Vagliano Trophy first day at Malone GC, Belfas

Team Europe rally to lead GB and I by 

a point at halfway stage

The Continent of Europe came back from a 4-2 mid-afternoon deficit, to lead 6.5 to 5.5 at the halfway stage of the two-day Vagliano Trophy match at Malone Golf Club, Belfast.
That is a repeat of the scoreline two years ago at Chantilly.
"I'm quite happy with our position although it's a pity that Olivia Mehaffey's putt for a birdie on the last green of the last match lipped out," said Elaine Farquharson-Black, the GB and I captain.
"If you had offered me this scoreline before the start of play I would have taken. We were strong at the top and at the end of our line-up today. We hit too many slack shots, missed too many fairways."
Here at Malone the foursomes were shared 2-2 on a warm but very wet morning. The sun came out in the afternoon when the Continentals shaded the singles 4.5-3.5.
GB and I began the singles action in great style with world No 1 Leona Maguire winning by 2 and 1 over France's Celine Boutier, whom she displaced at No 1 earlier this year. They are team-mates at Duke University, North Carolina and Boutier won the British women's open amateur championship at Portstewart, also in Northern Ireland,a couple of weeks ago.
 The Irish player was two up after six holes but Boutier won back the eighth before seven holes in a row were halved.
Maguire holed a 10ft birdie putt for a 3 to go two up at the 16th and a half at the the next ended a classicB singles tie between two quality players.
GB and I went 4-2 up overall with a 2 and 1 win by Bronte Law over Germany's Olivia Cowan, daughter of a Liverpool-born pro in that country.
All square after 12 holes, Bronte Law got decisive wins at the 13th and 17th.
That was as good as it got for GB and I on the opening day.
Hayley Davis, two down at the turn, went down by 4 and 2 to Luna Sobron
Then Nicole Jimenez Martin of Spain levelled it at 4-4 overall by beating Alice Hewson by 3 and 1. The match was all square at the turn but Jimenez won the 10th, 12th and 13th.
Chloe Williams lost by 3 and 2 to Albane Valenzuela swho was two up at the turn before winnng the 10th and 11th.
Team Europe surged 6-4 ahead with a 3 and 1 win by Nuria Iturrios over Gemma Clews.
Iturrios was three up after seven holes but Clews reduced her deficit to one by winning the 10th and 13th. Valenzuela put the match out of her opponent's reach by winning the 15th and 17th.
and I were in a position to win both the final singles and m lake it 6-6 at the end of the day.
Charlotte Thomas, two up by winning the 14th and 15th, then lost the 17th but was conceded the 18th by Madelene Sagstrom, ranked No 3 in Europe.
Olivia Mehaffey playing the girl who beat her in the semi-finals of the recent "British" - Linnea Strom, was two up after 13. The Swedish player hit back with gains at the 14th and 16th to set up a nail-biting finish - for big gallery.
The 18th and the match was halved when Mehaffey's putt for a birdie lipped out.  

SINGLES RESULTS

GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND  3.5,
 CONTINENT OF EURPE 4.5

Leona Maguire bt Celine Boutier 2 and 1.
Bronte Law bt Olivia Cowan 2 and 1.
Hayley Davis lost to Luna Sobron 4 and 2.
Alice Hewson lost to Noemi Jimenez Martin 3 and 1.
Gemma Clews lost to Nuria Iturrios 3 and 1.
Chloe Williams lost to Albane Valenzuela 3 and 2.
Charlotte Thomas bt Madelene Sagstrom 2 holes
Olivia Mehaffey halved with Linnea Strom.