GB&I trail to Continent of Europe

at Vagliano Trophy halfway stage

Great Britain & Ireland, seeking to avenge a record 15-9 defeat at St Andrews two years ago, are trailing the Continent of Europe who lead 7 ½-4 ½ at the halfway stage of the two-day women’s amateur international team golf match for the Vagliano Trophy at Hamburger Golf Club, Germany.
The Continentals took a 2 ½- 1½ pt lead from the morning foursomes with the 14-year-old Irish twins, Leona and Lisa, the only winners in skipper Mary McKenna’s four pairings. They won by one hole against France’s Marion Ricordeau and Belgium,s Laura Gonzalez-Escallon, winner of the British girls’ open title at Monifieth last summer.
The all-Scottish pairing of Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) were beaten 5 and 3 by the French duo of Rosanna Crepiat and Lucie Andre.
England’s Jodi Ewart and Rachel Jennings gained a square match in the lead-off foursomes against Germany’s Pia Halbig and Caroline Masson but Northern Ireland’s Danielle McVeigh and Wales’ Rhian Wyn Thomas lost by 2 and 1 to Caroline Hedwall (Sweden) and Marieke Nivard from the Netherlands.
The Continent increased their lead by taking the singles on a 5-3 count but skipper McKenna will be heartened by the fact that five of the ties went to the 18th green before they were settled.
Curtis Cup player Jodi Ewart from Catterick lost the top singles to Pia Halbig by one hole after being two down on the 13th tee.
Rachel Jennings, one up after 14 on Laura Gonzalez-Escallon, was held to a square match by the Belgian teenager.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), after sitting out the foursomes, was all square after 13 holes against Marion Ricordeau, and was a wee bit unlucky to lost the 18th and the match by one hole.
Kylie Walker found her shot to the last green blocked by trees. Although she skilfully drew her ball round the obstacle, it finished in the semi rough to the left of the green. Her delicate chip hit the hole but went about 8ft past on the treacherous down slope and her opponent’s two putts gave another win to the Continent of Europe.Leona Maguire played well all the way round in beating Lucie Andre by one hole after being two up on the 13th tee. The 14-year-old Irish wonder twin, managed to hold on to to her lead as the Spanish women’s open amateur champion came back at her. From a wicked hanging lie at the last, young Leona played a terrific shot, very cool under pressure, to secure her one-hole victory.
Rhian Wyn Thomas, another GB&I debutante, was two up after nine on Spain’s Adriana Zwanck who was not used by Continental skipper and compatriot Macarena Campomanes in the morning. The Welsh player went on to win by 3 and 1.
Danielle McVeigh was one down at the turn to Marieke Nivard, but was fighting a losing battle on the inward half and went down eventually byu 4 and 2.
Sally Watson slumped to five down after nine holes to Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall who ran out a 5 and 4 winner.
In the last tie to finish, all GB&I eyes were on the second Maguire twin, Lisa, who had been two up on the experienced German player Caroline Masson after nine holes.
A blitz of birdies from Masson – some of which Lisa matched – had squared the contest by the time they came down the last fairway.
In a very similar hanging lie experienced earlier by sister, Lisa managed to drill her ball onto the front half of the green.
Masson missed the green on the left, but hit the hole with her pitch, her ball finishing 8ft past. Lisa's putt finished a foot from the hole and was conceded and Caroline holed her eight-footer for a halved match.
RESULTS
Continent of Europe players first:
CONTINENT OF EUROPE 7 1/2, GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 4 1/2
Foursomes (2 ½- 1 ½)
Pia Halbig (Ger) & Caroline Masson (Ger) halved with Jodi Ewart (Eng) & Rachel Jennings (Eng).
Rosanna Crepiat (Fra) & Lucie Andre (Fra) bt Pamela Pretswell (Sco) & Sally Watson (Sco) 5 and 3.
Marion Ricordeau (Fra) & Laura Gonzalez-Escallon (Bel) lost to Lisa Maguire (Ire) & Leona Maguire (Ire) 1 hole.
Caroline Hedwall (Swe) & Marieke Nivard (Net) bt Danielle McVeigh (NIr) & Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wal) 2 and 1.
Singles (5-3)
Halbig bt Ewart 1 hole.
Gonzalez-Escallon halved with Jennings.
Ricordeau bt Kylie Walker (Sco) 1 hole.
Andre lost to Leona Maguire 1 hole.
Adriana Zwanck (Spa) lost to Thomas 3 and 1.
Masson halved with Lisa Maguire.
Nivard bt McVeigh 4 and 2.
Hedwall bt Watson 5 and 4.