In less than a month's time the Continent of Europe's best female amateur players will take on Great Britain & Ireland in the Vagliano and Junior Vagliano Trophy matches.
Ahead of the contests, to be played at Royal Dornoch at the end of June, we caught up with the captains of the Continent of Europe teams.
Set to captain the women's team for the first time, Ane Urchegui García (ESP) is the reigning European Mid-Amateur Ladies' Champion. The former Spanish national team player captained the junior Continent of Europe Vagliano team to victory twice in 2017 and 2019.
Anna Roscio and Ane Urchegui García with the Vagliano and Junior Vagliano Trophies at Royal St. George's 2019
Captaining the girl's team for a third successive year, Myrte Eikenaar was the first ever winner of the European Mid-Amateur Ladies' championship, and remains the only player to win the event twice.
First off, tell us a little bit about yourselves!
Ane: "I was born in San Sebastian, Spain 33 years ago. I am an orthodontist in Barcelona and Madrid but I fulfil my life with my passion, the game of golf."
Myrte: "I'm from the Netherlands where I work for our national golf federation. As a player developer i am involved with the national girls and ladies team."
What are your proudest achievements in golf?
Ane: "Winning the Junior Vagliano Trophy as Captain twice, winning the European Mid-Amateur Championship in 2022, winning the European Ladies' Club Trophy with my homeclub, Basozabal, and being part of the Spanish national team."
Myrte: "It's between being the first European Mid Amateur Ladies champion and being able to defend the title the year after and winning over 15 National Championships."
What does it mean to you to captain a Continent of Europe Team?
Ane: "It's an honor for me to be the Captain of the best amateur ladies players of the continent of Europe and the world. I admire them and it will be a great honor to be their captain and lead them during the battle in Royal Dornoch."
Myrte: "First of all it's a very big honor. I feel very privileged to be captain and being able to meet such young talented players. Seeing them form a team in such a short time, all coming from different countries, and then go on to fight for each other as a team in the matches is very special to be a part of."
What are the things you look at when selecting players for your team?
Ane: "Passion and love for the game of golf, individual determination, and first-class team spirit."
Myrte: "I follow all the scores and results from the international tournaments. Apart from performance I am also looking for girls with good team spirit and a fighting attitude."
Myrte Eikenaar (NED) walks alongside Johanna Axelsen (DEN) at the 2022 Junior Vagliano Trophy, Blairgowrie Scotland
What will be your main focus during the match week?
Ane: "Bonding the team in the best golf spirit, so they can deliver their best golf."
Myrte: "Work on a good gameplan for the course with the girls. Find good pairings for the foursomes and form a strong team."
What’s the best part about being a captain?
Ane: "Bonding with each player and representing the Continent of Europe in this Historical event."
Myrte: "Watching young talented players play some amazing golf and have fun while doing it."
What’s the toughest part about being a captain?
Ane: "The Selection of the Team. Nowadays the level of the players in Europe is extremely high and it is very difficult to select only 8."
Myrte: "You want to be everywhere at the same time!"
What’s your favourite thing about team golf?
Ane: "Each team championship is unique, you share both joys and sorrows, wins and losses, laughs and tears, and the team becomes your family."
About the Vagliano Trophy matches
The Vagliano Trophy is a two-day match play contest between the best female amateur players from the Continent of Europe and Great Britain & Ireland.
The match is jointly run by the EGA, which selects the European team, and The R&A, which selects the GB&I side.
Played every other year, the contest sees the teams complete four foursomes matches each morning, and eight singles matches each afternoon.
The Junior Vagliano Trophy is an identical match for girls aged 16 and under. The junior match is contested annually between teams of six players.
This year's matches will be held at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Scotland on 30 June and 1 July.
