Europe: GB&I leads St Andrews Trophy; Mehaffey and Coulter shine
Conor Purcell
Robin Dawson and Conor Purcell claimed singles wins as Great Britain & Ireland took a 7-5 lead over the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy at Linna Golf in Finland.
Matias Honkala and Sami Valimaki missed one green and didn't make a bogey on their way to a 3&1 victory against Dawson and John Murphy in the opening foursomes
Gian-Marco Petrozzi and Matthew Jordan claimed a one-hole victory in a very tight match with Fredrik Nilehn and Angel Hidalgo before Mitch Waite and Nick Poppleton comfortably defeated French pair, Frederic Lacroix and Catherine Edgar, 4&3.
Italian duo, Stefano Mazzoli and Lorenzo Scalise, narrowly edged out Purcell and David Hague to leave the session tied at two points each.
Lacroix claimed the first point in the afternoon singles with a 6&5 victory over Murphy before Dawson and Purcell got points on the board.
Dawson (one hole) and Jordan (3&1) replied with victories for Great Britain & Ireland, while Fredrik Nilehn added another point for the Continent of Europe. Gian-Marco Petrozzi and Purcell both won 4&3, against Lorenzo Scalise and Edgar Catherine respectively.
Matias Honkala claimed the fifth point of the day for Yves Hofstetter's side against Waite, and Hague defeated Angel Hidalgo in the last match of the day to leave the score at 7-5 in favour of Great Britain & Ireland.
Mehaffey six back in Slovakia
Olivia Mehaffey is six shots behind Germany's Esther Henseleit with two rounds to play in the European Ladies Amateur Championship in Slovakia.
The Royal County Down Ladies' and ASU star shot a one-under71 in the second round in the Heritage Course at Penati Golf Resort to share 13th spot on three-under.
Julie McCarthy (64), Paula Grant 74) and Annabel Wilson (75) are tied for 27th on two-over with Jessica Ross (77) 88th on eight over in the race to make the top 60 and ties after 54 holes who qualify for the final round
European Ladies' Amateur Championship, Penati Golf Resort (Heritage Course), Slovakia
1 HENSELEIT, Esther Hamburger Golfclub -9 64 71 135
T13 MEHAFFEY, Olivia Royal County Down -3 70 71 141
T27 MCCARTHY, Julie Forrest Little +2 72 74 146
T27 GRANT, Paula Lisburn +2 72 74 146
T27 WILSON, Annabel Lurgan Golf Club +2 71 75 146
T88 ROSS, Jessica Clandeboye +8 75 77 152
Coulter shines in Norway
Kirkistown Castle's Beth Coulter shot a one under 71 to share third place, one stroke behind Natalia Guseva and Sweden's Ester Fagersten after the opening round of the European Young Masters in Norway.
Keaton Morrison is tied 24th in the boys event after a 76, ten shots behind Portugal Pedro Cruz, with Joseph Byrne 34th after his 78
European Young Masters, Hauger Golfklubb; Norway
Boys
1 CRUZ SILVA, Pedro -6 66
T24 MORRISON, Keaton +4 76
34 BYRNE, Joseph +6 78
Girls
T1 FAGERSTEN, Ester -2 70
T3 COULTER, Beth -1 71
T40 DONEGAN, Aine +14 86
Team
1 Portugal -1 215
2 Sweden +1 217
3 Norway +2 218
4 Spain +5 221
13 Ireland +9 225
