Tackling Spain U-16s has not been easy in recent times but at Hunstanton their English counterparts had their measure, running out emphatic 16-8 victors.
FORMAT: 2-day team matchplay (2 x 4 foursomes / 2 x 8 singles)
Last year in Madrid, the host side romped to a 19-5 victory – their sixth out of seven in the series. The mixed annual two-day competition started in 2014 and England’s only previous success came at Preston in 2017.
However the Norfolk venue proved an ideal setting for a team that included four of the players who were part of the losing side in 2022.
England Golf’s Lead Girls coach Mark Day was part of the backroom staff who oversaw the victory and he was particularly happy for those who played in Spain last time out.
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“They were really good,” said Day. “The whole team were awesome. The environment; the golf course; the wind; it played into their hands but you still have to go out and do it.
“When you consider last year’s result, it was particularly pleasing. Three girls and one boy played in that match and it was particularly nice for them.”
Two of the four who suffered in Madrid 12 months ago came to the fore at Hunstanton.
Recent Fairhaven Trophy winner Kris Kim (Walton Heath) gained four out of four points while he struck up a strong partnership with “good friend” Ben Bolton (Enville). The Staffordshire junior also returned ‘a maximum’.
Royal Norwich’s Chloe Tarbard, who is also a member at Hunstanton, used all her home knowledge to good effect as she picked up 3.5 points and also formed a strong partnership with debutant Charlotte Naughton (Ponteland).
In fact the foursomes in general proved a happy hunting ground for England as they collectively won the morning sessions 6.5-1.5.
Day added: “Kris and Ben were natural pair to go out first. They are good friends and quality players while Cam (Mukherjee) and Jack (Swift) were a new pair but they did so well.
“Charlotte and Chloe really bounced off each other and Sadie (Adams) and Matilde (Santilli) wanted to get together. It was their first time together and once again had a really good vibe.”
England were only one point ahead at halfway, the visitors having responded well in the afternoon singles on Saturday.
But they really stepped on the gas on Sunday, dominating both sessions and taking the singles 6-2.
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Lead-off man Kim was two down after seven and one down after 13 but won 14 and 16 on his way to a one-hole victory.
At No 2 Bolton was two down with three to play but took the final three holes to maintain his perfect record.
Kent’s Swift and Scotland-based Mukherjee (Gullane) both tied while Tarbard was unstoppable in the top girls tie, getting to five up at the turn and maintaining that form until the 14th for a 5&4 victory.
Naughton struggled around the turn and could not turn it around down the stretch but the bottom two players both won well, Surrey’s Santilli went one up at the fourth and remained ahead for the remainder of the match as she won 3&2 while Lancashire star Adams was behind for most of the front nine but won nine, 13, 14 and 17 to close things out 3&1.