Scots lose two 19th hole ties in
going down to France

Scotland lost two so-tight ties at the 19th in going down 3-2 to France today in the European women's amateur team golf championship in Sweden.
The Scots will complete their programme with a play-off against Austria on Saturday to decide the official seventh and eighth rankings.
The final will be contested by Sweden and Netherlands who beat England 4-3 with the decisive tie going to the 19th where Marieke Nivard beat Rachel Jennings.
Scotland's Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) also went down at the 19th to France's Barbara Genuini, winner of the Helen Holm Scottish open stroke-play at Troon in April, and Joanna Klatten.
In the singles, Krystle Caithenss (St Regulus) bt Morgane Bazin de Jessey by 4 and 3, followed by a one-hole win for Scottish champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) over Lucie Andre.
But France took the two other singles for overall victory.
Valentine Derrey beat Laura Murray (Alford) at the 19th and Isabelle Boineau was a 4 and 3 winner over Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).Two of the three defeats were at the 19th so the difference between success and failure for the Scots was wafer-thin.
Scotland, after a slow start, peaked in the second round when they produced the lowest second round qualifying total to make it into the top flight before losing to Spain in Thursday's quarter-finals.
Sweden beat Spain 4-3 in the semi-final of the golfing heavyweights. Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall who contested the British women's open amateur title at North Berwick a couple of weeks ago, are the backbone of the Swedish team.
England shared the foursomes 1-1 with the Netherlands but lost the singles 3-2 with wins by Jodi Eward and Elizabeth Bennett but defeats for Florentyna Parker, Naomi Edwards and Rachel Jennings.
In Flight 2, Ireland lost 3-2 to Italy and Wales were outgunned 4-1 by Norway.
Collated Friday results
Championship Flight
Semi-finals
SPAIN 3, SWEDEN 4
Foursomes: A Munoz & C Ciganda bt C Hedwall & P Lindberg 4 and 2; B Mozo & M Hernandez lost to A Nordqvist & C Westrup 5 and 3 (1-1).
Singles: Ciganda bt Lindberg 2 and 1, Mozo lost to Westrup 1 hole, A Zwanck lost to C Lennarth 2 and 1, Hernandez lost to Nordqvist 3 and 2, Munoz bt Hedwall 2 and 1 (2-3).
NETHERLANDS 4, ENGLAND 3
Foursomes: D-C Schreefel & C Boeljon bt K Smith & R Jennings at 22nd; K Van Leeuwen & M Nivard lost to N Edwards & J Ewart at 20th (1-1).
Singles: Boeljon bt F Parker 5 and 4, C De Vries lost to E Bennett 1 hole, Van Leeuwen lost to Ewart 4 and 3, Schreefel bt Edwards 2 and 1, Nivard bt Jennings at 19th (3-2)

5th to 8th place play-offs
SCOTLAND 2, FRANCE 3
Foursome: L Kenney & P Pretswell lost to B Genuini & J Klatten at 19th (0-1).
Singles: K Caithness bt M Bazin de Jessey 4 and 3, L Murray lost to V Derrey at 19th, M Thomson bt L Andre 1 hole, K Walker lost to I Boineau 4 and 3 (2-2).

AUSTRIA 2, DENMARK 3

FLIGHT TWO

GERMANY 4 1/2, SWITZERLAND 1/2

NORWAY 4, WALES 1
Foursome: L March & K Dicken bt S Evans & K O'Connor 6 and 5 (1-0).
Singles: R Raasstad bt B Loucks 4 and 2, M Engzelius halved with R Wyn Thomas, C Hagen bt H Jenkins 3 and 2, A Valle halved with S Hassan (3-1).

IRELAND 2, ITALY 3
Foursome: D M Conaty & M Morrin lost to A Averna & C Patussi 4 and 3 (0-1).
Singles: T Delaney bt A Roscio 1 hole, D McVeigh bt M Causin 2 and 1, G O'Leary lost to A De Poli de Luidi 4 and 2, N Kitching lost to V Tandrini 2 and 1 (2-2).

BELGIUM 3 1/2, FINLAND 1 1/2.


England are "gutted" after semi-final defeat by Dutch

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England lost a battle royal against the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the European ladies’ team championship at Stenungsund, Sweden.
They were beaten 4-3 and now will play-off against Spain for the bronze medal. “It was just so close and we are gutted,” said team captain Sally Watkins. “But we shall go all out to win a medal tomorrow.”
The match was intensely tight all day. Both foursomes went into extra time, with England winning one on the 20th and losing the other on the 22nd.
In the singles, only Yorkshire’s Jodi Ewart was up throughout her match and she claimed her point on the 15th. Meanwhile Hampshire’s Liz Bennett fought her way back to a one-up win. “Liz really gave it everything,” said Sally.
However, two other singles went to Holland and the points were even with just one game left on the course. In the decider, Staffordshire’s Rachel Jennings bravely pulled herself back from two down after 14 to finish regulation play all square. But her opponent secured Holland’s place in thefinal when she won the first extra hole.
“It was hugely disappointing,” said Sally. “But they all really tried to pull out the stops.”