England’s amateur golfers won the European Nations Cup in Sotogrande in a convincing four-round performance.

With three cards counting on each of the four days, England recorded an aggregate of 840 to triumph by four strokes from France, with Spain a further five shots back in third place.

Sam Hutsby led the way for England with a 72-hole total of 274, comprising rounds of 69, 69, 65 and 71, while the other three members of the side, Luke Goddard, Dale Whitnell and Charlie Ford, all made valuable contributions.

Ireland finished fourth, with Wales sixth and Scotland, the world champions, 11th.

Italy won the women’s event from Spain and France.

Lancashire’s Cori Lee was the impressive winner of the women’s Leveret Trophy, the first of the season’s prestigious scratch events, which was played in icy winds at Formby.

Lee, a member at West Lancashire, had scores of 71 and 70 to win the title for the second time by four shots from a high-quality field. Of 54 competitors, 20 were off scratch or better and the highest handicap was three.

Lee was chased all the way by her playing partner, England girl international Holly Clyburn of Woodhall Spa, who hit the flagstick three times in the afternoon round without the ball disappearing.

Yorkshire’s Emma Brown took third place while Emily Taylor, 14, finished fourth.

Leading business figures in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have told The Sunday Telegraph of their interest in making an offer to host the biggest event in golf.

Qatar is also thought to be considering a bid having made moves to stage both the 2016 Olympics and 2018 Football World Cup.

The region has revolutionised European golf through the multi-million dollar Race to Dubai, a joint venture between the European Tour and Leisurecorp, a company owned by the Dubai government.

Golf is a massive tourist pull in the area and David Spencer, the chief executive of Leisurecorp, confirmed the group’s interest in heading a bid for the Ryder Cup.Spencer said: “It makes sense. Golf tourism is a fantastic product that we can gain more market share in. [A bid] has certainly crossed my mind. It’s crossed [European Tour chief executive] George O’Grady’s mind.

“It’s a given that the Ryder Cup in 2018 will not be in the UK or Ireland. Is it possible for the UAE or Qatar to make a bid? Yes. Would a company like Leisurecorp want to be part of that and spearhead that bid? Most definitely.”

Sir Michael Bonallack, the former R&A secretary, sounded a note of caution about the plans: “The Gulf is a major part of the European tour now and I’m sure they’d host it well,” he said.

“My concern would be whether they would get the crowds that we see in Europe. It would be great for the fans to experience it as long as it’s not too expensive.” Leisurecorp’s interest is likely to appeal to O’Grady though.

The company and the European Tour already have a joint interest in a global property company to develop golf courses and O’Grady has said: “In future we’ll either build courses or own them ourselves.” In 2018 we’ll own at least part of the venue. Every penny we make goes back into the game, but we have to make as much as we can from the home match.”

Leisurecorp are not the only player in the region to express interest. Mubarak Al Muhairi, the director general of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, met with O’Grady in January.

He told The Sunday Telegraph: “The Ryder Cup is something we are interested in. We are open as far as the strategy and direction of golf is concerned and that could embrace any opportunity.”

Abu Dhabi has a course designed by Robert Trent Jones, the man responsible for Celtic Manor’s Ryder Cup course, in development. Another Trent Jones course will be completed in Oman next year, while the Tiger Woods Dubai venue is under construction.

Madrid, Germany and Sweden, favourites because of their representation on the European team, are in the running to host the 2018 edition.But with four leading Swedish golfers resident in the Gulf, including Tournament Committee member Henrik Stenson, all signs point to the desert.