26th August 2023

Continent of Europe won all four sessions of the match to secure a 17.0-8.0 victory in the 46th Jacques Léglise Trophy at Golf de Chantilly.

Continent of Europe (Photo: European Golf Association)

Europe have now won the last four and six of the last seven matches contested in what is becoming a one sided affair.

It was also a fourth win for captain Joachim Fourquet who is a member of Golf de Chantilly. He said “I am very proud of my team. The team spirit was perfect, I mean it is very natural for them. They talk to each other, they do contests around the practice green, they joke around. It is just a great team, with great players, great spirit, and that’s it, the result has come with it.” 

Lev GRINBERG (UKR) and Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) were the star men for Europe and GB&I in this year’s match based on my individual performance analysis below: –

The 2024 match will take place at West Lancashire Golf Club in England.

Day 2 PM Singles

Europe won the Day 2 Singles session by 7.0-2.0 as GB&I sadly fell to defeat with a whimper.

Despite being far from his best Kris KIM‘s battling qualities saw him win the final two holes, including a great birdie on the 18th, to salvage a half against Louis ANCEAUX (FRA). 

Kim v. Anceaux Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Despite playing quite nicely Hugh ADAMS (ENG) had no answer to the birdie blitz delivered by Simon HOVDAL (SWE) in his 5&4 victory. 

Adams v. Hovdal Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

A second singles defeat for captain Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) was not in the GB&I script for today. Filip FAHLBERG-JOHNSSON (SWE), who had got to 4Up after 12 holes, tried his best to make it interesting but eventually got over the line on the 17th.  

Shaw-Radford v. Fahlberg-Johnsson Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Match 4 between Seán KEELING (IRL) and Jorge Siyuan HAO (ESP) started with both players firing birdies at each other before becoming more of a grind. Ultimately Hao got ahead and was able to hold on for a 1 Hole victory.

Keeling v. Hao Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Spain’s Marcel FONSECA AGUILAR beat Donnacha CLEARY (IRL) by 4&3 as the Irishman lost his way on the back nine. 

Cleary v. Fonseca Aguilar Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

For the second time today Peer WERNICKE (GER) was the beneficiary of GB&I largesse. 2Down with two holes to play I imagine he was astonished to see Jack MURPHY (IRL) hand him a half through being unable to finish either of the two closing holes. 

Murphy v. Wernicke Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) enjoyed one of the biggest wins at this year’s Jacques Leglise Trophy, taking down the previously unbeaten Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) who simply never got going this afternoon. The only consolation for Wiedemeyer was that the match result meant that he became the first Continent of Europe player to participate in three successful Jacques Léglise Trophy teams winning a total of 9 points from the 12 available to him.

Sheils Donegan v. Wiedemeyer Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) beat Monty HOLCOMBE (ENG) by 2&1 in the penultimate Singles game. In what seems a repeating GB&I story the Walton Heath man played well on the front nine before struggling on the back and ultimately losing. 

Holcombe v. Le Goff Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

A much better performance today from Oliver MUKHERJEE (SCO) in his re-match against Lev GRINBERG (UKR) but like most of his teammates ultimately found the back nine at Golf de Chantilly too hot to handle. A string of bogeys down the stretch allowing the Ukrainian to record his third win in three outings.

Mukherjee v. Grinberg Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Click here to view the – 2023 Jacques Léglise Trophy Results

Day 2 AM Foursomes

Continent of Europe won the Day 2 Foursomes series by 2.5-1.5 to increase their overall match lead to four points (10.0-6.0).

GB&I kept their Foursomes pairings unchanged but jigged the order around whilst Europe brought in Lev Grinberg for Louis Anceaux but retained yesterday’s running order. 

In a poor quality opening foursomes the new pairing of Lev GRINBERG (UKR) and Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) got off to a bad start but once they settled on the back nine were able to bring home a useful 2&1 win for the home side against an out of sorts Seán KEELING (IRL) and Jack MURPHY (IRL).  

