European women's amateur team championship
Scotland no match for Spanish
aces in Swedish quarters
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scotland's outside hope of winning the European women's amateur team golf championship in Sweden - they had the lowest second qualifying round total - were crushed by the star-studded Spanish side at Stenungsund Golf Club today.
Spain, who were pipped for the No 1 seed position by England, were easy 5 1/2-1 1/2 winners over the Scots who qualified seventh of eight for the championship flight.
The writing was on the wall for skipper Fiona De Vries' team when they trailed 2-0 after the morning foursomes. Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and Laura Murray (Alford) had an epic duel against Carlota Ciganda, last year's British champion, and Azahara Munoz, winner of the major American women's college title in May, before losing at the 21st.
Scottish champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and St Rule Trophy winner Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) lost by 4 and 3 to Maria Hernandez and Belen Mozo, who won both the British women's and girls' titles in the summer of 2006.
The Spaniards clinched overall victory when Munoz beat Caithness 5 and 3 and Mozo beat Thomson 2 and 1 in the top singles to stretch their lead to 4-0.
Laura Murray did well to stem the tide with a square match against Adriana Swanck and Kylie Walker had a very good 2 and 1 win over Maria Hernandez who has won several US college tournaments.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) had the unenviable task of playing Carlota Ciganda, arguably the best female amateur golfer in Europe, in the final singles and the Spanish ace won by 5 and 4. The best the Scots can now achieve is fifth place, which would be no mean feat among this quality company. They now play France who were thrashed 6-1 by Sweden.
The semi-finals will feature: Spain v Sweden and a rampant England (6 1/2-1/2 winners over Denmark) v Netherlands, who were also impressive 6-1 winners over Austria.
Today's details:
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
SCOTLAND 1 1/2, SPAIN 5 1/2
Foursomes: K Caithness & L Murray lost to C Ciganda & A Munoz at 21st; M Thomson & K Walker lost to M Hernandez & B Mozo 4 and 3 (0-2).
Singles: Caithness lost to Munoz 5 and 3, Thomson lost to Mozo 2 and 1, Murray halved with A Zwanch, Walker bt Hernandez 2 and 1, P Pretswell lost to Ciganda 5 and 4 (1 1/2-3 1/2).
FRANCE 1, SWEDEN 6
NETHERLANDS 6, AUSTRIA 1
DENMARK 1/2, ENGLAND 6 1/2
Foursomes: L V Hansen & M Jorgensen lost to E Bemmett & R Jennings 1 hole; M Christiansen & T Kolbaek lost to K Smith & N Edwards 2 holes (0-2).
Singles: M Nielsen lost to F Parker 4 and 3, Hansen lost to J Ewart 2 and 1, Chrsitiansen lost to Jennings 2 and 1, Jorgensen lost to Edwards 5 and 3, Kolbaek halved with Bennett (1/2-4 1/2).
FLIGHT TWO
GERMANY 4, ITALY 1
IRELAND 2, SWITZERLAND 3
Foursome: D M Conaty & G O'Leary lost to N Gruter & F Rothenfluh 6 and 4 (0-1).
Singles: T Delaney bt M Matzler 6 and 5, D McVeigh bt N Tanno 4 an 2, M Morrin lost to N Aazam 2 and 1, N Kitching lost to C Rominger 2 and 1 (2-2).
BELGIUM 2, NORWAY 3
FINLAND 1, WALES 4
Foursome: E Nummenpaa & E Ikavalko lost to S Evans & K O'Connor 3 and 2 (0-1).
Singles: S Harju lost to B Loucks 3 and 1, A Korkeila lst to R Wyn Thomas 3 and 1, R Svahn lost to H Jenkins 1 hole, L Henriksson bt S Hassan 2 and 1 (1-3).
England are really up for it, says captain
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England beat Denmark 6˝-˝ to sweep into the semi-finals of the European ladies’ team championship at Stenungsund, Sweden.
Now they face the Netherlands, who qualified in fourth place and beat Austria 6-1 in their quarter-final.
England took a while to settle in the morning foursomes against Denmark but eventually won both games on the 18th green.
Team captain Sally Watkins remarked: “They seemed to make it a little bit harder than they needed to, but they got both points, which was a great start.”
However, in the afternoon singles they were quickly off the blocks, led by Florentyna Parker who was first out and was five up after 12. Sally commented: “It was really good to have her that far up. It sent out the right messages and pulled everyone else on.”
Naomi Edwards, like Florentyna, wrapped up her match on the 15th. Meanwhile, Jodi Ewart and Rachel Jennings both closed out the opposition on the 17th and Liz Bennett settled for a half.
“They were all really up for it,” said Sally. “The team spirit is superb and all the girls are supporting each other.”
Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer
aces in Swedish quarters
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scotland's outside hope of winning the European women's amateur team golf championship in Sweden - they had the lowest second qualifying round total - were crushed by the star-studded Spanish side at Stenungsund Golf Club today.
Spain, who were pipped for the No 1 seed position by England, were easy 5 1/2-1 1/2 winners over the Scots who qualified seventh of eight for the championship flight.
The writing was on the wall for skipper Fiona De Vries' team when they trailed 2-0 after the morning foursomes. Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and Laura Murray (Alford) had an epic duel against Carlota Ciganda, last year's British champion, and Azahara Munoz, winner of the major American women's college title in May, before losing at the 21st.
Scottish champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and St Rule Trophy winner Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) lost by 4 and 3 to Maria Hernandez and Belen Mozo, who won both the British women's and girls' titles in the summer of 2006.
The Spaniards clinched overall victory when Munoz beat Caithness 5 and 3 and Mozo beat Thomson 2 and 1 in the top singles to stretch their lead to 4-0.
Laura Murray did well to stem the tide with a square match against Adriana Swanck and Kylie Walker had a very good 2 and 1 win over Maria Hernandez who has won several US college tournaments.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) had the unenviable task of playing Carlota Ciganda, arguably the best female amateur golfer in Europe, in the final singles and the Spanish ace won by 5 and 4. The best the Scots can now achieve is fifth place, which would be no mean feat among this quality company. They now play France who were thrashed 6-1 by Sweden.
The semi-finals will feature: Spain v Sweden and a rampant England (6 1/2-1/2 winners over Denmark) v Netherlands, who were also impressive 6-1 winners over Austria.
Today's details:
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
SCOTLAND 1 1/2, SPAIN 5 1/2
Foursomes: K Caithness & L Murray lost to C Ciganda & A Munoz at 21st; M Thomson & K Walker lost to M Hernandez & B Mozo 4 and 3 (0-2).
Singles: Caithness lost to Munoz 5 and 3, Thomson lost to Mozo 2 and 1, Murray halved with A Zwanch, Walker bt Hernandez 2 and 1, P Pretswell lost to Ciganda 5 and 4 (1 1/2-3 1/2).
FRANCE 1, SWEDEN 6
NETHERLANDS 6, AUSTRIA 1
DENMARK 1/2, ENGLAND 6 1/2
Foursomes: L V Hansen & M Jorgensen lost to E Bemmett & R Jennings 1 hole; M Christiansen & T Kolbaek lost to K Smith & N Edwards 2 holes (0-2).
Singles: M Nielsen lost to F Parker 4 and 3, Hansen lost to J Ewart 2 and 1, Chrsitiansen lost to Jennings 2 and 1, Jorgensen lost to Edwards 5 and 3, Kolbaek halved with Bennett (1/2-4 1/2).
FLIGHT TWO
GERMANY 4, ITALY 1
IRELAND 2, SWITZERLAND 3
Foursome: D M Conaty & G O'Leary lost to N Gruter & F Rothenfluh 6 and 4 (0-1).
Singles: T Delaney bt M Matzler 6 and 5, D McVeigh bt N Tanno 4 an 2, M Morrin lost to N Aazam 2 and 1, N Kitching lost to C Rominger 2 and 1 (2-2).
BELGIUM 2, NORWAY 3
FINLAND 1, WALES 4
Foursome: E Nummenpaa & E Ikavalko lost to S Evans & K O'Connor 3 and 2 (0-1).
Singles: S Harju lost to B Loucks 3 and 1, A Korkeila lst to R Wyn Thomas 3 and 1, R Svahn lost to H Jenkins 1 hole, L Henriksson bt S Hassan 2 and 1 (1-3).
England are really up for it, says captain
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England beat Denmark 6˝-˝ to sweep into the semi-finals of the European ladies’ team championship at Stenungsund, Sweden.
Now they face the Netherlands, who qualified in fourth place and beat Austria 6-1 in their quarter-final.
England took a while to settle in the morning foursomes against Denmark but eventually won both games on the 18th green.
Team captain Sally Watkins remarked: “They seemed to make it a little bit harder than they needed to, but they got both points, which was a great start.”
However, in the afternoon singles they were quickly off the blocks, led by Florentyna Parker who was first out and was five up after 12. Sally commented: “It was really good to have her that far up. It sent out the right messages and pulled everyone else on.”
Naomi Edwards, like Florentyna, wrapped up her match on the 15th. Meanwhile, Jodi Ewart and Rachel Jennings both closed out the opposition on the 17th and Liz Bennett settled for a half.
“They were all really up for it,” said Sally. “The team spirit is superb and all the girls are supporting each other.”
Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer
Labels: Amateur Ladies
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