Senior Team European Championships: Medal slips away on final day

The Division II Senior Team European Championships came to an end in Slovakia today. The women’s senior team, who had been in bronze-medal position heading into the final day, ultimately had to settle for fourth place among the seven teams competing. The men’s team, meanwhile, finished 10th and last in a field of ten teams.

The women’s senior team, consisting of Anneli Esken (Estonian Golf & Country Club), Eva Peedimaa (Tartu Golf Club), Kristel Ulla and Triinu Tombak (both Niitvälja Golf Club), had been level with Slovakia after the first two days in terms of the counting scores. Estonia, however, held the advantage thanks to a better score from its fourth player, whose result did not count towards the team total.

Unfortunately, Slovakia found another gear on the final day and, led by Katarína Kopernická — the tournament’s best individual player with a score of +19 — eventually overtook Estonia. Slovakia finished seven shots ahead of Estonia to claim the bronze medals, behind champions Czechia and runners-up Luxembourg. The top two teams earned promotion to Division I for next year.

Estonia also caught Hungary on the final day, with the two teams finishing on the same total number of shots. Thanks to the better non-counting score, however, Estonia secured fourth place and Hungary finished fifth. Poland was sixth, while Slovenia finished seventh.

Triinu Tombak was Estonia’s best individual performer, carding 86 in each of the three rounds for a total of 258 and a share of 10th place individually. Kristel Ulla finished three shots behind her with rounds of 84, 91 and 86, while Eva Peedimaa was just one shot further back, with rounds of 86, 89 and 87. Anneli Esken had shown good form over the first two days with rounds of 87 and 85, but unfortunately carded 95 on the final day. Results

The men’s senior team, consisting of Derek Vaide (Reval Golf Club), Indrek Ränd (Niitvälja Golf Club), Benno Maaring and Mart Urbas (both Tartu Golf Club), unfortunately had a disappointing tournament. Estonia was still in ninth place after the opening day, but over the following rounds Turkey also moved ahead of us.

The top three were Iceland, Slovakia and Luxembourg. The top two teams earned promotion to Division I for next year. Slovakia had a particularly impressive final day, climbing from fourth to second and denying Portugal a medal. Czechia, one of the tournament favourites, finished only fifth. Hungary was sixth, Croatia seventh and Slovenia eighth.

Mart Urbas was Estonia’s best individual performer, carding rounds of 84, 80 and 80 to finish tied for 22nd in the middle of the standings. National-team debutants Derek Vaide (+35; rounds of 82, 85 and 87) and Indrek Ränd (+39; 87, 90 and 81), as well as the most experienced member of the team, Benno Maaring (+44; 82, 95 and 86), all unfortunately finished towards the bottom of the individual standings. Results

At the same time, the Division I championships were held in both age categories. France were crowned European champions in both competitions.

At Cabot Bordeaux, the French men’s senior team defeated Belgium in the final. Denmark won the bronze medal by beating England. Switzerland and the Netherlands were relegated to Division II for next year. Poland, who finished last, avoided relegation because they will host the championship next year.

In Bulgaria, at BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas, the French women’s senior team defeated Ireland in the final. Germany claimed the bronze medal after beating England on the final day. Scotland and Iceland were relegated. Portugal, who finished third from bottom, avoided relegation because they will host the Division I championship next year.