European success for Somerset aces Sloman and Plumb
- Details
- Last Updated on Monday, 15 April 2019 13:53
- Published on Sunday, 14 April 2019 13:26
- Written by LYNDSEY HEWISON England Golf correspondent
Somerset amateur golf aces Tom Sloman and Tom Plumb were to the fore as England pulled off a fantastic double with a consecutive clean sweep at the European Nations Cup in Sotogrande, Spain.
Yeovil’s Plumb, Taunton’s Sloman, Yorkshire’s Bailey Gill and Northamptonshire’s Ben Jones successfully defended the men’s trophy.
Taunton & Pickeridge star Sloman won the men's individual title pipping Spain's Victor Rufian and Germany's Jannick de Bruyn by a shot.
The championship was contested by 15 countries and this is England’s eighth team title following success last year and in 2015, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2004.
England women’s team – including Cornwall’s Emily Toy (Carlyon Bay) - came third, their best championship finish.
The men won by eight shots at the end of a tough week, when a brutal wind made playing conditions difficult. Men’s team manager Gareth Jenkins commented: “This is a tremendous achievement.
“The wind was really, really strong for the first two days and then it was swirling, making it very difficult on a course where you have to have pin point accuracy,
“But the boys just dug in and they were really fantastic. It was a whole team effort and while it was never easy, it was great fun.”
Sloman led by two shots heading into the final round but struggled until an eagle three on the 14th.
His dramas continued until the 18th, where his drive finished in the trees, but he managed a par after holing out from 15ft, completing the last five holes in one-under.
The women’s team of Toy, Cheshire's Bel Wardle and Chelmsford's Georgina Blackman were lying second with a round to play and were disappointed to slip back to third. Individually Toy finished joint 13th.
Womens team top 3 Holland & France 600 England 608 Spain 610
Mens team top 4 England 878 Holland 886 Ireland 887 Wales 893
Individual scores Sloman 294 Plumb 298 (tied 11th) Toy 309
European Nations champions back row (l to r) Tom Plumb, Bailey Gill; front row Gareth Jenkins, Tom Sloman and Ben Jones
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