Honours even as Mangan rescues crucial point

IRISH champion Tricia Mangan secured a crucial singles point for Great Britain and Ireland in their Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Chantilly yesterday.

Her last-green success over Spaniard Belen Mozo could be the difference between GB & I retaining the Trophy they won at Co Louth two years ago and surrendering their crown.

All three Irish players in the nine-strong squad contributed to the first day’s tally of six points with Claire Coughlan and Martina Gillen both getting halves.

With the opening day ending 6-6 it looks as though the battle will go all the way to the wire - four more foursomes and eight singles are to be contested today.

Mangan, the Ennis golfer who works at Limerick Prison as a fitness instructor, was involved in a nip and tuck battle with Moso. There was never much between the players although one always felt the Irish star had the edge.

“It was a tough one but you know every game in this fixture is going to be difficult,” said Mangan who admits to having been disappointed not to play in last year’s Curtis Cup match.

Mangan and English champion Felicity Johnson lost their foursomes match, while Coughlan and Scotland’s Anne Laing gained a share of the spoils with Alexandra Vilatte and Anne-Lise Caudal.

Captain Ada O’Sullivan knows it’s all to play for today. “It is now a one-day showdown. We had a good first day although it is a little disappointing we lost the last three singles. Now we must complete the business,” said O’Sullivan.

Great Britain and Ireland v Continent of Europe (GB and I names first)

Foursomes: F Johnson and T Mangan lost to P Lindberg and M Hernandez 5&4; S Walker and K Smith beat B Mozo and A Zwanck 4&3; C Coughlan and A Laing halved with A Vilatte and A Caudal; C Queen and H MacRae beat E Cabrera and S Lee one hole. Foursomes result: Great Britain and Ireland 2.5-1.5.

Singles: Queen lost to Caudal 3&2; Walker beat Lindberg 3&2; Mangan beat Mozo one hole; Johnson beat K Schallenberg 4&3; M Gillen halved with Zwanck; Coughlan lost to Vilatte 3&2; Laing lost to Hernandez 3&2; Smith lost to Cabrera two holes.

Singles Result: Great Britain and Ireland 3.5 Continent Of Europe 4.5. First Day result Great Britain and Ireland 6 Continent of Europe 6.