Keeling & Murphy v. Hovdal & Fahlberg-Johnsson Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

The Spanish pairing of Jorge Siyuan HAO and Marcel FONSECA AGUILAR produced five birdies over the 14 holes they played as they ran out comfortable 5&4 winners against Hugh ADAMS (ENG) and Monty HOLCOMBE (ENG).  

Adams & Holcombe v. Hao & Fonseca Aguilar Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Pars are often good enough to win foursomes matches and that proved to be the case for the English pairing of Dylan SHAW-RADFORD and KRIS KIM who made it two wins out of two. Their consistency proved too much for the Swedes Filip FAHLBERG-JOHNSSON and Simon HOVDAL who stumbled to a 3&2 defeat.

Shaw-Radford & Kim v. Fahlberg-Johnsson & Hovdal Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Any feint hopes that GB&I may be able to turn the match around probably disappeared when Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) and Donnacha CLEARY (IRL) lost control of a the final foursomes which they had controlled virtually from the start. A disappointing bogey-bogey finish handed the German pair Tim WIEDEMEYER and Peer WERNICKE a half point they barely deserved.   

Sheils Donegan & Cleary v. Wiedemeyer & Wernicke Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)  

Click here to view the – 2023 Jacques Léglise Trophy Results

ME.

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25th August 2023

Continent of Europe will take a 7.5-4.5 lead into the final day of the Jacques Léglise Trophy match with GB&I needing a big performance tomorrow to avoid a fourth defeat in a row.

Europe won the Foursomes and Singles sessions, 3.0-1.0 and 4.5-3.5 respectively, at Golf de Chantilly.

Day 1 PM Singles

Europe edged the Day 1 Singles 4.5-3.5 helped by three big wins.

In the battle of the rested players Lev GRINBERG (UKR) thrashed Oliver MUKHERJEE by 7&5 with the Scotsman clearly struggling with his game.  

Mukherjee v. Grinberg Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Peer WERNICKE (GER) surprisingly beat Kris KIM (ENG) by a substantial 5&4 margin. One assume’s Kim, who won the Boys’ Amateur Championship last week, is starting to feel the effects of his recent exertions.   

Kim v. Wernicke Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

In a match that only really got going when the clubhouse came into sight Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER), who has an excellent record in the Jacques Léglise Trophy, got the better of Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG). 

Shaw-Radford v. Wiedemeyer Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

The ‘smiling assasin’ Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) once again showed his match play qualities to secure GB&I’s first point of the afternoon. He beat the reigning French International Boys’ champion Louis ANCEAUX (FRA) by 3&2.  

Sheils Donegan v. Anceaux Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

In a match where neither player could ever get more than 1Up it was perhaps fair that Hugh ADAMS (ENG) and Marcel FONSECA AGUILAR (ESP) shared the point on offer in Game 5. 

Adams v. Fonseca Aguilar Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Donnacha CLEARY (IRL) should be pleased with his efforts this afternoon, picking up a valuable 2&1 win against Spain’s Jorge Siyuan HAO. He also amazingly birdied the 13th too which looking at all of the scores today must be the hardest hole in France. 

Cleary v. Hao Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

With four birdies to his name Simon HOVDAL (SWE) played very well to secure a notable 5&4 win against Jack MURPHY (IRL). 

Murphy v. Hovdal Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Irish protégé Seán KEELING, 16, played his part in keeping GB&I in the match with a strong tail-end performance. He took down Filip FAHLBERG-JOHNSSON (SWE) by 3&2. He will no doubt be up the order tomorrow and fingers crossed he can deliver another win for the visitors.     

Keeling v. Fahlberg-Johnsson Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Click here to view the – 2023 Jacques Léglise Trophy Results

Day 1 AM Foursomes

Continent of Europe won the opening Foursomes series by 3.0-1.0. 

