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Vagliano
Great Britain and Ireland claim dramatic victory at the Vagliano Trophy
28 Jun 25
6 mins
Great Britain and Ireland produced a stirring singles display to win the Vagliano Trophy, defeating the Continent of Europe 12½-11½ to seal a first victory since 2005.
After Catriona Matthew OBE led GB&I to a famous team triumph in the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale over the USA last September, this was another historic, nail-biting success – this time led by non-playing Captain Maria Dunne at Royal Hague Golf & Country Club in The Netherlands.
Five players – Lottie Woad, Hannah Darling, Patience Rhodes, Beth Coulter and Aine Donegan – were in the GB&I side who also prevailed in the Curtis Cup.
Ana Urchegui Garcia's hosts led by one point going into the afternoon's eight singles ties at the sun-drenched venue and looked set to ease to victory after picking up two early wins.
Yet Dunne’s side had other ideas as they pulled off a dramatic first success in 20 years. The English trio of Rhodes, Nellie Ong and Isla McDonald-O’Brien all delivered victories before Ireland’s Donegan – thanks to a stunning eagle on the last – and another England player, Sophia Fullbrook, took GB&I over the winning line in a remarkable finish.
After eight straight wins for the Continent of Europe in the women’s amateur team match, it was a memorable afternoon for Irishwoman Dunne and her team at the historic Hague course after coming close at Royal Dornoch two years ago.
“It’s been an unbelievable day,” said Dunne. “I said to the team early this morning that I had a really good feeling about today. They did the job in the foursomes, momentum went our way and they just fought. I told them last night ‘just keep fighting, keep fighting for every single point or half point’ and that’s exactly what they did.
“I think the success in winning the Curtis Cup last year helped the team this week. I reminded them in our team meetings that we had that momentum and belief. My three rookies have also been unbelievable and done the job for me every time I’ve asked them. For the three who weren’t involved in the Curtis Cup, they could see the belief and they built on that too.”
Great Britain & Ireland celebrate their victory in the Vagliano Trophy
The Continent of Europe led 7-5 going into the second day, after taking four-and-a-half of the final five points on offer on Friday. However, the away side rallied on Saturday morning to win the foursomes session 2½-1½ and cut the deficit to only a point, giving Dunne’s side real belief.
Lottie Woad, number one on the World Amateur Golf Ranking®, teamed-up with Ong for a 2&1 win over Danish duo Marie Eline Madsen and Emma Kaisa Dalgaard Bunch. The fellow English pairing of Rhodes and Fullbrook were also 2&1 winners against France’s Valentine Delon and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto from Spain.
Woad faced off against Paula Martin Sampedro, recent winner of The Women’s Amateur Championship at Nairn, in the opening singles tie of the afternoon. Martin Sampedro claimed what looked a key 2&1 win, with compatriot Lopez-Chacarra Coto defeating Ireland’s Coulter 4&3.
Ong’s 6&5 victory over Delon gave GB&I a boost and McDonald-O’Brien edged out Camille Min-Gaultier 2&1 to pull the visitors – watched on by Curtis Cup Captain Matthew – closer. Rhodes, who claimed a key singles win on the final day at Sunningdale last year, then delivered another crucial point with her two-hole triumph over France’s Sara Brentcheneff.
With three matches left on the course and the scores projected to finish level, a tense conclusion saw Ireland’s Donegan win in style over Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio – after her rescue club to 18 feet set up a winning eagle.
Fullbrook also held her nerve to enjoy a one-hole victory against Dalgaard Bunch, while Madsen sealed a 2&1 win over Darling for a consolation point.
Dunne added: “We came so close at Royal Dornoch in 2023 (losing by three points) and we knew we hadn’t won this event since 2005 so it feels amazing to do it. Patience had an incredible finish to win her singles match, before Aine rolled in that eagle on the 18th. I feel so privileged to be Captain. For GB&I to now hold both the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy is fantastic.”
The Junior Vagliano Trophy was played alongside its senior counterpart at the same venue, the Continent of Europe running out 11½-6½ winners against GB&I.
The hosts took a narrow 5-4 lead into day two at Royal Hague – the venue for the European Amateur Championship in 2018 won by Nicolai Højgaard.
Last year, GB&I delivered a breakthrough victory at West Lancashire when, after seven straight wins and a draw for the Continent of Europe, Irish non-playing Captain Deirdre Walsh led her six girls to a memorable triumph.
But there was no repeat in The Netherlands as the hosts won all three foursomes matches on Saturday morning to stretch their lead to four points. Led by non-playing captain Myrte Eikenaar for a fifth consecutive time, the Continent of Europe held firm in the singles ties and claimed a five-point victory.
Scotland’s Carly McDonald at least highlighted her tie - a one-hole loss to France's Alice Kong - with an ace at the 17th.
Click here for final scoring from the Vagliano Trophy.
Final scoring from the Junior Vagliano Trophy is available here.