The Continent of Europe triumphed at the St Andrews Trophy, defeating Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) with a final score of 16-9 at Royal Porthcawl.
This marks the seventh victory for the Continent of Europe in this biennial men’s match and only the second time they’ve won on British or Irish soil since their 2012 win at Portmarnock.
A Strong Start and a Dominant Finish
Leading 7-5 into the final day, the Continent of Europe maintained their momentum, holding a 9-7 advantage after splitting the second-day foursomes session.
With all nine players from each side competing in singles matches, the Continent of Europe needed to win only four of the nine matches to secure the trophy. They exceeded expectations, dominating the final session 7-2.
Filip Jakubcik set the tone for the visiting team with a 3&2 victory over Welshman James Ashfield.
Although England’s Dominic Clemons and Scotland’s Connor Graham secured the next two matches for GB&I, the Continent of Europe won the subsequent six matches.
Lars Van der Vight from the Netherlands clinched the winning point with a one-hole victory over England’s Jack Bigham.
Emotional Victory for Captain Carlos de Corral
Captain Carlos de Corral of Spain expressed his overwhelming emotions: “It’s very important for us to win this trophy, but to win here is even more special because a course like this is difficult for us.”
De Corral highlighted the significance of their victory, noting the challenging history of the match for his team.
His squad, comprised of players from Spain, the Netherlands, France, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, and Germany, showcased exceptional teamwork and camaraderie.
“It’s hard to bring players together who don’t always play with each other, but these boys made it very easy for me.
It was a great atmosphere in the team room all week. They brought a lot of energy.”
Standout Performances
Spain’s Luis Masaveu Roncal emerged as the standout player for the Continent of Europe, winning all four of his matches.
Fellow Spaniard Pablo Ereno Perez also went undefeated, winning all three of his matches.
“I was lucky to have two ready pairings with the two boys from the Netherlands (Jerry Ji and Van der Vight) and the two Spaniards (Masaveu Roncal and Ereno Perez),” de Corral said.
“But the other players came together easily too. That’s part of what this match is all about, to bring players together from different countries to start friendships for life. We did that this week.”
GB&I’s Efforts and Future Prospects
Connor Graham and Dominic Clemons were the leading scorers for GB&I, each earning three points.
Despite the loss, GB&I captain Dean Robertson remained optimistic about the future.
“It’s been an absolutely fantastic week in terms of being back involved representing Great Britain and Ireland, and I have a feeling of immense pride,” said Robertson, who last represented GB&I in the Walker Cup in 1993 and is the current Walker Cup captain.
Though the result didn’t favour his team, Robertson praised their preparation and acknowledged the superior performance of the Continent of Europe.
“The Continent of Europe have some fantastic players and we saw that over the two days, players who have a chance to go on and excel in the professional game.”
Looking ahead, Robertson emphasised the importance of improving skills, course management, and overall performance.
He expressed confidence in the potential of his players, particularly Clemons and Graham, as they prepare for next year’s Walker Cup at Cypress Point.
A Historic Victory
The Continent of Europe’s victory brings the overall St Andrews Trophy match record to 26 wins for GB&I, seven for the Continent of Europe, with one draw.
The Continent of Europe will defend their title in Madrid next year.
