European Team Championship qualification for two Home Nations
Reigning champions England Women will tackle hosts Wales tomorrow for a place in the quarter-finals of the European Team Championship at Conwy.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play qualifier + two foursome / 5 singles, 3-round knock-out
In tough conditions, England finished top in the strokeplay stages today but the entire top eight were covered by just 15 shots to suggest the head-to-head stages of the event will be keenly contested. Each match now consists of two foursomes matches in the morning and five singles matches after lunch.
Yorkshire’s Charlotte Heath (Huddersfield) once again impressed for the English squad, shooting a one-under par 73 while Harriet Lockley led the Welsh challenge. The Burnham & Berrow player reeled off 15 pars on her way to a one-over 74.
Scotland also made it through and were indebted to another stand-out effort from Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe), who finished with another 70 to lead the individual standings on six under. She was one of only two players to finish under par at the North Wales venue. Austria’s Emma Spitz was the other (-4)
The Scots now face a daunting last eight clash tomorrow against perennial challengers Sweden for a place in the semi-finals.
The weather was much kinder on the eastern side of the UK where England’s men qualified in third at Royal St George’s and now tackle Italy in the first round of the knock-out stages. Just 11 shots separated the qualifying eight with Ireland roaring back today to claim the last spot.
Lytham Trophy winner John Gough (Beaconsfield) was the stand-out performer for the hosts. His four-under-par 66 was backed up by 69s from Olly Huggins (Frilford Heath) and Chelmsford’s Arron Edwards-Hill, who was England’s lowest scorer on day one. Scotland and Wales both failed to make the top eight.
England’s Boys team could not quite match the fireworks of the opening day and were knocked off top spot by hosts Germany.
The English sextet were collectively 17 under par yesterday with Essex ace Harley Smith leading the way. He followed up his bogey-free 66 (-6) with a 70 to help his country to a 19 under par total, six back of the German boys.
England now meet the Netherlands tomorrow in the quarter-finals while Wales and Scotland were some distance off the pace.
England Girls also made it through comfortably at what must be the most northerly venue to host a EGA event – Oddur GC in Iceland.
They finished second behind France and now face Belgium for a quarter-final spot. Kent’s Ellen Yates (West Hill) was once again the lowest scorer for her country today. Her second successive 70 (-1) left her second in the individual standings.