Czech Republic
Czech Republic have won the European Boys' Team Championship for the first time after a dramatic victory over defending champions France.
The hosts started the day in impressive form, continuing their excellent record in foursomes this week.
Stepan Plasek and Roman Pivoda secured a three and two victory over Aaron Van Hauwe and Octavio Laurent to put Czech Republic in front and continue Plasek’s 100% record in the knock out stages.
And they took full points from the morning session as Tomas Hejda and Mikulas Vojtesek inflicted a first defeat of the knock out stages on Tom de Herrypon and his partner Arthur Carlier, taking the top match 1up.
In the bronze medal match, Sweden and Denmark were honours even after the foursomes, taking one match each. In the singles Denmark put the first two points on the board and were on the brink of victory. But Sweden took the next win in a playoff and secured the bronze medal for the second straight year by taking the final two matches.
The Czech side needed two points from the five singles to win the gold medal, but the session was delayed by 45 minutes after torrential rain and thunder stopped play.
Once play resumed, France needed a fast start and they got it as Calixte Alzas went three up through the front nine. As the matches reached the back nine, France led two with the rest all square, the final could still go either way. Vaclav Svub and Stepan Plasek turned two of those tied matches into leads early in the back nine to swing momentum back in the hosts favour.
The first point went to France though as Alzas completed his win 3&2. Shortly after Svub secured a 2&1 win to restore the home nation’s two point lead and put them within a point of victory.
And when Vojtesek edged past Tom de Herrypon at the first playoff hole, celebrations could begin as Czech Republic won gold for the first time in the country's history.
