Title-holders Ireland topped in European girls' final

Defending champions Ireland lost 3-2 to France in the final of the European girls' team championship at Aalborg Golf Club, Denmark.
In a tight and tense encounter, the morning foursomes spoils were shared.
Team Ireland needing two wins out of three in the singles to retain the trophy were on the back foot after nine holes. In the top match Lisa Maguire was three down, Stephanie Meadow 1 down while Leona Maguire was one up.
Celine Boutier, the top French player and a rising force in the game, put her side firmly in the driving seat as she went on to defeat Lisa 3 and 2.
 At the same point Stephanie Meadow went one up on Manon Gidali while Leona was pegged back to all square playing the 14th. Stephanie maintained her slender advantage, was one up playing the 18th and held her nerve to win on the home green.
Overall match all square. Then the table turned on Leona Maguire and she found herself one down playing 17 but not wanting to loose her 100%  record she dug deep and won the 17th to be all square playing 18.
 France's Alexandra Bonetti then sank a devastating blow to Ireland’s hopes with a birdie putt on the 18th while Leona’s birdie attempt just lipped out.
The Irish team, captained by Sinead Keane, was gutted but to reach the final of a European championship two years in a row is no mean feat.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Final
IRELAND 2, FRANCE 3
Foursomes: 1-1
Leona Maguire and Lisa Maguire bt Celine Boutier and Lea Charpier 3 and 1.
Laura McCarthy and  Stephanie Meadow lost to Alexandra Bonetti and Manon Gidali 5 and 4.
Singles 1-2
Lisa Maguire lost to Celine Boutier 3 and 2.
Stephanie Meadow bt Manon Gidali 1 hole
Leona Maguire lost to Alexandra Bonetti 1 hole

Play-off for third place
SPAIN 3.5, SWEDEN 1.5

Also:
DENMARK 2, FINLAND 1.
BELGIUM 2, ENGLAND 1
Foursome:
L Christiaens and C De Corte lost to K Tidy and H Baek 3 and 1.
Singles:
M Vanmol bt A Peters 2 holes.
C Richelle bt L Taylor 5 and 4.

FLIGHT B
AUSTRIA 2, CZECH REP 1
GERMANY 2, NORWAY 1
WALES 0, ITALY 3
Foursome:
M Hassan and K Miller lost to B M Fabrizio 3 and 2.
Singles:
K Bradbury lost to E Ferrero 3 and 2.
C Williams lost to L Sedda 3 and 1.

SCOTLAND 2.5, NETHERLANDS 0.5
Foursome
A McKechin and R Taylor halved with K Jansen and K B akker.
Singles:
R Watton bt A Van Dam 4 and 2.
E Briggs bt I D Nieuwenhuis 3 and 2.


3-4: Spain 4 - 1 Sweden
5-6: Finland 1 – 2 Denmark
7-8: Belgium 2 - 1 England