Holly Clyburn and Catriona Matthew close in on a medal at Gleneagles

Catriona Matthew was hailed by team-mate Holly Clyburn after the Great Britain duo closed in on a medal in the inaugural European Golf Team Championships at Gleneagles.
Holly Clyburn and Catriona Matthew. Pic: Warren Little/Getty ImagesHolly Clyburn and Catriona Matthew. Pic: Warren Little/Getty Images
Holly Clyburn and Catriona Matthew. Pic: Warren Little/Getty Images

Matthew holed crucial putts at each of the final three holes on the PGA Centenary Course to secure victory over Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord and Marita Engzelius.

The one-hole success made it two wins out of two for the GB 2 pair, leaving them needing just a half against Sweden 3 to progress to Sunday’s semi-finals.

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“I got lucky today,” said Matthew, modest as ever, afterwards but Clyburn insisted that finish wasn’t just down to good fortune.

“Thankfully I had a good partner over the last three holes,” said the Grimsby woman, patting her team-mate’s arm in appreciation of her efforts.

Matthew celebrated with a fist pump after holing an eight-footer for a half at the 16th, made one from the same distance for another half at the next before clinching victory with a five-footer for birdie at the last.

“I’d rather have won three holes earlier,” she admitted. “But that’s the attraction of matchplay. It can be exciting and can come down to the last putts on the last green.”

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Five of the six GB teams are still in the medal mix, including the all-Scottish duo of Liam Johnston and Connor Syme in the men’s event.

“It helps,” acknowledged Matthew of the Great Britain teams performing well so far. “You get the crowds up if the home players are doing well.”