(from the www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk website)
It was the Wonder of Wales all over again at Irvine Golf Club today.
Last year, the Welsh won the women's home internationals title in a "photo-finish" at Wrexham.Twelve months later, Wales have won the title again - but much more emphatically.They won the home internationals crown for the first time at Royal Dornoch in 1999. Now they have won it three times over 10 years and for the second time on a Scottish course.
Scotland played themselves into a potentially-winning situation but finished the tournament in second place.Having beaten Ireland and then England, the Scots crashed 6-3 in the title decider against the title-holders.
Scotland took a 2-1 lead from the final set of foursomes and with a draw going to be good enough, they needed "only" 2 1/2pt out of the six at stake in the afternoon singles.But after an impressive, three-under-par win by Carly Booth put Scotland 3-1 ahead, it all went pear-shaped for skipper Lesley Nicholson's squad.
Wales won the last five singles to snatch the Miller Trophy almost out of the Scots' grasp..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.
Welsh captain Sue Turner paid tribute to the team spirit of her young squad - it included three juniors and the oldest member is 23."We are a small country and we have to bond together to achieve anything against the bigger nations in any sport. For the second year it a row, Wales' golfing women/girls have done just that. I'm so proud of them," said Sue."It's a squad that requires 'low maintenance' from me. And I must pay tribute to our national coach Jeremy Bennett. He only joined us a couple of years ago - and what a difference he has made - just look at what we've done in this tournament over these two years."
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.
With three ties to finish, Wales were two up in one and all square in the two others, a position which would give them the championship if they held it to the finish.
Kath O’Connor, making only her second appearance, put Wales ahead 4-3 with a 2 and 1 win over Pamela Pretswell. O’Connor went two up after eight and though Pretswell twice reduced her deficit to one hole, she could not get on terms. The Welsh player, won the short 16th with a par to go two up and a half at the next was enough to clinch a good win.
Amy Boulden and Lucy Gould delivered victories for Wales in the last two matches to finish which gave Wales a 5-1 capture of the singles and 6-3 overall victory which retained the championship.Boulden beat Megan Briggs by two holes after being one down with four to play. The Welsh player squared it with a par at the 15th and went one up with another par at the 16th.
Lucy Gould scored a 3 and 1 win over Kylie Walker, again with a strong finish. The Scot was two up at one stage on the outward half and Gould did not get on terms until the 13th. She then led for the first time with a birdie at the 15th ; and went two up with a par at the 16th.
British stroke-play champion Danielle McVeigh won the top singles match for Ireland against England by beating their native champion, left-hander Charlie Douglass by two holes.Douglass was two up at the turn but McVeigh was suddenly level again by winning the 10th with a birdie and the 11th with a par. Douglass got her nose in front again with a birdie at the 14th but bogeyed the short 16th to be pulled back to square, McVeigh staged a grandstand finish to win the 17th and 18th with birdies for an impressive two-hole win in a quality match.
England won the next three ties to finish.Rachel Jennings beat Charlene Reid by 2 and 1; Hannah Barwood won by one hole over Aedin Murphy and Nikki Foster was a 4 and 2 winner over Sarah Cunningham.That gave England a 6-1 lead.
The Jennings-Reid tie was all square after 12 before Jennings won the 13th and 17th for victory.Barwood and Murphy were also level pegging on the 13th tee. Barwood edged ahead by winning that hole with a birdie but Murphy pulled her back to square at the 15th. Barwood took the lead in this ding-dong tie once again at the 16th and was able to maintain that advantage to the finish. Foster finished strongly to beat Cunningham. The match was all square after 12 holes. Then Foster won the next four holes for victory.
English girls champion Holly Clyburn was a 4 and 2 winner over Gillian O’Leary after winning the first three holes. Clyburn led by two at the turn and clinched victory with further successes at the 14th and 16th.Ireland got their second point from the last tie to finish.
Mary Dowling, four holes to the good at one stage, eventually beat Charlotte Wild by one hole.
Wales will be going for a hat-trick of victories on home ground next year - Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff is the 2010 venue.
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