Double for Irish seniors

Ireland made golfing history at the weekend by becoming the first country to win both the senior men’s and women’s Team Championships in the same year.

Ireland’s women exceeded expectations when they defeated defending champions Italy 3½-1½ at Bled, Slovenia in the final, having overcome top seeds Netherlands in the semi-final.

The men were always considered a good shot and their 4-1 defeat of Sweden in Hungary was not a great surprise.

Tom Cleary and Michael Quirke confirmed their status as the top foursomes pairing in the championship as they maintained their 100% percent record over the Pannonia course, recording a 3 and 2 victory over Claes Kinnell and Bob Backstedt.

Arthur Pierse made it 2-0 to Ireland when winning the top singles against Peter Johansson, also 3&2. And when the vastly experienced Garth McGimpsey, triumphed 5&4 against Hans Iverson it was all over. Maurice Kelly and 2012 Euro individual champion Adrian Morrow did not have to complete their matches which were both deemed to be halved.

Irish captain Tony Goode had every reason to smile: “This was a great performance. Every member of the side played his part and contributed to the points tally. To win three times in seven years is no mean feat.”

The Irish women were very much underdogs against Italy but gave an inspirational performance to edge home, with Suzanne Corcoran holding her nerve for a vital 20th hole success against Camilla Dettori.

With Carol Wickham and Laura Webb both winning, Ireland were home and dry.

It did not matter that Gertie McMullen lost her match and at the top of the order the foursomes involving Pat Doran and Sheena McElroy was called a half.

* Thomas Bjorn denied Scotsman Craig Lee a first European Tour title when he capped a superb final day with victory on the first play-off hole in the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Bjorn’s victory was reward for the 42-year-old’s consistency throughout, with just two bogeys in his card of 264.

* Scotland’s Gordon Brand Jnr claimed his second Senior Tour title with a final round four under par 68 in the WINSTONgolf Senior Open, on a day when Andrew Oldcorn threatened to steal the show with a sizzling 61.

Knowing his compatriot Oldcorn had set the clubhouse target much earlier in the day thanks to a whopping 11 birdies, Brand Jnr notched six birdies of his own — against two bogeys — to reach 12 under for a one-stroke win.

* Australian Rebecca Artis recorded her first title on the Ladies European Tour with a one-shot victory over home favourite Caroline Hedwall at Sweden’s Helsingborg Open.