Cornwall's women golfers suffered a 5-4 defeat against old rivals Devon on the first day of South West Inter County Match Week at Woodbury Park, Exeter, yesterday.
The damage was done in the morning foursomes with Cornwall losing all three matches.
In fine, but windy conditions, the top foursomes match saw England star Sarah-Jane Boyd and Sammy Giles lose on the 18th against Devon's Emma Taylor and Jessica Bradley.
Veteran Judith Ryder and youngster Georgia Price were up against an in-form Charlotte Domett and Jo Sharrocks, losing 3&2, while Cornwall's teenage county champion Emily Toy and Rachael Lloyd-Phillips also lost on the 18th, leaving Cornwall with a mountain to climb in the six afternoon singles.
They needed to win five matches but fell just short.
Boyd won in majestic style, beating Ely Walmesley 6&5, while Sammy Giles had a great scalp in beating Jess Bradley one up.
Georgia Price played very well to beat Charlotte Dommett 3 &2 and steady back marker Jan Sergeant also added a point with a 2& 1 victory over Lauren Pearce.
But defeats for Emily Toy, who lost 2&1 against Gilly Jarvis and Eugenie Knight, who went down 4&2 against Abby Turner, saw Cornwall just unable to claim a famous victory.
Today Cornwall play Dorset.
Other results: Somerset 8 Dorset 1; Gloucestershire 6½ Wiltshire 2½ .