Through solid play Hugh ADAMS (ENG) and Monty HOLCOMBE (ENG) earned control of the opening game. With a 3UP lead with six holes to play it appeared that GB&I would make the perfect start. However, a sequence of four bogeys between the 13th and 16th from the visitors handed the initiative back to Hugo LE GOFF and Louis ANCEAUX (FRA) and a strong finish saw the French pair take the contest by 2 Holes. The GB&I pair lost five of the final six holes played. 

Adams & Holcombe v. Le Goff & Anceaux Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Game 2 saw arguably GB&I’s strongest pair Kris KIM (ENG) and Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) sent out. Thankfully, having been 1Down with two holes to play, they delivered a winning point in a tight contest. This time it was the turn of the Spanish pair of Jorge Siyuan HAO and Marcel FONSECA AGUILAR to stumble down the home straight, appearing not to finish either of the two closing holes.

Kim & Shaw-Radford v. Hao & Fonseca Aguilar Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Chris King would also have had high hopes for his third pairing of Seán KEELING and Jack MURPHY at the start of play. However, despite opening the game strongly the all-Irish team were unable to pull away and Sweden’s Simon HOVDAL and Filip FAHLBERG-JOHNSSON took control late on to secure another point for the home side.  

Keeling & Murphy v. Hovdal & Fahlberg-Johnsson Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

All-Square heading into the back nine Game 4 looked like it was going to be another competitive affair but once again the GB&I foursomes pairing struggled to score on the back nine. After losing four of the six holes played on the back nine Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) and Donnacha CLEARY (IRL) were shaking hands on the 15th green with their opponents, the strong german pairing of Tim WIEDEMEYER and Peer WERNICKE.

Shiels Donegan & Cleary v. Wiedemeyer & Wernicke Scores (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox) 

Click here to view the – 2023 Jacques Léglise Trophy Results

ME.

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23rd August 2023

The 46th Jacques Léglise Trophy match between Continent of Europe and Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) will take place at Golf de Chantilly in France on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th August.

This annual match is contested by two nine-player under 18 boys’ teams. It is essentially a junior equivalent of the biennial men’s St. Andrews Trophy match also played between these two regions.

Golf de Chantilly (Photo: Golf Hauts de France)

Having been dominated in the early years by GB&I the Continent of Europe have now won five of the last six matches played since 2016.

Following wins at Aldeburgh G.C. in England (2019), Falsterbo G.C. in Sweden (2021) and Blairgowrie G.C. in Scotland (2022) Europe will start as strong favourites to make it four wins-in-a-row. The 2020 match, which was due to be played at Blairgowrie, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I will be updating this article with daily match reports once play begins.

Teams

The R&A have selected the following players to represent GB&I (WAGR’s at 23rd August): –

Hugh ADAMS 18 – Hagley, England (WAGR #1,937)
Donnacha CLEARY 16 – Tipperary, Ireland (WAGR #1,872)
Monty HOLCOMBE 16 – Walton Heath, England (WAGR #2,046)
Seán KEELING 16 – Roganstown, Ireland (WAGR #469)
Kris KIM 15 – Walton Heath, England (WAGR #412) – 2023 Boys’ Amateur Champion
Oliver MUKHERJEE 17 – Loretto, Scotland (WAGR #504)
Jack MURPHY 17 – Douglas, Ireland (WAGR #843)
Dylan SHAW-RADFORD 18 – Huddersfield, England (captain) (WAGR #345)
Niall SHIELS DONEGAN – Meadow Club USA, Scotland (WAGR #765)

Reserve: William SANDOZ – Cardon Park, Wales (WAGR #2,589)

Oliver Mukherjee, Niall Shiels Donegan, Dylan Shaw-Radford all played for GB&I last year at Blairgowrie.

Seán Keeling and Kris Kim will also be representing Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup match which will be played on 26-28 September 2023 in Rome.

Wales’ Chris KING, Chairman of The R&A’s GB&I Boys’ Selection Committee, will take charge of the team for the third time.

