England’s commanding performance beats Spain

Issued 1 May, 2017 England's commanding performance beats Spain Defending champions England produced a commanding performance to beat Spain 17-13 in a two-day mixed international and keep a firm grip on the Seve Ballesteros Trophy. The win, at El Saler Golf Club, Valencia, is England's 15th in the biennial series, while Spain have taken the trophy on just two occasions, most recently in 2013. Nigel Edwards, England Golf Performance Director, said: "We are delighted with the victory against Spain on such a great golf course as El Saler. "This was a wonderful effort by everyone and all contributed to a wonderful win." The team made their intentions clear from the start when they won Saturday's opening foursomes 4-1, with the points scored by Scott Gregory/Jack Singh Brar, Bradley Moore/Alfie Plant, Dan Brown/Marco Penge and Sophie Lamb/Gemma Clews. The hosts came back strongly in the afternoon but the singles were shared 5-5 and England maintained a four-point lead at the halfway stage. On Sunday, the Spanish had the upper hand in the foursomes, winning the three men's games. But the pairings of Lamb/Clews and Georgia Price/Louisa Brunt delivered their points to keep England ahead and give the team an 11-9 advantage with the 10 singles still to be played. They needed 15 points to retain the trophy and 15.5 for an outright victory – and the team set off at a terrific pace towards the target. Lamb, the British stroke play champion, won her game 6/4. She was quickly followed by Brunt, who was making her debut at this level and defeated her opponent 5/4, and by English amateur champion Dan Brown who won 6/5. Price, also new to golf at this level, ensured England could not be beaten when she won her singles on the 18th and Clews secured the trophy with a halved game. The remaining games on the course were tightly contested and Plant won on the last while Penge halved to complete the score line. England's top scorer was Sophie Lamb, with a perfect result of four wins from four games. Gemma Clews was unbeaten, amassing 3.5 points and creating a remarkable personal record, for she also played in this match in 2015 when she won all her games. Edwards paid a special tribute to team managers Kevin and Liz Tucker, commenting: "They are such a great influence on the whole team." The full team was: Dan Brown (Masham, Yorkshire), Louisa Brunt (Royal Birkdale, Lancashire), Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest, Cheshire), Scott Gregory (Corhampton, Hampshire), Sophie Lamb (Clitheroe, Lancashire), Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park, Derbyshire), Marco Penge (Golf at Goodwood, Sussex), Alfie Plant (Sundridge Park, Kent), Georgia Price (Bude & North Cornwall) and Jack Singh-Brar (Remedy Oak, Dorset)