Spain's adventure at the 2010 British Girls Championship has come to an end with Andrea Vilarasau's elimination in the semifinals. The Barcelona native proved a worthy representative of Spanish golf in the penultimate round at Royal Belfast Golf Club (Northern Ireland), but paid the price for a lackluster start and a controversial finish in her match against Laura Sedda.

The Italian player won the first three holes, forcing the Spaniard to take risks from the 4th. She did so and gradually gained ground, leveling the match on the 11th. However, Laura Sedda won both the 12th and 14th. Andrea Vilarasau won the 16th, leaving the Italian with a minimal advantage with two holes to play. These two holes ended in a tie, although the last one was not without controversy.

Andrea Vilarasau – who recently finished second in a Banesto Circuit event – secured her place in the next round by defeating Ha Rang Lee in the quarterfinals, a match between two Spanish players in top form. Meanwhile, Ainhoa Olarra, the third Spanish player to reach the quarterfinals, lost 1up to France's Alexandra Bonetti, a player with great potential who nearly fell to the 15-year-old from San Sebastián, who has demonstrated a high level of competitiveness.

Earlier, in the first match of the third round, Luna Sobrón faced Ha Rang Lee in a fierce battle that would leave Spanish golf without one of the two players who had performed best in the tournament. Ha Rang Lee won 4&3 and advanced to the round of 16, as did Andrea Vilarasau and Ainhoa Olarra. Camilla Hedberg fell to Ireland's Lisa Maguire.

On the first day of elimination rounds, the five golfers mentioned above navigated the first two rounds in contrasting fashions, struggling in some cases and with relative ease in others. In a triumphant afternoon session for Spanish golf – achieving a clean sweep – everything went perfectly for them. In the morning session, the path had been blocked for Isabel and Noemí Jiménez, and for Elena Villamil and Anna Arrese, who was considered Spain's best hope in Northern Ireland.

Glimpses of quality in the first phase

The first phase showcased the exceptional talent of the Spanish players. The outstanding performances of Camilla Hedberg, Isabel Jiménez, Luna Sobrón, and Andrea Vilarasau on the first day caught the attention of the other 144 golfers.

The following day, ten Spanish players secured their place in the Match Play phase: Luna Sobrón, Camilla Hedberg, Ivon Reijers, Noemí Jiménez, Andrea Vilarasau, Ha Rang Lee, Elena Villamil, Isabel Jiménez, Anna Arrese, and Ainhoa Olarra. Among those eliminated, Rocío Sánchez and Clara Baena stood out, finishing with the same number of strokes as Anna Arrese and Ainhoa Olarra. Also eliminated were Natalia Escuriola, Irene Calvo, Fátima González, Marta Gutiérrez, Begoña and Paloma Jaúregui, Marta Martín, Paula Mustienes, Beatriz Prados, and Marta Sanz.

SEMIFINALS

Laura Sedda (ITA) defeats Andrea Vilarasau (SPA) by 1up

END

Alexandra Bonetti (FRA) defeats Laura Sedda (ITA) by 7/6