Continent of Europe win Vagliano Trophy

It was the biggest ever defeat suffered by GB&I since the 24pt format was introduced to the biennial match in 1975.

It all started to go badly wrong for the GB&I team when they lost all four of the opening foursomes on Friday. The Continentals took the first-day singles 5-3 to lead 9-3 at the halfway stage.

That became an 11-3 advantage when the first two Saturday foursomes went Europe's way. The home team rallied with wins by the all-English partnership of Rachel Bell and Liz Bennett, and by the Scotland/Wales pairing of Krystle Caithness and Breanne Loucks. But the lunchtime scoreline of 11-5 left the Continent needing only 1½pt from the eight afternoon singles to secure victory.

Carlota Ciganda, the Spanish winner of the recent British women's amateur championship, beat English champion Naomi Edwards to put the 12th point on the board for the visitors. Then Germany's Sandra Gal gained the clinching 13th point when she beat England’s Kerry Smith by one hole.

Overall the singles were shared 4-4 with wins for GB&I from England’s Melissa Reid and Liz Bennett, and from Krystle Caithness (Scotland) and Breanne Loucks (Wales).

VAGLIANO TROPHY
Torrance Course, Fairmont St Andrews

GREAT BRITAIN 9, CONTINENT OF EUROPE 15

First day: GB&I 3, Continent of Europe 9.
Second day: GB&I 6, Continent of Europe 6.

SECOND DAY

FOURSOMES
(GB&I names first)
M Reid (Eng) & T Delaney (Ire) lost to A Nordqvist (Swe) & C Westrup (Swe) 3 and 1.
K Smith (Eng) & N Edwards (Eng) lost to P Lindberg (Swe) & B Mozo (Spa) 4 and 3.
K Caithness (Sco) & B Loucks (Wal) bt E Cabrera (Spa) & D Becker (Ger) 3 and 1.
R Bell (Eng) & L Bennett (Eng) bt S Gal (Ger) & C Ciganda (Spa) 3 and 2..

GB&I 2, Continent of Europe 2.

SINGLES
Edwards lost to Ciganda 5 and 4.
Smith lost to Gal 1 hole.
Reid bt V Derrey (Fra) 1 hole .
Loucks bt Becker 5 and 3.
Caithness bt Lindberg 6 and 4.
Bennett bt Cabrera 3 and 1.
Delaney lost to Westrup 1 hole..
Bell lost to Nordqvist 1 hole.

GB&I 4, Continent of Europe 4.