The Continent of Europe have won both the Vagliano and Junior Vagliano Trophies at Royal St. Georges.

In securing a seventh straight victory in the Vagliano Trophy, the Continent of Europe maintained their dominance in the biennial contest to the delight of captain Anna Roscio. 

With a 7–5 lead overnight, the Continent of Europe extended their lead to three points after going unbeaten in the morning foursomes to win the session 2.5–1.5.

The Continent of Europe, featuring a team with all eight players inside the top 30 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking™, wrapped up victory by winning the singles 5-3.

An overjoyed Roscio said: “I’m really happy to win again. Playing away from home is never easy. We knew that we had a great team but sometimes the weather and the conditions is not easy for us. But the weather was perfect today, so thanks to the sun!

“Great Britain and Ireland got close to us at times today, but we managed to stay ahead. In the morning foursomes, there was a moment when the teams were very close, but we had a good finish in the morning and a great start in the afternoon." The win marks Roscio's third consecutive victory in the match, having also captained the team to victory at Malone in 2015 and on home soil at Bogogno in 2017.

Great Britain and Ireland, who last won the Vagliano Trophy in 2005, needed a fast start in the afternoon singles and showed early promise. However, the Continent of Europe found their form and top-ranked Frida Kinhult defeated Lily May Humphreys 5&3 and Leonie Harm edged out Julie McCarthy by one hole.

When Linn Grant halved with Alice Hewson, the trophy had been retained and the Continent of Europe went past the winning line when France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard defeated Isobel Wardle 2&1.

“I feel really good,” said Roussin-Bouchard. “It’s crazy winning the last point to get the victory, it’s awesome. I was aware that we were up overall but I knew that there were other matches close as well. I just tried to get the win.

“We are a very good team. The atmosphere is perfect, we are like one. It was just great to be here. The weather today was perfect. It’s actually crazy to have this kind of weather in England and play a links today without wind.”

Caterina Don added to the Continent of Europe’s total when she beat Shannon McWilliam 3&1, with Girls Amateur champion Emma Spitz and Women’s Amateur Champion Emily Toy halving the final match.

Elaine Ratcliffe, Captain – Great Britain and Ireland, added: “It was always going to be a battle. They have some world-class golfers on their side and the ability to play at a very high standard – they know what pressure is all about. The girls battled hard, they pushed them and we won some matches down 18 – but not enough.

“As a team, we would have been delighted to have got the points but there are some individuals who have really shone this week. Hazel (MacGarvie) was unbeaten which was great and the manner in which she has finished all week has been classy. Emily (Toy) has also played some great golf, coming in as the new Women’s Amateur champion and Annabell (Fuller) beat Albane (Valenzuela) at the last. Hopefully the individual wins can be taken into the next events and they can keep their play going.”

In the Junior Vagliano Trophy, the six-a-side match for Under-16s, the Continent of Europe claimed a 10.5–7.5 success. Trailing 5-4 overnight to Great Britain and Ireland, the Continent of Europe Team, captained for the second time by Ane Urchegui Garcia, responded to win all three morning foursomes.

The first point of the final session went to Great Britain & Ireland, taking them within one point of the visitors. The next two matches went to the Continent of Europe however: Carolina Lopez-Chacarra defeated Darcey Harry 4&3, and Nataliya Guseva defeated Beth Coulter by one hole leaving the team within just a half-point of victory.

A 5&4 win from Lucie Malchirand and a half from Amalie Leth-Nissen meant Urchegui Garcia would claim her second consecutive victory as captain, and the Continent of Europe would achieve a fifth straight win in the five matches held to date.

Full results for both the Vagliano Trophy and the Junior Vagliano Trophy are available at www.randa.org