Patsy Hankins Trophy match in Portugal

Europe's women fight back but still trail

 10-8 to Asia-Pacific

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Europe's women are trailing 10-8 to Asia-Pacific with two four-ball ties still to finish tomorrow morning in the inaugural Patsy Hankins Trophy match at Vidago Palace in northern Portugal. 
In contrast, Europe's men have a useful lead over Asia-Pacific in the Bonallack Trophy match at the same venue.
Both contests are over three days.
Asia Pacific's women led 7-3 once the Day 1 programme had been completed early this morning.
Europe fought back to take the foursomes 3-2 and continued their rally by leading 2-1 in the afternoon four-balls with two ties to be finished early Friday morning.
Meghan MacLaren, who flew from Arizona, where she had been playing for her USA university, Florida International, to Porto for this match.
She and Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso halved their Thursday morning foursomes match with a Japanese pair and then won by 2 and 1 as light faded in their four-ball tie against leading Australian player Hannah Green and Tiffany Chan (China).
Chloe Williams from Wrexham, a late substitute for the sick Olivia Mehaffey) and Sweden's Frida Kinhult are all square after 16 holes in one of the two ties still to finish.

PATSY HANKINS TROPHY
SCOREBOARD

Day 1 - Europe 3, Asia-Pacific 7
Day 2 - Europe 5, Asia-Pacific 3 (two ties still to finish)

OVERALL SCORELINE
Europe 8, Asia-Pacific 10 (two ties still to finish)