Spain and France have reclaimed their crowns as European Mid-Amateur Men’s and Ladies’ Team Champions while the Ireland claimed bronze in both the men’s and ladies’ championships.
The Irish men’s side saw off France in their bronze medal match while the ladies’ got the better of Italy to secure a medal, meaning it’s back to back podium finishes for Ireland in the European Mid-Amateur Team Championships after both the men’s and ladies’ teams secured bronze in the inaugural edition last year.
Both sides completed comfortable 2.5-0.5 wins respectively. In the men’s David Howard and David Reddan won on the 18th while Gerard Dunne was a 3&1 winner in his singles tie before Colm Campbell searched a half point.
Aideen Walsh and Clodagh Coughlan were 4&3 winners in the foursomes match while Shannon Burke romped to a 5&3 win as European mid-amateur champion Jessica Ross shared the spoils in her singles tie.
A weather-affected final day at Empordà Golf in Spain saw all medal matches shortened to 18 holes.
In the ladies’ final, France faced top seeds Germany for the gold. The French side struck early and never looked back: Candice Mahé delivered the opening point with a commanding 5&4 win, before Clémence Cadeac and Pauline Stein sealed the title in the foursomes with a 4&2 victory. With this triumph, France remain the only nation to have lifted the ladies’ trophy since the tournament’s inception last year.
The men’s final featured hosts and defending champions Spain against Germany. Momentum was with the Germans early, as they went up in all three matches. Cedric Otten gave Germany the first point with a 3&2 win, but the Spaniards battled back.
Ignacio De Pineda leveled the contest with a victory on the 18th, while Moisés Cobo and Alberto Dominguez, having been three down with three to play, forced the foursomes match into extra holes. After pars on the 19th and 20th, the decider went to the 21st hole, where another steady par from the Spanish pair secured a second straight men’s title.
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