Championships - Home International Matches 2009
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Wales retains the Home International Trophy
11.09.2009
Wales beats Scotland at Irvine to retain Home International title
Purchase Photos from Home Internationals 2009Wales are the home international champions for the second year in a row. They followed up their countback victory at Wrexham 12 months ago with an emphatic last –day performance to overhaul overnight leaders Scotland at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire.
Wales needed to beat the Scots to retain the Miller Trophy and they did it with a brilliant performance in the singles.
Sue Turner, winning captain for the second time in succession, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The girls stayed focussed throughout and had a lot of self-belief. I just can’t speak highly enough of them as a squad. And I must pay tribute to our national coach Jeremy Bennett. He’s been with us the last two years – and what a difference he’s made.”
Scotland skipper Lesley Nicholson said: “I’m gutted by how it finished but I’m proud of my girls for their performance over the three days. Wales were a very strong side, even stronger than last year.”
Wales won the title with 2 1/2pt. Scotland were runners-up with 2pt.
England beat Ireland 7-2 to total 1pt and finish third ahead of Ireland with 1/2pt.
Scotland had taken a 2-1 lead from the foursomes and extended that advantage to 3-1 when Carly Booth beat Rhian Wyn Thomas in the singles.
That was the high point for Scotland – Wales won the remaining five singles for a 6-3 victory.
Scotland needed a minimum of 2 ½ pt from the six afternoon singles to win the title and they got the first one from Carly Booth at the expense of Rhian Wyn Thomas. It was Carly’s fourth win and Rhian’s first defeat in six games.
Carly, two down after two, produced three-under-par figures in winning by 3 and 2 after trailing through the first seven holes. She squared it at the eighth and then went ahead at the ninth.
Booth won the 13th and 14th for a three-hole lead which the Welsh player could not peg back.
Wales hit back by winning the next two ties to level it overall at 3-3.
Welsh champion Tara Davies produced possibly the best individual performance by anyone over the three days. She was six under par against the luckless Jane Turner and beat her 6 and 4.
Davies went three up after only four holes and there was no way back for Turner against an opponent playing sub-par golf..
Gemma Bradbury beat Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald by 2 and 1 in a tight match in which there was never more than a hole in it either way until Gemma won the 16th and 17th for victory.
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