Great Britain and Ireland produced a stirring singles display to win the Vagliano Trophy today, defeating the Continent of Europe 12½-11½ to seal a first victory since 2005.
After Catriona Matthew OBE led GB&I to a famous team triumph in the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale over the USA last September, this was another historic, nail-biting success – this time led by non-playing Captain Maria Dunne at Royal Hague Golf & Country Club in The Netherlands.
Five players – Lottie Woad, Hannah Darling, Patience Rhodes, Beth Coulter and Aine Donegan – were in the GB&I side who also triumphed in the Curtis Cup.
Trailing by one point going into this afternoon’s eight singles ties at the sun-drenched venue, two early wins for the Continent of Europe looked set to ease Ane Urchegui García’s hosts to victory.
But Dunne’s side had other ideas as they pulled off a dramatic first win in 20 years. The English trio of Rhodes, Nellie Ong and Isla McDonald-O’Brien all delivered victories before Ireland’s Donegan – thanks to a stunning eagle on the last – and another England player, Sophia Fullbrook, took GB&I over the winning line in a remarkable finish.
After eight straight wins for the Continent of Europe in the women’s amateur team match, it was a memorable afternoon for Irishwoman Dunne and her team at the historic Hague course after coming close at Royal Dornoch two years ago.
With the Continent of Europe leading 7-5 going into the second day – after taking four-and-a-half of the final five points on offer on Friday – the away side rallied this morning to win the foursomes session 2½-1½ and cut the deficit to only a point to give Dunne’s side real belief.
Lottie Woad, number one on the World Amateur Golf Ranking®, teamed-up with Ong for a 2&1 win over Danish duo Marie Eline Madsen and Emma Kaisa Dalgaard Bunch. The fellow English pairing of Rhodes and Fullbrook were also 2&1 winners against France’s Valentine Delon and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto from Spain.
Woad faced off against Paula Martin Sampedro, recent winner of The Women’s Amateur Championship at Nairn, in the opening singles tie this afternoon. Martin Sampedro claimed what looked a key 2&1 win, with compatriot Lopez-Chacarra Coto defeating Ireland’s Coulter 4&3.
Ong’s 6&5 victory over Delon gave GB&I a boost and McDonald-O’Brien edged out Camille Min-Gaultier 2&1 to pull the visitors – watched on by Curtis Cup Captain Matthew – closer. Rhodes, who claimed a key singles win on the final day at Sunningdale last year, then delivered another crucial point with her two-hole triumph over France’s Sara Brentcheneff.
With three matches left on the course and the scores projected to finish level, a tense conclusion saw Ireland’s Donegan win in style over Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio – after her rescue club to 18 feet setting up a winning eagle – before Fullbrook also held her nerve to enjoy a one-hole victory against Dalgaard Bunch. Madsen sealed a 2&1 win over Darling for a consolation point.
With the Junior Vagliano Trophy played alongside its senior counterpart at the same venue, the Continent of Europe ran out 11½-6½ winners against GB&I.
The hosts took a narrow 5-4 lead into day two at Royal Hague – the venue for the European Amateur Championship in 2018 won by Nicolai Højgaard.
Last year, GB&I delivered a breakthrough victory at West Lancashire when, after seven straight wins and a draw for the Continent of Europe, Irish non-playing Captain Deirdre Walsh led her six girls to a memorable triumph.
But there was no repeat in The Netherlands as the hosts won all three foursomes matches this morning to stretch their lead to four points. Led by non-playing captain Myrte Eikenaar for a fifth consecutive time, the Continent of Europe held firm in the singles ties and claimed a five-point victory. Scotland’s Carly McDonald highlighted her tie today with an ace at the 17th in her one-hole loss to France’s Alice Kong.
For final scoring from the Vagliano Trophies, please click here.