GB & Ireland beat Europe to win Vagliano Trophy
Great Britain and Ireland defeated the Continent of Europe to seal a first Vagliano Trophy victory since 2005.Following the Curtis Cup win over the United States last September, the GB&I women again held their nerve in the biennial match, winning 12½-11½ at the Royal Hague Golf & Country Club in the Netherlands.Led by non-playing captain Maria Dunne, GB&I found themselves trailing by one heading into the singles with Europe claiming two early wins.However, the GB&I team fought back with the English trio of Patience Rhodes, Nellie Ong and Isla McDonald-O'Brien all scoring wins before Ireland's Aine Donegan and another England player, Sophia Fullbrook, took GB&I over the winning line in a remarkable finish to claim a first win in 20 years."It's been an unbelievable day," said Dunne."I said to the team early this morning that I had a really good feeling about today. They did the job in the foursomes, momentum went our way and they just fought. I told them last night 'just keep fighting, keep fighting for every single point or half point' and that's exactly what they did."Rhodes, Donegan, Beth Coulter, Lottie Woad and Hannah Darling were all part of the team which won the Curtis Cup and all played their part once again.Woad and Coulter lost to Paula Martin Sampedro and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto respectively, but things began to turn GB&I's way with Ong's 6&5 victory, and McDonald-O'Brien edged out Camille Min-Gaultier 2&1 to pull the visitors closer, before Rhodes delivered another crucial point with a two-hole triumph over France's Sara Brentcheneff.
In a tense finish, Donegan hit a winning eagle against Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio before Fullbrook held her nerve for a one-hole victory against Emma Kaisa Dalgaard Bunch to seal it.Europe did have something to show for the day as they were 11½-6½ winners in the Junior Vagliano Trophy."We came so close at Royal Dornoch in 2023 [losing by three points] and we knew we hadn't won this event since 2005 so it feels amazing to do it," Dunne added."Patience had an incredible finish to win her singles match, before Aine rolled in that eagle on the 18th. I feel so privileged to be captain. For GB&I to now hold both the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy is fantastic."I think the success in winning the Curtis Cup last year helped the team this week. I reminded them in our team meetings that we had that momentum and belief."My three rookies have also been unbelievable and done the job for me every time I've asked them. For the three who weren't involved in the Curtis Cup, they could see the belief and they built on that too."
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