Europe fall just short as USA bag a draw

As the rain bucketed down and the strong winds howled around resplendent Knightsbrook Golf Club in Trim on Wednesday afternoon, Europe saw their dreams of causing a shock in the Junior Solheim Cup fade in a dramatic conclusion as USA did enough to force a draw and retain the trophy. The visiting team trailed 5-7 after the first day's foursomes and fourballs but won the singles by the same margin and retained the trophy on account of the fact they were holders having won the 2009 match at Aurora Golf Club in Illinois. The result means that the Americans now lead the Europeans by 3½ matches to 2½ in a series which was inaugurated at Oak Ridge CC, Minnesota, back in 2002. The impressive US fight back also brought to an end the sequence which until now had seen the home side win the match each time it was played. The final day started under leaden skies but there was nothing dull about the golf being produced by both sides as they battled it out for one of the most prestigious trophies in junior golf. America's Jaye Marie Green produced the first point of the day when she defeated Sweden's Emma Nilsson by 3&2 in the opening match but that was quickly countered when Ireland's Leona Maguire made it three points out of three for the tournament with a commanding 5&4 victory over Mariah Stackhouse. At that stage, there was little to separate the two sides and the situation was still the same when England's Lauren Taylor lost to Gabriella Then when she three-putted the final green but Welsh girl, Amy Boulden, claimed Europe's second point of the day with a 4&2 victory over Emma Talley. The weather took a turn for the worse around mid-day and, as heavy rain started to fall, the visiting Americans began to take a grip of the proceedings. Lisa Maguire lost 3&2 against Alison Lee and, while Antonia Scherer brought some respite to the home side with a 4&2 win over McKenzie Talbert, the American's strength down the stretch began to tell. Five of the day's 12 singles matches went to the 18th hole and the US won three and halved two of them. One of the most valuable contributions came from Ashlan Ramsey who came to the 153-yard par-3 final hole one down to French girl, Manon Gidali, but then hit her tee shot to 12 inches and holed the putt for a winning birdie two. That will go down as the unofficial Shot of the Match and her half point seemed to spur the visitors into redoubling their efforts. Summar Roachell defeated Spain's Luna Sobron on the last. British Girls' champion, Margaux Vanmol from Belgium, finished a fine tournament with a 3&2 victory over Kyung Kim but almost immediately Esther Lee also won her match on the 18th when French girl, Emilie Alonso, took three to get down from a devilish spot behind the green. As the drama intensified, Alonso's compatriot, Celine Boutier, could only halve with Karen Chung and moments later Lindsay Weaver sealed America's all-important 12th point with a 2&1 win over England's Charley Hull. DAY TWO Singles Scores (Europe names first) Emma Nilsson lost to Jaye Marie Green 3 & 2 Leona Maguire beat Mariah Stackhouse 5&4 Lauren Taylor lost to Gabriella Then 1 up Amy Boulden beat Emma Talley 4&2 Manon Gidali halved with Ashlan Ramsey Luna Sobron lost to Summar Roachell 1 up Lisa Maguire lost to Alison Lee 3&2 Antonia Scherer beat McKenzie Talbert 4&2 Margaux Vanmol beat Kyung Kim 3&2 Emilie Alonso lost to Esther Lee 1 up Charley Hull lost to Lindsey Weaver 1 up Celine Boutier halved with Karen Chung DAY ONE REPORT Despite getting off to a glorious start in the morning foursomes Europe had to settled for a 7-5 lead over USA at the end of the opening days action at the Junior Solheim Cup at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort in Trim today. Europe opened with a 5-1 victory from the opening six foursomes matches but a 4-2 win for the USA in the afternoon fourballs sets up an exciting final day when 12 singles matches will determine the destination of the Junior Solheim Cup. In the morning foursomes the host Europeans side lost the top match when England's Lauren Taylor and Charley Hull went down by 2 & 1 to Mariah Stackhouse and Jaye Marie Green, but drew level when Sweden's Emma Nilsson and Amy Boulden from Wales defeated Kyung Kim and Summar Roachall by 4 & 3. Irish sensations the Maguire twins from Cavan and with relations in Dunderry, Lisa and Leona, watched by a large and patriotic crowd, claimed Europe's second point of the morning when they defeated Emma Talley and McKenzie Talbert on the final green. Further victories by Manon Gidali and Celine Boutier, Emilie Alonso and Luna Sobron and Antonia Scherer and Margaux Vanmol gave the home team a four point advantage heading into the six afternoon fourball matches. The match featuring the Maguire twins against Emma Talley and McKenzie Talbert was indicative of how close most of the matches were. The American duo went one up with a birdie two on the 142-yard par-3 third hole but the home favourites bounced back straight away with a birdie on the 494-yard par-5 fifth. In the afternoon fourballs the Maguire twins were split up and that backfired in the opening game out as Lisa Maguire teamed with Charley Hull and lost by one hole to Lindsey weaver and Mariah Stackhouse. However, Leona Maguire enjoyed better luck in the third match when her partnership with Lauren Taylor ensured a comfortable 3&2 win over Kyung Kim and Chung. The visiting USA girls adapted better to the superb course in the and won three of the six matches outright, halved one and suffered their only defeat at the hands of Leona Maguire and England's Taylor. Tomorrow mornings 12 single matches will get underway from 8.0am RESULTS Foursomes Scores (Europe names first) •Lauren Taylor and Charley Hull lost to Mariah Stackhouse and Jaye Marie Green 2&1 •Lisa Maguire and Leona Maguire beat Emma Talley and McKenzie Talbert 1 hole •Amy Boulden and Emma Nilsson beat Kyung Kim and Summar Roachell 4&3 .Manon Gidali and Celine Boutier beat Esther Lee and Gabriella Then 1 hole •Emilie Alonso and Luna Sobron beat Lindsey Weaver and Ashlan Ramsay 2 holes •Antonia Scherer and Margaux Vanmol beat Karen Chung and Alison Lee 4&3 Fourball Scorers (Europe names first) •Lisa Maguire and Charley Hull lost to Lindsey Weaver and Mariah Stackhouse 1 hole •Amy Boulden and Emma Nilsson A/S Jaye Maria Green and Ashlan Ramsay A/S •Leona Maguire and Lauren Taylor beat Kyung Kim and Karen Chung 3&2 •Emilie Alonso and Antonia Scherer lost to McKenzie Talbert and Summar Roachell 2& 1 •Manon Gidali and Celine Boutier A/S Alison Lee and Esther Lee •Margaux Vanmol and Luna Sabron lost to Gabriella Then and Emma Talley 3&1