, the Fat Lady wasn't singing just yet and GB&I came out in determined fashion, desperate to make amends.

However, two of the matches were extremely close run affairs with the outcome going right down to the last hole.

Topping off a successful morning for the home side was the Welsh pairing of Andrew Barnett and James Lee, who were playing together for the third successive time this week.

The opening nine holes saw the Welshmen play par golf to the turn, however rivals Eric Lippert and Mark Sheftic produced two birdies to move two up.

The arrears were reduced at the 13th with a Barnett birdie before they drew all square at the 16th after the Americans were forced to concede the hole.

Lee then saw a four foot putt lip out at the 17 to miss the chance to go one up but the 18th turned in their favour with Sheftic picking up after going into the trees.

Lippert found a greenside bunker with his second shot while both Welsh boys found the green. Their putts rolled close to the hole and that was enough to win the match after Lippert took two attempts to get his ball out of the sand.

"All the matches we've been down in we haven't turned them around so we were keen to turn that one and we needed 3-1 this morning to make it a bit closer going into this afternoon and tomorrow," said Barnett

"We went a couple down and clawed them back. I holed a good putt on 13 for birdie which got us back to one and then hit a great shot into 16 and were conceded two to get all square.

"We knew we needed 3-1. We had a talk last night and stressed how important it was to close the gap and we've done that this morning. And what it's all about, that's why we're here for these close matches."

Fifteen minutes earlier the 18th again secured a point for GB&I with Paul Simpson and Jamie Harris finally seeing out a rollercoaster battle against Craig Thomas and the previously unbeaten Kyle Flinton.

The score changed hands on the first eight holes until the first half on the ninth - in part due to three birdies and two bogeys from Flinton from the fourth.

However the match was all square at the turn. Simpson sank a birdie at the par five 11th to put them one up. A bogey from Harris at 14 was recovered at the next as he atoned with a birdie.

The pair then clung on for the final three holes, Simpson sinking a crucial four foot putt at the last to avoid a half.

"Everyone was really upbeat last night, I was probably the worst because I felt we could have won that afternoon match but like we were saying after the first day there are still 18 points up for grabs and so much can happen," said Harris.

"You've seen it often enough in Ryder Cups and we knew it was important to get some blue on the board early."

The tone had earlier been set by heavyweight pairing Paul Wesselingh and Jeremy Robinson, who took on Ryan Benzel and Mike Small.

It was Wesselingh's first match against Benzel since their draw in the singles at Reynolds Plantation two years ago when Benzel came back from dormie three, a result which secured the Llandudno Trophy for the US.

There was no such comeback this time, although the GB&I duo saw a two hole advantage wiped out after the 14th. However, Wesselingh sank a 10 foot birdie putt on the 16th to put them one up before closing out the match 2&1 at the next after the US side bogeyed the 17th.

"Jeremy holed a great birdie on two and we just started off nicely," said Wesselingh.

"I had a couple of chances to get a couple more and we were a bit frustrated we were only two ahead and as you always get in matchplay they come back at you.

"Eleven I was a bit disappointed because I hit it to six or seven feet and should have holed that one and they won the two par 3s 12 and 14 which was a bit irritating.

"But then I holed one on 16. I was due one, I knew it would come I just had to be patient.
"I changed the putter today as well, it was a little bit lighter because we felt last night in the team room that we were too aggressive with our putts.

"Yesterday was frustrating because I felt we played well but didn't get the breaks. On nine for example I hit the pin and ended 60ft away but it happened to Mike today and that's matchplay."

In the final pairing, Jon Bevan and Will Barnes were unable to repeat their opening day foursome success losing 4&3 to Steve Schneiter and Scott Hebert.