ENGLAND CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE
England have been crowned champions of Europe in
men’s amateur golf.
They ended a 14 year wait for the title with a comprehensive
6-1 victory over Germany in the final of the European Men’s
Team Championships over the Hillside Course at Southport.Not
since 1991 in Madrid have England reigned supreme. Two years
ago in Holland they were finalists only to go down to Spain.
This time there was no slip up.
And it was Steven Tiley, the 22 year old from Kent, currently
at college in America, who secured the vital point when he
beat Florian Fritsch 6 and 4 in the bottom single.
England captain Cecil Bloice was naturally delighted. “This
is just marvellous,” he said. “There were a lot
of very good teams out there and to come out on top is magnificent.
We did our homework while the lads worked so hard and got
their just desserts.
“I think it shows the quality and character of the
team when, after coming into lunch 1-1, they go out and win
the singles 5-0.”
Two years ago in The Hague, Bloice was at the helm of the
team that lost out to Spain in the final. This time his feelings
were a lot different.
“Then I had a team mostly of individuals. This time
it was a team in every sense with everyone playing for each
other. I’m very proud of them.”
Although the two foursomes were shared, England completed
a clean sweep of the five afternoon singles and they did it
without Gary Wolstenholme, their most capped international.
After winning a morning foursome with Matthew Richardson,
Wolstenholme was left out by England captain Cecil Bloice
but he took an active part by caddying for Richardson in what
proved the only match to go to the final green.
“It was a risk leaving Gary out but that shows the
quality of the team,” added Bloice.
Germany took the other foursome but that was their only success
as England stole the show, two of their youngest players,
16 year old Oliver Fisher and Jamie Moul, 20, romping to 4
and 3 victories.
Despite his side’s defeat, the German captain Wolfgang
Wiegand sported a big smile. “I am proud of my team,”
he said. “They pulled off two terrific comebacks, one
in the qualifying and the other against Scotland when they
lost both foursomes but hit back to win 4-3.
“In the final, we came up against a formidable English
team that played some great golf.
“When we came here we felt we had no chance. But if
you have no chance then you must have some chance and we showed
that.”
Scotland ended a disappointing week on a high by beating
Spain 4.5 - 0.5 to finish fifth, Wales, 3-2 winners over Italy,
were seventh, and Ireland, who defeated the Netherlands 4-1,
were ninth.
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