Gillen and Codd recover in European Nations Cup

Rebecca Codd (above) and Martina Gillen made a move for Ireland in the second round of the European Nations CupIreland’s Rebecca Codd and Martina Gillen carded one of the best rounds of the day to leap from 16th to tied ninth in the European Nations Cup in Spain.

The duo made seven birdies and a costly doubly bogey in a five under par 67 in the Valencian Cup format, which was the joint fifth best score of the second round in the 18-nation event at La Sella Golf Resort in Alicante.

Gillen and Codd (nee Coakley) are now eight shots off the lead after Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson fired a best of the day, nine under par 63 to lead by a stroke from Spain’s Azahara Muñoz and Maria Hernández (66).

The Valencian Cup format is a variation on Greensomes, where each player tees off with one ball but the partners swap and play alternative balls until they have played the number of shots expected to reach the green in regulation.

When they have played one shot on a par-three, two shots on a par-four or three shots on a par-five, they choose the best position and take alternate shots using one ball until completing the hole.