England retained the Stroyan Cup, awarded to the winners of the Girls’ Home International Matches, and in doing so clocked up its seventh victory in succession in the round robin series of matches.
England retained the Stroyan Cup, awarded to the winners of the Girls’ Home International Matches, and in doing so clocked up its seventh victory in succession in the round robin series of matches.
The win was secured in a 7-2 win over Wales at Donabate Golf Club in Ireland, leaving England with 3 wins out of 3, and the other home countries trailing in the wake of this talented team.
And the star of the show and Most Valuable Player of the week was undoubtedly India Clyburn (pictured), who won all 6 of her games, 3 with foursomes partner Sophie Keech and all 3 of her singles matches.
With her sister Holly – 2012 Curtis Cup winner and established LET star – following in support, India never looked under pressure, and finished with a resounding 6&5 win over Nicola Wainwright of Wales. Her performance this week rounds off a purple patch for the younger Clyburn, who in recent weeks has won the Scottish Junior Open Stroke Play and the English Girls’ Championship.
India told us “It’s awesome for England to win 7 times in a row and I’m so happy to be part of the winning team this year. To win all my matches was amazing – I loved playing my foursomes with Sophie, so it was great to win all out matches together.
I think everyone enjoyed Holly and Hannah (Burke – another LET player) being here cheering us on. They’re good fun and picked us up if we were down!”
Another player with a 100% record was young Mairead Martin of Ireland who took 4 points out of her 4 matches in her very first Girls’ Internationals appearance, while English players Sophie Keech and Holly Muse also won all of their matches.
Home favourites Ireland, benefiting from a sizeable local support, finished second, with Wales in third position and Scotland propping up the table.
Next year the Girls’ Home International Matches head to Scotland and the Lanark Golf Club – the matches will be played from 5th – 7th August 2015.
The England team is pictured with the Stroyan Cup (image © Ladies Golf Union). Standing from left: Sophie Lamb, India Clyburn, Sophie Keech, Chris Pascall (captain), Alice Hewson, Lizzie Prior and Emma Allen. Kneeling: Inci Mehmet and Hollie Muse. Front: coach Scott Godfrey.
