KirkwoodGolf: Vagliano Trophy honours even after first morning in Italy

Friday, June 30, 2017

Vagliano Trophy honours even after first morning in Italy

GB and I finish strongly to end Day 1


foursomes in 2-2 draw with Team Europe


   World No 1 female amateur Leona Maguire hits the first shot of the 2017 Vagliano Trophy match
COLIN FARQUHARSON REPORTS
FROM BOGOGNO GC, ITALY


Great Britain and Ireland finished strongly to salvage a 2-2 sharing of the morning foursomes after the Continent of Europe had looked the likelier side in the early stages at Bogogno Golf Club, near Milan in Italy today.
"Three of the four matches went to the 18th. So it was very tight and we played the better in the closing stages for Alice Hewson and India Clyburn to win their match and Gemma Clews and Sophie Lamb to win the 18th to get a halved match," said Elaine Farquharson-Black, the GB and I team captain.
The first foursome feature four players from the World's top 20 - Leona Maguire and Olivia Mehaffey versus Sweden's Linnea Strom and Julia Engstrom.
"We played better after the turn that we did on the outward nine," said Leona, the top-ranked female amateur in the world.
"We are round in about level par," said her partner Olivia.
Their Swedish opponents were two up at the turn, having won the ninth to double their narrow advantage. In a nerve-jangling finish to an absorbing tie, holes 10 to 16 inclusive were all halved.
Then Maguire and Mehaffey won the 17th to get back on terms for the first time since very early in the match. The 18th was halved.
Earlier, the Continent of Europe had taken an early 1-0 lead when Matilda Castren (Finland) and Morgane Metraux (Switzerland) beat Ireland's Maria Dunne and Annabel Wilson by 7 and 6.
One down after five, the Irish paper had slipped to five down after 10, then six down after 11 and seven in arrears after 12 to finish the lopsided contest.
So Team Europe led 1.5-0.5. That was their high point as Alice Hewson and India Clyburn turned in some great figures - five under par - to win a quality match against Puk Lyng Thomsen (Denmark) and Dewi Weber (Netherlands) by one hole.
That win by the English pair levelled the match overall at 1.5pt apiece.
Team Europe still looked favourites to finish the morning with an overall lead but Gemma Clews and Sophie Lamb, who were several under par in another high-standard match, one down on the 18th tee, won the 18th to snatch a half-point.


VAGLIANO TROPHY
DAY 1 FOURSOMES
Great Britain and Ireland 2, Continent of Europe 2
GB and I names first
Leona Maguire and Olivia Mehaffey halved with Linnea Strom and Julia Engstrom.
Maria Dunne and Annabel Wilson lost to Matilda Castren and Morgane Metraux 7 and 6.
Alice Hewson and India Clyburn bt Puk Lyng Thomsen and Dewi Weber 1 hole.
Gemma Clews and Sophie Lamb halved with Virginia Elena Carta and Albane Valenzuela.


GB and I juniors struggle, lose foursomes 2.5-0.5

Skipper Claire Coughlan-Ryan's GB and I team have it all to do in the Under-16s' Junior Vagliano Trophy match after losing the opening morning's foursomes 2.5-0.5.
Team Europe had a point on the board well before lunchtime when Bianca Fernandez Garcia-Poggo and Caterina Don won by 8 and 6 against Ffion Tynan and Caitlin Whitehead, who came in as a late substitute for the original selection, Annabell Fuller.
Euphemie Rhodes and Lily May Humphreys did well to battle on and get a halved match with Emilie Alba Paltrinieri and Alessia Nobilio after being two down at the turn and still two in arrears at after 14.
They hung on in there and won the 18th to square the match.
Sara Byrne and Carys Worby were two down after 14 to Isabelle Holpfer and Amanda Linner  but took the match to the 18th green before losing by two holes. 



JUNIOR VAGLIANO TROPHY
GB and I 0.5, Continent of Europe 2.5
Day 1 FOURSOMES (0.5-2.5)
GB and I names first
Euphemie Rhodes and Lily May Humphreys halved with Emilie Alba Paltrinieri and Alessia Nobilio.
Ffion Tynan and Caitlin Whitehead lost to Bianca Fernandez Garcia-Poggio 8 and 6.
Sara Byrne and Carys Worby lost to Isabella Holpfer and Amanda Linner 2 holes.


                      GB and I team huddle on Day 1
United Ireland ... Leona Maguire (left) from the south, Olivia Mehaffey (right) from the north, united in their GB and I effort.


Pictures by courtesy of Cal Carson Golf Agency


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