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England girls beaten in bronze medal play-off
11 July 2009
England left the European girls’ team championship empty-handed after they lost the bronze medal play-off to Spain.
They put up a great fight on the final day at Kokkola, Finland, but were eventually beaten 3½ -1½ and had to settle for fourth place in the championship.
Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy and Suffolk’s Heidi Baek won a marathon struggle in the foursomes to keep England on level terms after the morning session. They birdied the 18th to square the match and finally claimed their point on the fifth extra hole.
But the singles went Spain’s way and they took the honours after their players defeated both Kelly Tidy and Heidi Baek.
England captain Faye Sanderson commented: “The girls played really well today and they are very disappointed. Fourth is probably the worst place to finish. You’re right in there, in contention for a medal – and then at the end you’re not on the podium.”
The championship was won by top seeds Ireland who beat Sweden 4-1.
England results
Foursomes
Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) & Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) beat Ana Fernandez de Mesa & Anna Arrese at 23rd
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies’) &Hayley Davis (Ferndown) lost to Rocio Sanches & Camilla Hedberg 2/1
Singles
Tidy lost to Sanches 3/2
Peters halved with Hedberg
Baek lost to Arrese 3/2
Championship website: www.egagirls2009.fi
England girls chase a European bronze medal after semi-final defeat
10 July 2009
England’s hopes of a gold medal in the European girls’ team championship were dashed when they were beaten 3½-1½ by Ireland in the semi-final at Kokkola, Finland.
Now they must turn their attention to beating Spain in tomorrow’s play-off for the bronze medal. Meanwhile Ireland will play Sweden in the final.
Ireland, whose team includes the remarkable twins Leona and Lisa Maguire, made the perfect start in today’s match when they won both morning foursomes.
England responded to the challenge with a brave fight in the singles but their hopes of a winning comeback ended when Kelly Tidy lost to Lisa Maguire on the 17th. Alex Peters won her match and Heidi Baek’s game – in which she was up - was declared a half.
Team captain Faye Sanderson said: “Kelly and Heidi played great in the foursomes but the twins were just amazing, they were well under par.
“We left ourselves a lot to do after losing both foursomes but at one point in the singles it did look as though we would pull it off. Everyone is a bit deflated but we’ve got to get up again to play Spain tomorrow. The girls deserve a medal, they are a good enough team, and hopefully they will get one.”
England results
Foursomes:
Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale & Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) lost to Lisa & Leona Maguire 3/2.
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies’) & Hayley Davis (Ferndown) lost to Laura McCarthy & Stephanie Meadow 2/1.
Singles:
Tidy lost to Lisa Maguire 2/1
Peters beat Leona Maguire 3/2
Baek halved with Meadow
Semi-finals
Ireland beat England 3 ½-1½
Sweden beat Spain 3½-1½
Championship website: www.egagirls2009.fi
England girls reach European semi-finals
09 July 2009
England swept through to the semi-finals of the European girls’ team championship at Kokkola in Finland and now meet top seeds, Ireland.
They beat Switzerland 4-1 in today’s first matchplay round and the result puts them firmly in the hunt for a medal.
“I am over the moon,” said team captain Faye Sanderson. “The girls did exactly what was asked for and we’ll be playing for a medal over the next two days.”
She went on: “Ireland will be tough but it should be a good game. Both teams are playing at a high standard.”
England set up their victory against Switzerland when they won both morning foursomes. Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy secured the win when she made short work of her singles, closing out her opponent on the 12th. The other two matches were declared halved.
England scores:
Foursomes
Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) & Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) beat Sherlyn Popelka & Nina von Siebenthal 3/2
Alex Peters (Notts’ Ladies) & Hayley Davis (Ferndown) beat Olivia Birrer & Cylia Damerau 1 up.
Singles
Tidy beat Birrer 7/6
Peters halved with Popelka
Davis halved with Damerau
First round results
Ireland beat Belgium 3½-1½
England beat Switzerland 4-1
Sweden beat Finland 4-1
Spain beat Czech Republic 3-2
Semi finals:
Ireland v England
Sweden v Spain
Championship website: www.egagirls2009.fi
England qualify fourth in European girls’ championship
08 July 2009
England qualified comfortably in fourth place in the top matchplay flight at the European girls’ team championship at Kokkola in Finland.
They will play Switzerland in tomorrow’s first round. Team captain Faye Sanderson commented: “The girls did a good job. We are more than happy with our placing – it’s a great result.”
The team’s best scorer on the second day of qualifying was Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy who shot a two-over par 74. She was the team’s last player out and her result helped to lift England up the leaderboard.
Faye remarked: “She did exactly what we were hoping she would do and brought the team total down.” Kelly’s efforts made sure that England moved out of a logjam for the remaining four places in the first flight.
Dorset’s Hayley Davis continued her good form with a determined second round of 75, which included a number of gutsy up-and-downs. Her four-over par total for the 36 holes put her in a share of 11th place in the individual table.
Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters produced more solid play for a second round 76 while Suffolk’s Heidi Baek returned the discarded score of 78.
The top qualifiers are Ireland, helped a new course record score of five-under par 67 from the twin, Leona Maguire.
England scores:
Hayley Davis (Ferndown) 73, 75
Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) 77, 74
Alex Peters (Notts’ Ladies) 75, 76
Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 77, 78
The top three scores counted each day.
Flight one qualifying positions:
1 Ireland +7
2 Spain +10
3 Finland +11
4 England +18
5 Switzerland +20
6 Sweden +20
7 Czech Republic +20
8 Belgium +23
Championship website: www.egagirls2009.fi
Hayley Davis leads England scoring in European girls’ championship
7 July 2009
Teenager Hayley Davis made a great international debut when she led the England scoring in the first qualifying round of the European girls’ team championship at Kokkola in Finland.
She scored a one-over par 73 to help the team into fourth place. After tomorrow’s second round the leading eight teams will qualify for the championship matchplay stages of the competition.
Hayley, 16, from Ferndown, reached the turn at one-under par and played steadily on the way home with seven pars and two bogeys. Her score puts her in a share of fifth place in the individual table.
Alex Peters, 15, (Notts Ladies) shot a steady 75 while Heidi Baek, 15 (Felixstowe Ferry) and Kelly Tidy, 17, (Royal Birkdale) both scored 77. The best three scores count from each round. England are currently on 225, four shots behind the first round leaders, Ireland.
Team captain Faye Sanderson remarked: “This was the first time Hayley had played for England and she was very impressive and had a really good round.
“Overall we’ve had a good start and we’re happy with our position. We’ll be very pleased to be in the top four after tomorrow’s round.”
Weather conditions were difficult with heavy rain for England’s early starters followed by strong winds in the afternoon. The forecast for tomorrow is worse.
Leading positions:
221 Ireland. 222 Spain. 224 Finland. 225 England. 226 Netherlands. 227 Czech Republic. 228 Belgium. 231 Wales, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Germany.
Full details: www.egagirls2009.fi
