Charley Hull and Georgia Hall breeze into last 16 at Sunningdale Foursomes

Charley Hull and Georgia Hall continued their march towards Sunningdale Foursomes glory with a resounding 5 & 3 victory in their third-round match on Wednesday.

The Solheim Cup teammates showed their class in a dominating display around the Old Course, combining beautifully to see off the challenge of Brandon St. John from Portmarnock and Sunningdale member Chloe Ryan, who had earlier edged through their second-round match against Harry Malin and Luke Jenkins, winning on the first hole in a sudden-death play-off.

Hull and Hall’s victory followed a 3 & 2 win in their morning match [second round] - played across Sunningdale’s New Course - against Ellie Gower and John Wilding.

Speaking after advancing to the last 16 on Thursday, Hall said: “This is one of my most enjoyable events of the year.

“Both of us live locally and we love the area and love playing at Sunningdale, and we are very proud to compete in the event. This is such a historic tournament and who wouldn’t love to be playing golf on the Old and New Courses at Sunningdale. It is very special.

“We have had a good day and I think we played better today than yesterday (in their first-round 1-up win against Ella and Daniel Butteriss). Playing 36 holes is actually not something we are used to anymore and it can take a lot out of you. We play the Solheim Cup of course, but other than that we never play 36 in a day, and especially not in the colder weather like we have here at the moment. It is pretty brutal!

“Finishing our third-round match a bit earlier means we can relax a little and recharge the batteries. We [me and Charley] are heading out tonight for dinner; you’d think we would be sick of each other after spending all day on the golf course together!”

Hall and Hull will play Tom Shadbolt and Ben Evans in their fourth-round match, who proved too strong for Eliot Baker and Charlie Robb, winning 3 & 2.

Elsewhere, two-time DP World Tour winner Callum Shinkwin, with his partner Dan Brooks, edged out fellow Tour player Sam Bairstow and leading amateur Kris Kim 3 & 2. Shinkwin and Brooks will now lock horns with Oliver Toyer and Sam Marshall - with the latter victorious 5 & 4 against Fraser MacLeod and Sam Prince.

Meanwhile, reigning champions Harley Smith and Dylan Shaw-Radford took advantage of having to play only one match on the tournament’s second day, after advancing to the third round having played twice on Tuesday.

The rest appeared to serve them well, with the England players looking in ominous form and easing past Meg Rossouw and Alex Jacobs to win 5 & 4. A fourth-round match against Glen Portelli and James Jankowski awaits - who themselves needed two extra holes to see off their third-round opponents, Christian Brown and Ricky Willison.

Smith and Shaw-Radford’s victory means they remain on course to become the first back-to-back winners at the Foursomes since Ross Fisher and Simon Griffiths in 2004.

Wales, Spurs and Real Madrid football legend Gareth Bale was sent packing with an opening-day defeat on Tuesday. 

A full list of updated results and scores from the Sunningdale Foursomes can be found here