The GB&I and Continent of Europe Teams (Graphic: European Golf Association) 

The 2023 Continent of Europe team, selected by the European Golf Association, consists of: –

Louis ANCEAUX – France (WAGR #368)
Filip FAHLBERG-JOHNSSON – Sweden (WAGR #1,555)
Marcel FONSECA AGUILAR – Spain (WAGR #472)
Jorge SIYUAN HAO – Spain (WAGR #282)
Lev GRINBERG – Ukraine (WAGR #248)
Simon HOVDAL – Sweden (WAGR #364)
Hugo LE GOFF – France (WAGR #665)
Peer WERNICKE – Germany (WAGR #490)
Tim WIEDEMEYER – Germany (WAGR #158)

Jorge Siyuan Hao and Tim Wiedemeyer return for the Europeans having played last year. Wiedemeyer is in fact making his third appearance having also competed in 2021.

Lev Grinberg, 15, will become the first player from Ukraine to play in the match.

Peer Wernicke and Lev Grinberg have been selected to represent Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup match in September.

Europe will be led for the fourth time by Non-Playing Captain Joachim FOURQUET of France. Monsieur Fourquet has won all three of the previous Jaques Léglise Trophy matches that he has captained.

Format

The Jacques Léglise Trophy match is played over two days.

Four foursomes games are played each morning.

Singles are then played in the afternoon; eight on Day 1 and nine on Day 2.

As there will be 25.0 points to play for each team will require 13.0 points to claim an outright victory.

Venue

The match is being played at Golf de Chantilly. Chantilly is located around 25 miles north of Paris.

The Old Vineuil course plays to 7,047 yards off the black tees and has a par of 70. Opened in 1909 it was designed by the British architect Tom Simpson.

Chantilly has hosted 11 French Opens and 14 EGA championship and international matches over the years. 

France has hosted the Jacques Léglise Trophy match once before. Continent of Europe won 16.0-8.0 at Chantilly in 2001.

The Jacques Léglise Trophy (Photo: European Golf Association) 

Weather

The forecast suggests the weather will be largely dry with only light breezes expected.

Friday 25th August – Cloudy / Wind 8 mph SW / Temp. Min. 10°C, Max. 19°C.
Saturday 26th August – Coudy, Light Showers PM / Wind 9 mph NW / Temp. Min. 10°C, Max. 18°C.

Additional Information

Click here to view the – 2023 Jacques Léglise Trophy Results 

Click here to view the – EGA Jacques Léglise Trophy Website

The 2022 Jacques Léglise Trophy Match

The Continent of Europe won the 45th Jacques Léglise Trophy match at Blairgowrie G.C. beating Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) by 13.5-11.5.

The Continent of Europe won the two Singles series by a combined 10.5-6.5 whilst GB&I won the two Foursomes series by a combined 5.0-3.0. Europe’s performance in the Day 1 Singles, which they won 5.5-2.5, proved to be the determining factor in the overall match result.

Germany’s Carl Siemens was the star man for Europe winning his two foursomes with compatriot Tim Wiedemeyer and both of his singles against Englishmen Josh Berry and Josh Hill.

Continent of Europe (Photo: The R&A)

Click here to view the – 2022 Jacques Léglise Trophy Results

Previous Matches

An international junior match was first played between 1958 and 1966 with GB&I winning all nine of them.

After a break it was re-instated to the amateur calendar in 1977 as the Jacques Léglise Trophy. Jean-Louis Dupont donated the new trophy in memory of Jacques Léglise, a former President of both the French Golf Association and the European Golf Association. Léglise was also a past French amateur champion and national team captain.

Since becoming the Jacques Léglise Trophy GB&I have won 29 of the matches with the Continent of Europe claiming 15 victories with the 2015 match tied. Eleven of Europe’s wins have been in away matches played in GB&I.

Originally played in a single day the match moved to two in 1996.

Click here to view all of the – Jaques Léglise Trophy Historic Results

ME.

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