IRELAND – defending champions – booked a place into Friday's final of the European Team Championships with a superb performance against Germany yesterday.
The team of Paul Cutler, Gareth Shaw, Jonathan Caldwell, Paul O'Hanlon, Niall Kearney and Shane Lowry face England in the final at the Royal Park Golf Club in Turin.
A wonderful 5&4 victory in their foursomes match saw Shane Lowry and Gareth Shaw
post Ireland's first points of the day.
The pair never looked in trouble. They were one up through nine holes and then extending their lead to three holes after 12. The match ended on the 14th green as Lowry and Shaw continued their successful partnership.
In the second foursomes match, Jonathan Caldwell and Paul Cutler were one down after six holes against Alexander Knappe and Maximillian Kiefer but fought back to record a 2&1 victory.
In the afternoon singles, there were wins for Paul Cutler and Jonathan Caldwell while Gareth Shaw and Paul O'Hanlon halved their matches. Shane Lowry lost his match by a margin of 5/4.
Irish team Captain Michael Burns was delighted with the team's performance.
"Our team really picked themselves up after the scare we had on day two," he said.
"They realise the opportunity that lies in front of them and I have confidence in them to go on and do their best again on Saturday in what's going to be a tough encounter."
The full article contains 243 words and appears in News Letter newspaper.
