Day 3 of the European Team Championship saw the competitions transition from stroke play to match play.
The top eight teams from each event's stroke play qualifying went head-to-head in today's quarterfinal matches across the continent.
A dramatic day of action has left four teams standing in each category, with the semifinal matchups confirmed for Friday.
Highlights of the day included:
- Home team, Estonia makes it to the semi finals in the Men's team championship
- Finland upset Sweden to earn last-four spot for the first time since 2018 at the Ladies' Team
- Czech Republic Girls defeat Germany in quarterfinals in Zurich, as France topple hosts, Switzerland
- Hosts Spain breeze past Germany as Dutch boys knockout France in the Boys' Team Championship
AMATEUR TEAM - ESTONIA
Defending champions Italy produced the biggest upset of the day at the European Amateur Team Championship, knocking out number one seed Finland in the quarter-finals after a 90-minute rain delay pushed the start back to 10:30am.
Weather improved through the afternoon, allowing the reduced one-foursome, four-singles format to be completed.
The tie between Italy and Finland went down to the wire between Michele Ferrero and Lauri Rosendahl, with Rosendahl missing a birdie chance on the final green before Ferrero holed the winning putt to seal a tight 3-2 victory for Italy.
The Azzurri will face Ireland in the semi-finals. The Irish beat England 3-2, with John Doyle closing out the win with a one-hole victory over Harley Smith.
France and Switzerland needed a play-off to settle their tie after Switzerland led at the turn. Paul Beauvy and Ugo Malcor clawed back a three-hole deficit in the foursomes, then Malcor sealed it with a birdie on the first play-off hole. France will now meet host nation Estonia in the semi-finals.
Estonia produced the day's other upset, beating second seed Netherlands in front of the home crowd. The hosts raced into an early two-point lead before the final three singles matches all went to the 18th. Ralf Johan Kivi delivered the decisive point with a clutch chip on the last hole to see off Denny Kloeth.
In Flight B, Germany and Belgium beat Poland and Spain respectively, while Wales edged out Denmark and Iceland saw off Sweden in tight contests throughout.
Friday's semi finals:
Italy vs. Ireland
France vs. Estonia
LADIES' TEAM - IRELAND
Spain set up a semi-final against England after a dominant quarter-final win over host nation Ireland at the European Ladies' Team Championship at PGA National Slieve Russell.
Playing in near-perfect weather conditions in County Cavan, the reigning champions swept both Foursomes matches in the morning before closing out victory with four wins from five in the afternoon singles. World number two Paula Martin Sampedro won 4&3, with Paula Francisco Liano adding a 1-hole win to complete the tie.
Spain will face Finland in the semi-finals, who reached the last four for the first time since 2018 with a tight win over Sweden which went right down the 18th in the decisive match.
On the other side of the draw, France continued their strong form with a comfortable 5-2 win over Italy. After splitting the morning foursomes, the French pulled clear in the afternoon singles, led by wins as early as the 14th green by Valentine Delon and Constance Fouillet.
France will face England in the final four on Friday. The English side took both morning foursomes matches against Denmark, although had to hold off a fight back from Denmark in the afternoon.
Friday's semi finals:
France vs. England
Spain vs. Finland
BOYS' TEAM - SPAIN
Another hot day near the southern Spanish coast finished late into the evening with extra holes in the last quarterfinal.
Spain continued their good form on Thursday at Barceló Montecastillo Golf, and still look like the team to beat on home soil after a comfortable victory over Germany in the quarterfinals. Defending champions, the Czech Republic, swept aside Belgium to set up an exciting tie with the hosts in the semi finals on Friday.
In the other side of the draw, England overcame Italy. After taking both morning foursomes points, wins from Frankie Morton and Cole Self booked the English time a place in the final four.
The last match of Flight A between France and the Netherlands was also the tightest, and went beyond 18 holes in three of the seven matches. After the morning foursomes were split one-a-piece, two quick wins from either side left the score at 2-2. Tom De Herrypon birdied the 19th hole of his match with Steven Chapman as Ischa Wichman edged out Theophile Archer on the 18th.
The fate of the tie fell on the singles match between Youp Orsel and Jayson Piermont. The latter birdied three of the last four holes to take the match into sudden death.
A par on the long par-3 2nd was enough for Orsel to take victory for the Dutch, and set up a semi final encounter with England.
Friday's semi finals:
Spain vs. Czech Republic
England vs. Netherlands
In Flight B, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland secured their positions in Division 1 for 2027 with wins on Thursday. Scotland, Austria, Wales and Switzerland will battle it out for the last remaining spot in the top flight on Friday and Saturday.
GIRLS' TEAM - SWITZERLAND
Another sunny but hot day at Golf & Country Club Zürich saw hosts, Switzerland take on number-two seeds France.
It looked like both morning foursomes points were going France's way after a 4&3 win from Alice Kong and Giselle Zhao, and the blues being up in the second match. Anahie Lohner-Hutzli and Clarissa Rattaggi fought back for Switzerland however, drawing the tie level with a 1up win on the 18th.
The afternoon session was extremely tight between the two sides. An early win from France's Manon Petitcolas was met with wins from Kim Lou Joachim and Anahie Lohner-Hutzli for the Swiss. After Axelle Guillemard clinched the penultimate match, the outcome rested on Alice Kong and Axelle Martin who went to extra holes. The former would ultimately clinch the match and the tie on the 20th hole, sending France into the semifinals.
The other quarterfinals were more one-sided. Spain wasted no time in beating Sweden, while England defeated Italy 5.5 to 1.5.
The Czech Republic continued their excellent run of form in the junior categories, defeating Germany to reach the semi finals, like their male counterparts in Spain.
Friday will see Spain take on the Czech Republic, while France face England.
Semi finals:
Spain vs. Czech Republic
England vs. France
