SCOTLAND GIRLS AND WOMEN LOSE LAST EUROPEAN MATCHES

   FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND - (left to right): Lesley Atkins, Heather Munro, Fiona Liddell, Lauren Whyte, Connie Jaffrey, Clara Young.

Scotland, competing in the top flight of the European girls team championship for the first time since the format changed to six-a-side, lost 5-0 to Italy in their final match at Linkopings GC, Sweden.
That meant the Scots finished sixth in the championship flight.
In the championship final, Sweden beat France.
England lost out for the bronze medals when they were beaten by Spain and finished fourth.

 CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - FRANCE 2 1/2, SWEDEN 4 1/2

3rd/4th place play-off - Spain 5 1/2, England 1 1/2

5th/6th place play-off - Scotland 0, Italy 5
Foursome: Fiona Liddell and Heather Munro lost to Martina Floi and Lucrezia Rosso 2 holes.
Singles: Lauren Whyte lost to Camilla Mortigliengo 1 hole; Lesley Atkins lost to Roberta Liiti 4 and 3; Connie Jaffrey lost to Virgina Carta 2 holes; Clara Young lost to Camilla Mazzola 3 and 2.

7th/8th place play-off: Finland 1, Norway 4.

SCOTLAND WOMEN LOSE TO IRELAND
In the European women's team championship, Scotland, who did not qualify for the top flight, lost their final Flight B match 3-2 to Ireland at Fulford Golf Club, York.

SCOTLAND 2, IRELAND 3
Foursome: Ailsa Summers and Jess Meeik lost to Leona and Lisa Maguire 3 and 2.
Singles: Eilidh Briggs lost to Stephanie Meadow 3 and 2; Gemma Dryburgh bt Chloe Ryan 6 and 5; Alyson McKechin lost to Paul Grant 4 and 2; Rachael Watton bt Maria Dunne 5 and 4.

Glory for Spain and disappointment for  England at Fulford Golden glory for Spain and disappointment for England – that’s the story of the final day of the European ladies’ team championship at Fulford, York. Spain (Image © Leaderboard Photography) beat Austria in the final to become champions for the fifth time, amid scenes of great celebration by the players.  But England ended the week empty handed when they lost the bronze medal play-off to Finland. The team were on the back foot after lost both morning foursomes, one finishing on the 19th and the other on the 18th. But they vowed to come out fighting in the singles – and that’s exactly what they did. They needed to take four of the five afternoon matches and, although Bronte Law lost her match, it was a case of ‘game on’ when Georgia Hall, Hayley Davis and Meghan MacLaren all won. But a birdie blitz from Lauren Taylor’s opponent stopped the charge in its tracks. Lauren had been ahead after 13 holes, but Finland’s Krista Bakker, produced a run of consecutive birdies on the 14th, 15th and 16th to come from one down to two up. When the 17th was halved, England’s medal hopes were finally ended and it was Finland who took the bronze. England captain Emma Brown remarked: “We had a great fightback in the singles, they all played well this afternoon and made it an exciting, close match. They are disappointed, but they have done well and they will bounce back.” Steve Robinson, the England coach, echoed her words: “We’ve given a lot of people a lot of entertainment this week and we ended up playing for a medal. “We would have liked to win one and I am disappointed for the girls after they put in such a lot of effort. I can’t fault them for effort, they were 2-0 down and they gave Finland a fright. I’m proud of them.” In the final, Spain put the early pressure on Austria when they won both morning foursomes and needed just two points from the singles. The afternoon session was closely contested and each side had won a point before the top game turned into the decider. Austria came down the 18th one-up, but Spain’s Noemi Jiminez squared the match when she got up and down from a bunker for birdie. When she sank her par putt on the 19th to win the hole and the championship it was the signal for the Spanish celebrations to begin. Spain’s captain Mabel Pascual Del Pobil said: “I am so happy, it has been so tight. We have been so close this year in other events that we really wanted this. It’s been a really tough week and the girls have played great. I am very, very proud of my team.” The championship ended as it began, in glorious sunshine, with another eye-catching ceremony featuring all the teams and the Yorkshire Volunteer Band. Tributes were paid to Fulford Golf Club’s support for the event, for their green staff’s work to present the course in superb condition and for the army of volunteers who helped to make the tournament run so smoothly. Fulford president Barbara Saville told the players: “We have loved having you here and hope you return to your countries with happy memories.” The 2014 championship will be hosted by Slovenia. Final placings 1 Spain 2 Austria 3 Finland 4 England 5 Denmark 6 France 7 Netherlands 8 Sweden 9 Germany 10 Belgium 11 Ireland 12 Scotland 13 Wales 14 Italy 15 Slovenia 16 Norway 17 Iceland 18 Switzerland 19 Slovakia For full details, scores and championship images visit www.englandgolf.org/euro2013 - Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193