Ireland and Great Britain complete fightback

Ireland and Great Britain today staved off an amazing last-ditch fightback by the Continent of Europe at Co Louth to win the Vagliano trophy for the first time for a decade.

In one of the most dramatic and tense finishes in the history of the contest Great Britain and Ireland got home 12-and-a-half, 11-and-a-half after leading by five points going into the final session of singles.

Requiring just two points from the last session the hosts stumbled alarmingly and at one time it looked as though the Europeans would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Leading 8-4 overnight Great Britain and Ireland stretched that lead to five points when they captured the foursomes two-and-a-half one-and-a-half but there was a spectacular about-turn in the afternoon.

British and European strokeplay champion Becky Brewerton won the top match beating Dane Lisa Holm Sorensen by two and one to move her team to within one point of overall victory and soon Emma Duggleby, Yorkshire’s English champion got a half with Sophie Giquel.

But then there was a series of defeats which meant everything depended on the match between 20-year-old Kent golfer Danielle Masters and Spaniard Tania Elosegui.

Masters needed a half for Great Britain and Ireland to win and she got that in spectacular fashion by slapping a three iron on to the heart of the 18th green in front of a huge crowd.

Her half came all of one hour, 45 minutes after Brewerton’s triumph had taken Great Britain and Ireland to the brink of their first success in the event since they triumphed at Morfontaine in 1993.

Masters said afterwards: “As I walked onto the 18th green it was the moment I had dreamt of all my life.

“I just loved it and did not feel under any pressure.”

Captain Ada O’Sullivan, who will now lead Great Britain and Ireland against the Americans in the Curtis Cup at Formby next June declared that the result “was brilliant for British golf”.

She added: “We have not won for 10 years and quite frankly I believed that if we did not win this time it would be many years before we did so.”

Brewerton who plans to turn professional soon finished the two-day contest as the only player on either side with a maximum four points while Masters and Duggleby were both unbeaten gaining two wins each and two halves.