Bishop Auckland’s Jess Hall had a week to remember in the US as she represented the European team at the 2024 Concession Cup.
The fifth staging of the event – played at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Georgia on November 4-8 – brought together teams of mid-am and senior amateur players, and featured women’s matches for the first time this year. Jess was selected as part of the European team having risen to fourth in Europe, and ninth in the world, in the mid-am rankings (for players aged 25 and over).
Having been beaten 1dn in her opening fourball match alongside Pauline Stein, Jess picked up a half-point alongside Pauline in the foursomes. She went on to win her singles match 2&1 – beating Ina Kim-Schaad as Europe won the women’s singles but lost 9.5-14.5 overall. Meanwhile, the European men’s team was beaten 9-15 by the home side.
“It was so cool to represent Europe for the first time, and to be part of the first women’s side in the event,” said Jess. “This was my first trip back to the US since I graduated college in 2022 and teeing it up in a tournament over there again was fantastic.
“To get one-and-a-half points was more than I could have asked for going into a new environment and competing against some incredibly talented players. The singles win was a big moment – it’s always good to get that one in the bag in a super-competitive team event.
“It was a real honour to be part of the event and I can’t thank everyone enough for such an amazing week.”
European captains Tore Sviland and Elaine Ratcliffe led their 24-player team against US captains Danny Yates and Carol-Semple Thompson – with the Europe side also featuring former Northumberland county player Mathew McClean from Ireland. The matches included an am-am ahead of fourball, foursomes and singles matches played over three days at the Korn Ferry Tour venue.
