GOLF DIGEST:VAGLIANO TROPHY: The Maguire twins made sensational debuts for Britain and Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe in Hamburg yesterday, but they could not prevent their team from trailing at the halfway stage.
Leona and Lisa, the sisters from Slieve Russell in Co Cavan who, at 14, are the youngest to play in this biennial fixture, went through the day undefeated.
But Britain and Ireland face an uphill task to regain the trophy as they trail 7½-4½ going into the second day with another 12 points at stake.
Paired in the foursomes, the Maguires came from behind to beat Marion Ricordeau and Laura Gonzalez-Escallon on the home green, and it was a truly magnificent display.
They were three down at the turn, but they moved into top gear to demolish their opponents over the homeward stretch.
They won the 11th, 14th and 15th to square the match, and a stunning birdie three on the home hole gave them victory and brought Britain and Ireland their first point.
Royal County Down’s Danielle McVeigh and Welsh international Rhian Wyn Thomas played Carline Hedwall and Marieke Nivard and went down 2 and 1.
Heavy rain forced play to be suspended in the singles for two hours.
English strokeplay champion Jodi Ewart and Scotland’s Kylie Walker lost their matches, but Leona Maguire stopped the rot, although, after being three up for most of the time, she had to go to the last to edge out Lucie Andre.
Sister Lisa was also three up late in her game against Caroline Masson, but had to settle for a draw. She lost 13, 14 and 15 all to birdies, and had to halve the last three to salvage a share of the honours.
WOMEN:Wales' Becky Brewerton, who won the Spanish Open last Sunday, continued to share the lead after yesterday's second round at the Evian Masters in France.
The 26-year-old carded four birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to tie with South Korean Na Yeon Choi and Japan’s Ai Miyazato.
Brewerton and Choi shot four-under 68s to share the lead for a second day on nine-under.
US TOUR:Colombia's Camilo Villegas and American Jerry Kelly shared the lead on 10 under par halfway through their second rounds of the rain-interrupted Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Ontario.
NEWS:Seve Ballesteros has vowed to play at next year's British Open despite struggling with his vision following treatment for a brain tumour.
The 52-year-old concedes his recovery has left him with difficulties but intends to fight to take his place at St Andrews.
“With putting I have to make a mark on the ball then use it to line up the putter,” he told BBC Sport.
“But if things go normally, which I hope they will, I will be there (at the Open), I promise. To say goodbye and thank you for what you have done throughout the years.”
He added: “Probably some people will feel sorry for me and maybe cry, but I feel happy and am a very lucky person because throughout life I have had so many great moments.
“I feel I have lived two or three lives,” he said.
