Portmarnock

August 2012

2010 Champions: Continent of Europe

The Continent of Europe defeated Great Britain and Ireland to win the 2010 St Andrews Trophy Match at Castelconturbia, near Milan, Italy. Having led by 8 ½ - 7 ½ going into day two’s afternoon singles, the Continent won five-and-a-half of the eight points on offer to clinch the Match 14 – 10.

It was the Continent’s first victory in the biennial team event since 1998, when they overcame GB&I by the same margin at Villa D’Este, also in Italy. Of the Continent’s four successes in the history of the event, three of those have now come on Italian soil.

The St Andrews Trophy is the biennial equivalent of the annual Jacques Leglise Trophy for men. Both matches comprise four morning foursomes followed by eight afternoon singles on two consecutive days.

In 1955 The R&A suggested to the European Golf Association that there should be an international match between Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe. The first match was played at Wentworth and the series has continued on a biennial basis in non- Walker Cup years. The first encounter was a resounding success for the home team, but in recent years, playing alternately home and away the Continental teams have recorded victories. The St Andrews Trophy was presented by The R&A in 1963.