Honours were even at West Lancashire Golf Club near Liverpool last week with a fifth straight win for the Continent of Europe’s junior men in the Jacques Léglise Trophy while Great Britain and Ireland’s junior women broke a run of seven consecutive defeats with victory in the Junior Vagliano Trophy.
Bad weather forced the cancellation of the first-day foursomes in the Jacques Léglise Trophy, and the match was tied at 4½ points apiece after the afternoon singles. The Continent of Europe swept the Saturday foursomes, 4-0, and then withstood a fight back from the home team to emerge 12-10 winners.
“Traditionally foursomes might not look like our strength,” winning captain Pierre Relecom said. “But we had natural pairs from same nationalities that made it easy for me to pick my pairings. It’s a huge thing to win the cup five times in a row. It proves the federations are doing a good job of bringing up some good golfers.”
As with the men’s match, storms halted play on Friday morning in the Junior Vagliano Trophy before Great Britain and Ireland claimed a 3½-2½ advantage in the first set of singles.
The final morning foursomes were split 1½ points apiece before the Continent of Europe recorded wins in the first three singles to sneak into a narrow lead. But the final three matches went the way of the home team to secure the win and end that dismal run of seven defeats.
“This is unbelievable,” GB&I captain Deirdre Walsh said. “I’m absolutely delighted for the girls. They believed in themselves – they really did – and they went out to win their own points. They didn’t run away with themselves or get ahead of themselves. They focussed on their own matches. They went out to do a job, and they did it.
“We were so close last year [drawing at Royal Dornoch], and to do it this year is such a thrill. It’s just such an achievement to beat the best from the Continent of Europe. These girls can be proud of themselves.”
RESULTS: Jacques Léglise | Junior Vagliano
Matt Cooper