Ireland
Three talented junior players have been selected to represent the Continent of Europe in the upcoming Jacques Léglise and Junior Vagliano Trophy matches.
Václav Švub and Óliver Elí Björnsson will join seven already selected players for the U18 boys match, while Rut Díaz García is the sixth and final selection for the U16 girls match.
The three players will tee it up in European colours with the objective of retaining the Jacques Léglise and Junior Vagliano Trophies against Great Britain & Ireland at The Island Golf Club on Friday and Saturday this week.
Óliver Elí Björnsson won the prestigious Boys' Amateur Championship in Scotland this weekend, becoming the first Icelandic player to win a major R&A championship title. The 16-year-old was three down with six to play in the final against Sweden's Ludwig Libera, but turned the match around and then birdied the 37th hole to claim the biggest victory of his young amateur career.
Václav Švub will be the only Continent of Europe player returning from last year's victory in Belgium. The Czech player has impressed in some major international events this year, including a 13th place finish at the European Amateur Championship.
Rut Díaz García will join compatriot Angela Revuelta on Myrte Eikenaar's girls team. The Spanish junior has won two regional events in Spain already this year, and recently claimed the bronze medal at the European Young Masters.
The three players will join 12 previously announced selections for the Continent of Europe teams.
ABOUT THE MATCHES
The Jacques Léglise Trophy is an international match played every year between elite male junior (U18) golfers from the Continent of Europe and Great Britain & Ireland.
The match can trace its origins back to 1958, when a one-day match between Europe and a combined English and Scottish team was played immediately before the Boys Amateur Championship. The England and Scotland team dominated to such an extent that the match was discontinued in 1966.
It was rejuvenated in 1977 when the Jacques Léglise Trophy was presented by Jean-Louis Dupont, a renowned French international player, former Championship Committee chairman of the EGA and Vice-President of the French Golf Federation, and has been played every year since.
Up until 1995 it was played over one day in connection with the Boys Amateur, and since 1996 it has been played separately as a two-day match.
The Junior Vagliano Trophy is an international match played every year between elite female junior (U16) golfers from the Continent of Europe and Great Britain & Ireland.
The match was inaugurated in 2011 as a junior version of the Vagliano Trophy. It was originally played every other year, like the Vagliano Trophy, but is now played annually in parallel to the Jacques Léglise Trophy in even years and the Vagliano Trophy in odd years.
In both matches, The EGA Selects the Continent of Europe team and hosts the match when played on the Continent, while The R&A selects the GB&I team and hosts every other edition.
The contests are played in match play, with a combination of foursomes and singles matches across both days.
