Lisa Leaves Leona Trailing

Lisa Maguire kept alive her hopes of a medal in the European Amateur Championship in Finland with another steady round.

The 18-year-old Irish international from Slieve Russell returned a level-par 71 over the Aura course in Turku for a 54-hole aggregate of 212 to keep her in a tie for sixth place.

While her chances of the title and the gold medal appear dead – she is eight strokes behind leader Emily Pedersen of Denmark, who stretched the field with a stunning 64 – Maguire is only one stroke adrift of those tying for second spot.

She was solid yesterday, with birdies on nine and 14, bogeys on eight and 18 and pars on the rest. Maguire's form is the only Irish bright spot as all our other representatives missed the 54-hole cut.

Her twin sister Leona, who had moved up the field on Thursday with a brilliant 69, fell back again, taking 76 for 227. Jessica Carty missed out by just one on 225. Paula Grant totalled 228 after three rounds, Chloe Ryan 229 and Maria Dunne 230.

Meanwhile, Ireland are struggling in the European Young Masters, slipping down the field yesterday to lie in 12th place on nine-over-par. They are 16 strokes behind joint leaders Spain and England.

Rory Williamson improved to level par, but Olivia Mehaffey and Kevin Le Blanc were four and five-over respectively.

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Lisa Maguire in Finnish Medaa Mix

Lisa Maguire held her nerve in Finland to stay on course for a medal in the European Amateur Individual Championship.

The 18-year-old international from Slieve Russell fired a second-round 72 to add to her 69 on Wednesday for a half-way total of one-under-par 141 to lie just four strokes off the pace set by Tonje Daffinrud but, more crucially, only one behind a group of players who share second spot.

Maguire was steady, with 15 pars, bogeys at five and six and a birdie at 13.

Her twin sister Leona improved dramatically, knocking 13 strokes off her Wednesday round by returning a 69. She had three birdies in the last four holes.

Maria Dunne went the other way, slumping to an 82, which was four strokes worse than her opening-day efforts.

Irish champion Paula Grant had a double-bogey five on the seventh on her way to a 74 and a 36-hole total of 152, while Jessica Carty produced some excellent golf to shoot 73 after an opening 78, her round being slightly spoiled by a double-bogey six on the 17th.

Chloe Ryan's round was rescued by two birdies in the last three holes, which helped her to a 76 and a 151 aggregate.

Meanwhile, at the European Young Masters in Hamburger, Ireland improved late in the day to secure seventh place in the opening round, albeit a long way adrift of leaders England.

With three of the four cards counting, Ireland finished the day on seven-over-par, with England on four-under.

Ireland stroke play champion Olivia Mehaffey was level par, with Niamh McSherry three-over and Kevin Le Blanc four-over.

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Maguire in Close Defeat of Curtis Partner

Leona Maguire of Slieve Russell defeated Royal Portrush’s Stephanie Meadow by two holes to win her second Irish Women’s Close Amateur Championship at County Louth on Tiuesday.

The two Curtis Cup stars met in the decider having notched semi-final victories over Lucy Simpson (Massereene) and Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) respectively earlier in the day.

Maguire, winner of the title back in 2008, raced to a three-hole lead after starting par, birdie, birdie, birdie. Meadows reacted strongly with a birdie of her own at the short fifth and impressively squared the match with further birdies on six and nine.

Turning for home and with the match finely balanced, Maguire restored her advantage at the long 11th, holing from 25 feet for another birdie. The next two holes were halved in regulation pars and then came that match-turning-moment at the 14th.

In heavy rough off the tee and again with her approach, Maguire looked to lose her advantage as Meadows’ approach finished 15 feet above the hole. But Maguire brilliantly pitched to three feet, and after Meadows missed, sank the putt for an unlikely half.

Maguire went on to win the short 15th in regulation and although Meadows won the next in par, she closed out the tie at the last after her opponent lost her ball in heavy rough off the tee.

GB & Ireland Win Curtis Cup

GB & Ireland produced a superb showing in Sunday's singles to reclaim the Curtis Cup with a thrilling 10½-9½ victory over America.

The hosts headed into the final day at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland trailing by a single point and knowing they had to win five of the eight games to win the trophy for the first time in 16 years.

But they did just that as Kelly Tidy, Amy Boulden, Holly Clyburn, Charley Hull and Stephanie Meadow all emerged victorious.

The result was secured when Meadow shook hands on a 4&3 victory over Amy Anderson on the 15th green, sparking home celebrations.

For the first time in the history of golf Great Britain, Ireland and Europe now hold all four major professional and amateur men and women's team trophies, with the Curtis Cup being added to the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and the Walker Cup.

"It is very, very special to have captured golfing history today," GB & Ireland captain Tegwen Matthews said afterwards. "I had joked and joked to the team about all the pressure they were under to win this week given that it would mean holding all four main team trophies between GB & I and Europe against the States.

"So that was a challenge for me and it's just fabulous we've won because I am just as competitive as my players in wanting to achieve that goal and we have managed to do that."

Meanwhile, in the wake of the triumph, officials announced that Dun Laoghaire Club in Ireland would host the 2016 edition of the match.

Ireland has staged the biennial women's amateur team event only once since the Curtis Cup started in 1932 - Killarney Golf and Fishing Club hosting in 1996 when GB & Ireland claimed a third consecutive victory.

Singles results:

Kelly Tidy (GB&I) beat Austin Ernst (US), 2 & 1

Amy Boulden (GB&I) beat Emily Turbert (US), 3 & 1

Holly Clyburn (GB&I) beat Erica Popson (US), 3 & 2

Pamela Pretswell (GB&I) lost to Lisa McCloskey (US), 4 & 3

Bronte Law (GB&I) lost to Tiffany Lau (US), 2 holes

Charley Hull (GB&I) beat Lindy Duncan (US), 5 & 3

Stephanie Meadow (GB&I) beat Amy Anderson (US), 4 & 3

Leona Maguire (GB&I) lost to Brooke Pancake (US), 6 & 5

Great Britain & Ireland 10½ - 9½ United States