England’s women are European team champions again

 The winning England women's team, from left, Sophie Lamb, Rochelle Morris, Alice Hewson, India Clyburn, Gemma Clews and Lianna Bailey.

England’s  women are European team champions again – winning the gold medal for the second year in a row.
Gemma Clews took them over the line when she won her game 1up to clinch the victory over Italy, with the match ending 5.5-1.5 in England’s favour. The result marked a special double for Alice Hewson who was also in last year’s winning team. The 2017 team is pictured above.
Meanwhile, England’s men secured the silver medal after they were narrowly beaten 4-3 by Spain in their final.
And the girls’ team (pictured below) bounced back from their semi-final defeat to trounce France 5-2 to win the bronze medal in style.

England Girls

The championships have highlighted England’s prominence in European golf, particularly when added to the individual wins of Alfie Plant in this month’s European amateur and Bronte Law’s victory in the 2016 European women’s amateur.
Nigel Edwards, England Golf Performance Director said: "We are delighted to have won three medals and it's great that the women have successfully defended their title. Naturally we are disappointed that we just lost out to Spain in the men's final."
The women were playing in Portugal and they got the final off to the best possible start with wins in both foursomes matches, with Gemma Clews and Sophie Lamb taking their point 4/2, while Alice Hewson and India Clyburn won 2/1.
In the singles Lianna Bailey edged the team closer to their goal with her 3/2 win and Clews clinched it when she held on to her narrow advantage to win 1up. The other games were all scored as halves.
In the men’s match in Austria, the honours were even after the foursomes, with Harry Ellis and Alfie Plant winning 2/1, while Spain snatched a 19th hole win over Scott Gregory and Matthew Jordan.
In the singles Gregory (1up) and Gian Marco Petrozzi (3/2) kept England on level terms with Spain, but the team had to settle for the silver medal when Adria Arnaus managed to hang on to his one-up advantage over Matthew Jordan.
The girls, playing in Finland, also shared the foursomes points with Lily May Humphreys and Amelia Williamson winning their game 3/2.
In the singles Humphreys won on the last, Hollie Muse on the 19th, Sammy Fuller 4/3 and Emily Price by one hole.
Team coach Mark Day commented: “These were some of the best and bravest performances I’ve seen on the golf course.
“The ability to pick themselves up after the semi-final defeat by Italy and put in a winning performance today against a strong French line-up took courage, teamwork and great skill.”
In the European boy’s team championship England were beaten 5-2 by Germany in their final match, with the team’s points scored by Toby Briggs and Ben Jones.
The full teams are:
Women: Lianna Bailey (Kirby Muxloe), Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest), India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted) Sophie Lamb (Clitheroe), Rochelle Morris (Woodsome Hall).
Men: Harry Ellis (Meon Valley), Scott Gregory (Corhampton), Josh Hilleard (Farrington Park), Matthew Jordan (Royal Liverpool), Gian-Marco Petrozzi (Trentham) and Alfie Plant (Sundridge Park).
Girls: Sammy Fuller (Roehampton), Lily May Humphreys (Stoke by Nayland), Hollie Muse (West Lancashire), Emily Price (Cleobury Mortimer), Bel Wardle (Prestbury) and Amelia Williamson (Royal Cromer).
Boys: Toby Briggs (Dunston Hall), Angus Flanagan (St George’s Hill), Harry Goddard (Hanbury Manor), Ben Jones (Northamptonshire County), Robin Williams (Peterborough Milton) and Charlie Strickland (Ham Manor).