The Continent of Europe won the Vagliano Trophy match with a 15-9 victory against Great Britain and Ireland at Circolo Golf Bogogno in Italy.
It was the sixth consecutive victory for European side and capped a very strong second day performance in the foursomes and singles.
Starting the day level at 6-6, the home side won all four of the morning foursomes matches to establish a commanding 10-6 lead going into this afternoon’s singles.
Facing an uphill challenge, GB&I needed to get off to a good start in the afternoon singles and they secured the first point. Sophie Lamb, the 2016 Ladies’ British Amateur Stroke Play champion, defeated Linnea Strom 3&2 to reduce the deficit to three points.
Europe maintained a grip on the match, however, when Virginia Elena Carta defeated Leona Maguire by one hole. That left the home side requiring just one point to retain the trophy they won at Malone Golf Club in 2015.
Despite Olivia Mehaffey giving GB&I their eighth point, after her one-hole victory over Matilda Castren, confirmation that the trophy was staying with the Continent of Europe quickly followed when 2016 Ladies’ British Open Amateur champion Julia Engstrom defeated Alice Hewson by one hole.
Outright victory was secured when Puk Lyng Thomsen completed a 3&2 victory over the youngest member of the GB&I team, Annabel Wilson.
India Clyburn recorded the final point for GB&I, with a one-hole win against Morgane Metraux, but defeats for Maria Dunne (2&1 by Dewi Weber) and Gemma Clews (by two holes to Albane Valenzuela) enabled the Continent of Europe to claim a 15-9 victory.
GB&I captain Elaine Farquharson-Black said: “We are all disappointed in the GB&I camp, because we know we have the potential to play better than that. We peaked too early on the first day, and for some reason we were not firing on all cylinders on the second day. We just could not get any momentum going.
“The golf overall was of a very high standard, higher than I can remember in the winning Vagliano Trophy teams in which I played. There were a lot of birdies, and we had our fair share of them, but not enough to turn the tide our way on the final day.”
In the Junior Vagliano Trophy match, the Continent of Europe achieved a comfortable 15-3 victory over GB&I.