GP Junior (Jul-Aug 19) Junior (July-Aug 19) | Page 12
CONTINENT OF
EUROPE
WIN THE
VAGLIANO
TROPHY
AT ROYAL ST GEORGE’S
T
The Continent of Europe celebrates winning The Vagliano Trophy at Royal St George’s in Kent (Pic Credit: The R&A)
he Continent of Europe showed
their strength to claim a 14.5-9.5
win over Great Britain and Ireland
to lift the Vagliano Trophy at Royal
St George’s.
In securing a seventh straight victory over the
sun-drenched links in Kent, the Continent of
Europe maintained their dominance in the
biennial contest to the delight of captain
Anna Roscio.
With a 7–5 lead overnight, the Continent of
Europe stretched their advantage to three
points after going unbeaten in the foursomes
to win the session 2.5–1.5. It was an exciting
morning which included a hole-in-one from
both Hazel MacGarvie from Scotland and
Italy’s Alessia Nobilio.
The Continent of Europe, featuring a team
with all eight players inside the top 30 on the
World Amateur Golf Ranking™, wrapped
up victory by winning the singles 5-3.
Great Britain and Ireland, who last won the
Vagliano Trophy in 2005, needed a fast start
in the afternoon singles and showed early
promise to hold early leads. However, the
Continent of Europe found their form and
top-ranked Frida Kinhult defeated Lily May
Humphreys 5&3 and Leonie Harm edged
out Julie McCarthy by one hole.
When Linn Grant halved with Alice
Hewson, the trophy had been retained
and the Continent of Europe went past the
winning line when France’s Pauline Roussin-
Bouchard beat Isobel Wardle 2&1.
MacGarvie took her personal tally for the
week to three-and-half points from four
when she beat Nobilio on the 18th, while
Annabell Fuller was also victorious on the
12
GolfPlus Junior July-August 2019
closing hole against Albane Valenzuela.
Caterina Don added to the Continent of
Europe’s total when she beat Shannon
McWilliam 3&1, with Girls Amateur
champion Emma Spitz and Women’s
Amateur champion Emily Toy halving the
fi nal match.
Royal St George’s, which will host The Open
for the 15th occasion next year, was bathed
in glorious sunshine throughout the day and
the early golf in the foursomes matched the
conditions. MacGarvie aced the 177-yard
3rd for only her second-ever hole-in-one,
with Nobilio doing likewise at the short 6th.
Nobilio’s ace helped her and Continent of
Europe team-mate Don to a convincing
6&5 triumph over Hewson and Humphreys.
Great Britain and Ireland looked well-placed
to counter over the historic links as they led
in the other three foursomes heading into the
back nine.
However, Spitz and Harm fought back from
losing the fi rst four holes to secure half a
point against MacGarvie and McWilliam.
The bottom two games also fi nished level,
after Toy and Wardle made a birdie at the last
to tie with Kinhult and Grant, while an eagle
from McCarthy and Fuller on 18 secured
a half against Valenzuela and Roussin-
Bouchard.
In the Junior Vagliano Trophy, the six-a-
side match for Under-16s, the Continent
of Europe claimed a 10.5–7.5 success.
Trailing 5-4 overnight to Great Britain and
Ireland, the visitors responded to win all
three morning foursomes and three of the
afternoon singles as they achieved a fi fth
straight win in the event.
“I FEEL REALLY GOOD. IT’S CRAZY WINNING THE LAST POINT TO
GET THE VICTORY, IT’S AWESOME. I WAS AWARE THAT WE WERE UP
OVERALL BUT I KNEW THAT THERE WERE OTHER MATCHES CLOSE AS
WELL. I JUST TRIED TO GET THE WIN.
“WE ARE A VERY GOOD TEAM. THE ATMOSPHERE IS PERFECT, WE
ARE LIKE ONE. IT WAS JUST GREAT TO BE HERE. THE WEATHER
TODAY WAS PERFECT. IT’S ACTUALLY CRAZY TO HAVE THIS KIND OF
WEATHER IN ENGLAND AND PLAY A LINKS TODAY WITHOUT WIND.”
PAULINE ROUSSIN-BOUCHARD - Continent of Europe
“IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A BATTLE. THEY HAVE SOME WORLD
CLASS GOLFERS ON THEIR SIDE AND THE ABILITY TO PLAY AT A
VERY HIGH STANDARD – THEY KNOW WHAT PRESSURE IS ALL
ABOUT. THE GIRLS BATTLED HARD, THEY PUSHED THEM AND WE
WON SOME MATCHES DOWN 18 – BUT NOT ENOUGH.
“AS A TEAM, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED TO HAVE GOT THE
POINTS BUT THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REALLY
SHONE THIS WEEK. HAZEL (MACGARVIE) WAS UNBEATEN WHICH
WAS GREAT AND THE MANNER IN WHICH SHE HAS FINISHED
ALL WEEK HAS BEEN CLASSY. EMILY (TOY) HAS ALSO PLAYED
SOME GREAT GOLF, COMING IN AS THE NEW WOMEN’S AMATEUR
CHAMPION AND ANNABELL (FULLER) BEAT ALBANE (VALENZUELA)
AT THE LAST. HOPEFULLY THE INDIVIDUAL WINS CAN BE TAKEN
INTO THE NEXT EVENTS AND THEY CAN KEEP THEIR PLAY GOING.”
ELAINE RATCLIFFE, CAPTAIN – Great Britain and Ireland, Vagliano Trophy
“I’M REALLY HAPPY TO WIN AGAIN. PLAYING AWAY FROM HOME
IS NEVER EASY. WE KNEW THAT WE HAD A GREAT TEAM BUT
SOMETIMES THE WEATHER AND THE CONDITIONS ARE NOT EASY
FOR US. BUT THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT TODAY, SO THANKS TO
THE WEATHER!
“GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND GOT CLOSE TO US AT TIMES BUT
WE MANAGED TO STAY AHEAD. IN THE MORNING FOURSOMES,
THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN THE TEAMS WERE VERY CLOSE BUT
WE HAD A GOOD FINISH IN THE MORNING AND A GREAT START IN
THE AFTERNOON. I’VE WON THREE TIMES NOW, ALSO IN 2015 AND
2017, AND IT FEELS GREAT AGAIN.”
ANNA ROSCIO, Captain - Continent of Europe, Vagliano Trophy