Great Britain and Ireland's Vagliano Trophy and Junior Vagliano Trophy teams at Royal Hague Golf & Country Club 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. Aine Donegan finished in style to deliver a key singles win for Great Britain and Ireland 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." The Junior Vagliano Trophy was played alongside the senior tournament, with the Continent of Europe beating GB&I 11½-6½.
GB & Ireland beat Europe to win Vagliano Trophy
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Great Britain and Ireland Wins Vagliano Trophy for First Time Since 2005"
Bbc News
8.1
TruthLens AI Summary
Great Britain and Ireland's women's golf team achieved a historic victory at the Vagliano Trophy, defeating the Continent of Europe 12½-11½ at the Royal Hague Golf & Country Club in the Netherlands. This win marks their first title in the prestigious tournament since 2005, reinforcing their recent success following the Curtis Cup triumph over the United States last September. The match saw the GB&I team initially trailing after Europe secured two early victories. However, the resilience of the GB&I players shone through in the singles matches, with key contributions from English golfers Patience Rhodes, Nellie Ong, and Isla McDonald-O'Brien, who all secured vital wins. Aine Donegan also played a pivotal role, finishing with an eagle on the 18th hole to clinch a crucial point, while Sophia Fullbrook's one-hole victory solidified the overall win for Great Britain and Ireland.
Maria Dunne, the non-playing captain, expressed pride in her team's performance, highlighting the importance of persistence and fighting for every point. She noted the momentum gained from their previous Curtis Cup victory and how that belief carried into this match. The team included several players who had participated in the Curtis Cup, such as Rhodes, Donegan, Beth Coulter, Lottie Woad, and Hannah Darling, showcasing their depth and experience. Despite the setback in the Junior Vagliano Trophy, where Europe triumphed 11½-6½, the overall achievement of the GB&I team in winning both the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy is a remarkable milestone. Dunne emphasized the incredible finish of the matches and the contributions from both seasoned players and new talent, reflecting a bright future for women's golf in Great Britain and Ireland.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.