England’s women win Euro gold again

Gemma Clews took them over the line when she won her game 1up to clinch the victory over Italy, with the match ending 5.5-1.5 in England’s favour. The result marked a special double for Alice Hewson who was also in last year’s winning team.

Meanwhile, England’s men secured the silver medal after they were narrowly beaten 4-3 by Spain in their final. And the girls’ team bounced back from their semi-final defeat to trounce France 5-2 to win the bronze medal in style.

The championships have highlighted England’s prominence in European golf, particularly when added to the individual wins of Alfie Plant in this month’s European amateur and Bronte Law’s victory in the 2016 European women’s amateur.

Nigel Edwards, England Golf Performance Director said: “We are delighted to have won three medals and it’s great that the women have successfully defended their title. Naturally we are disappointed that we just lost out to Spain in the men’s final.”

The women were playing in Portugal and they got the final off to the best possible start with wins in both foursomes matches, with Gemma Clews and Sophie Lamb taking their point 4/2, while Alice Hewson and India Clyburn won 2/1.

In the singles Lianna Bailey edged the team closer to their goal with her 3/2 win and Clews clinched it when she held on to her narrow advantage to win 1up. The other games were all scored as halves.

In the men’s match in Austria, the honours were even after the foursomes, with Harry Ellis and Alfie Plant winning 2/1, while Spain snatched a 19^th hole win over Scott Gregory and Matthew Jordan.

In the singles Gregory (1up) and Gian Marco Petrozzi (3/2) kept England on level terms with Spain, but the team had to settle for the silver medal when Adria Arnaus managed to hang on to his one-up advantage over Matthew Jordan.

The girls, playing in Finland, also shared the foursomes points with Lily May Humphreys and Amelia Williamson winning their game 3/2. In the singles Humphreys won on the last, Hollie Muse on the 19^th, Sammy Fuller 4/3 and Emily Price by one hole.

Team coach Mark Day commented: “These were some of the best and bravest performances I’ve seen on the golf course. The ability to pick themselves up after the semi-final defeat by Italy and put in a winning performance today against a strong French line-up took courage, teamwork and great skill.”