England regained the European Nations Cup title in Sotogrande thanks to some back nine heroics from John Gough.
Format: 72-hole team/individiual stroke play
Going into the final round, the 2019 winners – the event was cancelled in 2020 and 21 – were two behind reigning champions Spain.
Gough, playing in the penultimate group with James Ashfield (Wales) and Fabian Lang (Austria), reached the turn one over but birdied 10, 11, 12 and 14 as he closed out with a three-under 69 to help his country over the line.
With Huddersfield’s Dylan Shaw-Radford (73) and Doncaster’s Josh Berry (74) also producing solid efforts on the final day, England ended up three clear of Italy while the hosts slipped back to third, just two shots ahead of day one leaders Scotland.
The only down-side for Gough was he lost out on the individual title in extraordinary circumstances. After 72 holes he and British Boys champion Albert Hansson were tied on two under and the Englishman missed a slippery seven-foot birdie putt for the win at the first extra hole.
At the par five next, both were on in three with the Swedish teenager facing a 60-footer for birdie while his opponent was less than half that distance away.
Remarkably Hansson knocked it in while Gough just missed his birdie chance but the Lytham Trophy champion, who will start the defence of his title on Friday, was not too downcast.
“It was so far away I actually wasn’t watching him and only turned at the last minute to see the ball drop,” said The Berkshire player.
“I guess it was just one of those matchplay moments and, to be fair, I have been on the good end of that kind of thing a few times.”
Earlier Gough only became aware of the overall team situation playing the last. With team-mate Arron Edwards-Hill having joined him as a caddie down the stretch, he stood on 18 knowing the gap was three and found the green in two before just missing with a 30-foot birdie attempt.
On the dogleg par four 10th, a hole he enjoyed playing all week, he got back to level par for his round by sinking one from 21 feet and then also birdied the short par four 11th.
He also took advantage of the two par fives at 12 and 14 and in between holed a critical seven-footer for par to maintain the momentum.
“Even though I was one over after nine I was quite happy, having played the tricky holes. The par three fourth was brutal and I think most of us played it as a short par four all week.
“It was great to sink that one at ten because even when I shot my 67 on the first day, I didn’t really hole anything. I just kept sticking it in close.”
Gough and the rest of Europe’s elite now turn their eyes to the Lytham Trophy (April 28-30).
Gough added: “The two hardest courses we play all year are Sotogrande and Lytham. Sotogrande from an around-the-greens perspective and Lytham is the hardest off the tee.
“I am feeling good and hopefully I can defend my title.”