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England win silver in European girls’ team championship

12 July 2008

England had to settle for the silver medal after they lost 4½ -½ to Sweden in the final of the European girls’ team championship at Murcar Links,
Scotland.

Team captain Julie Brown said afterwards: “The girls are crying their eyes out but I have told them that they have done so well. They have tried so
hard, they’ve put 110 per cent into it and I am just so proud of them. They have been superb.”

England were handicapped when Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters woke up with a very stiff neck. It was the worst of a number of injuries affecting the team and ruled her out of the singles.

They suffered a further setback when Sweden won both morning foursomes and their gold medal hopes depended on winning every singles.

However, the Swedes quickly moved ahead in the singles and although all three English girls fought hard they could not avoid defeat.

English champion Hannah Barwood came back from 5 down to lose only on the last, while Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy was beaten on the 17th and her county colleague Rachel Connor settled for a half.

The final was played in extremely difficult conditions of 26mph winds and driving rain.

Results

Foursomes
Hannah Barwood (Knowle) & Rachel Connor (Manchester) lost to Josephine Janson & Louise Larsson 5&4
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies’) & Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) lost to Amanda Strang & Johanna Tillstrom 1 down

Singles
Hannah Barwood lost to Louise Larsson 1 down
Rachel Connor halved with Amanda Strang
Kelly Tidy lost to Josephine Janson 2/1

England reach the final in European girls’ championship

11 July 2008

England will play Sweden for the gold medal in tomorrow’s final of the European girls’ team championship at Murcar Links, Scotland.

“We can’t wait,” said team captain Julie Brown after her quartet of girls defeated the Netherlands 4-1 on a cold, windy day.

Although the final scoreline sounds comfortable the girls had to fight for their victory in a very tight match.

The two teams shared the foursomes points and, although English champion Hannah Barwood cruised to a comfortable singles win, the other two matches were real battles.

Lancashire’s Rachel Connor staged an impressive fightback when she was four down after 10. She won the 11th, 12th 13th and 14th to get back on level terms – but then lost the 16th. However, she won both the 17th and 18th to take her point.

Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters was one up after 15 but her opponent pulled her back to all square and the match went into extra time. Alex eventually
emerged the winner with a fine par on the 20th.

“The whole match could have gone either way and the girls all played so well,” said Julie. “There has been some fantastic golf.”

Results.

Foursomes
Hannah Barwood (Knowle) & Rachel Connor (Manchester) beat Karlijn Zaanen &
Caroline Karsten 3&2.
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies’) and Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) lost to Karin
Jansen & Maaike Naafs 2/1.

Singles
Hannah Barwood beat Karlijn Zaanen
6&5
Alexandra Peters beat  Maaike Naafs at 20th
Rachel Connor beat Caroline Karsten 1 up.

Sweden beat Switzerland 3½-1½

England conquer conditions to reach European girls’ semi-final

11 July 2008

England battled brilliantly through torrential rain and gale force winds to beat Denmark 4-1 and reach the semi-finals of the European girls’ team
championship at Murcar, Scotland.

Team captain Julie Brown said: “They have played amazing golf. I haven’t seen weather like this for a very long time, they are soaked through to the
skin, and they have just been brilliant. I am very, very proud of them.”

The girls shared the morning foursomes points with Denmark but swept the board in the three afternoon singles. “They came out under pressure and did what they needed to do, “ said Julie. “They hit some of the most amazing golf shots and holed some great putts. It was good to see all their hard
work pay off.”

Despite the conditions the girls scored well. Rachel Connor and English champion Hannah Barwood each dropped one shot. Alex Peters – who had Kelly
Tidy as her caddy - was just two over par.

In the semi-finals, England will meet the Netherlands.

Results

England v Denmark

Foursomes
Hannah Barwood (Knowle) and Rachel Connor (Manchester) lost to Daisy Nielsen
Mai Schødt 1 down.
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies’) and Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) beat Charlotte
Lorentzen and Nicole B Larsen 2&1

Singles
Hannah Barwood beat Daisy Nielsen 2/1
Alex Peters beat Nicole B Larsen 7&6
Rachel Connor beat Charlotte Lorentzen 5&4

England are top seeds in European girls’ team championship

9 July 2008

England won a tight battle to become top qualifiers for the matchplay stages in the European girls’ team championship at Murcar, Scotland.

All four girls played a vital part in securing the top seeding at the end of the second day of strokeplay qualifying.

After the best three scores were counted England were tied at the top of the table with Germany. Lancashire’s Rachel Connor and English champion Hannah Barwood, from Gloucestershire, had both returned level par scores while Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters was one over par.

Their scores gave England a seven-over par total for 36 holes, tied with Germany, and the decider was a countback on the discarded scores.

On both days, Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy had comfortably outplayed the German opposition. Her first round 77 was four shots better and her second round 74 was two ahead. 

Now, England will play Denmark in the first matchplay round and team captain Julie Brown said: “They are really up for it.”
 
She praised her girls: “They all played really well and I am very proud of them. They went out there and did what they needed to do. They were all very professional and all supported each other.”

England scores:
72 Rachel Connor (Manchester), Hannah Barwood (Knowle)
73 Alex Peters (Notts Ladies)
74 Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale)

Leading team scores:
England +7
Germany +7
Switzerland +10
Czech Republic +11
Netherlands +11
Ireland +12
Sweden +14
Denmark +15

England’s girls challenge in European championship

8 July 2008

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