European Team Championships 2016
European Amateur Team Championship, Golf de Chantilly, France
European Amateur Team Championship, Divison 2, Kikuoka GC, Luxembourg
Scotland successfully defended their European title after defeating Sweden 5-2 in the final of the European Amateur Team Championship. Their defence started with clear wins over Spain in the quarter-finals (5.5-1.5) and Italy in the semi-finals (5-2), partly owing to strong foursomes’ performances. In the final round, however, the leaderboard showed 1-1 after the morning round and the match was all-square going into the singles. After Scotland’s Robert Macintyre, Grant Forrest and Connor Syme beat their Swedish opponents, Oskar Berqvist, Adam Blomme and Fredrik Nilhen, respectively, the Scottish victory was certain and the matches Craig Howie vs Robin Petersson and Sandy Scott vs Hannes Ronneblad were deemed halved. In the race for the bronze medal, Denmark beat Italy 4.5-2.5.
Netherlands, Portugal and Finland, who finished 14th, 15th and 16th, are relegated and will play in Division 2 next year. Iceland, Wales and the Czech Republic achieved the promotion to the first division with their top-3 finishes in Division 2. Iceland beat Wales in the final and the Czech Republic overcame Slovenia in the battle for the final promotion spot.
In 2017, the European Amateur Team Championship will be held at Diamond Country Club in Austria and Divison 2 will be played at Zalasprings Golf Resort in Hungary.
European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championship (ELATC), Oddur GC, Iceland
The ladies’ title was won 4-3 by England in an exciting match against Spain. Law sank the winning putt against Olarra on the 18th green and an emotional English team could celebrate their first ELATC title since 1993. Along the way, England defeated Sweden and Switzerland by the same margin in the quarter- and semi-finals. The foursome points were shared with Spain (1-1) before Curtis Cup players Meghan MacLaren, Alice Hewson, and Bronte Law won their singles to secure the trophy for England. The two remaining matches were won by Spain on the 18th green. Germany beat Switzerland 4.5-2.5 to take home the bronze medal.
Next year’s edition of the championship will take place at Montado Golf Resort in Portugal.
European Boys’ Team Championship, Diamond Country Club, Austria
France defeated title defender, Germany, with a shattering 5.5-1.5 win in the final of the Boys’ championship. After winning both foursomes in the morning, wins from Paul Margolis and Adrien Pendaries already brought the decision early-on and the remaining matches were halved. Denmark defeated Italy 4-3 in the battle for third place on an emotional day for the Italians who were remembering Teodoro Soldati, former teammate, who sadly passed-away to illness shortly after competing in the championship last year.
Wales, Belgium and Portugal will be relegated to Divison 2 next year.
At the 2016 European Boys’ Team Championship, Division 2, played in the Czech Republic this September, nine countries will contend for the two spots, which will join next year’s (exempted) host Spain in Division 1.
European Girls’ Team Championship, Oslo GK, Norway
After defeating their quarter-final and semi-final opponents, Czech Republic and France, with crushing 5.5-1.5 and 6-1 victories, Italy dominated the final against Sweden from the start with winning both their foursome matches. Wins from Emilia Alba Paltrinieri, who recorded superb rounds of 66 and 69 in the stroke play qualifying, and Alessia Nobilio, secured the required two points. Spain beat France 4-3 in the race for the bronze medal.
In 2017 the girls will travel to Finland to play at St Laurence Golf near Helsinki.
