Mel Reid declared the 2018 GolfSixes a huge success for the women's game after two female teams advanced to the quarter-finals at Centurion Club.
With teams of two competing over six holes in a greensomes match play format, the GolfSixes shook up the golfing world in its debut season in 2017 and it continued to break new ground in its second edition.
The addition of women's and mixed teams in 2018 saw Reid compete alongside Carlota Ciganda for European Women, Georgia Hall and Charley Hull combine to represent England Women, and Solheim Cup skipper Catriona Matthew team up with Ryder Cup counterpart Thomas Bjørn to play as European Captains.
The two all-female teams stole the show on Saturday with European Women and England Women finishing second in Groups A and D respectively to make it into the knockout stage.
Despite defeats in the last eight, the women proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can mix it with and beat the men, and Reid is convinced mixed events can only be a positive for the game of golf as a whole.
"I think it's a huge success for women's golf," she said. "We've hopefully opened a few more eyes to women's golf and that we can compete and that we are pretty good at what we do and we work very hard at what we do. Hopefully it's inspired not just a few more young girls but young guys and men, women, all over to take up the game. That's ultimately what we want to do.
"We got a lot of exposure and that's what we need. We don't get that. So it's been really, really good for women's golf, which hopefully helps it because it needs help.
"Loads of the girls in America have been saying how much they have enjoyed watching it and Lydia Ko has already messaged us saying she's absolutely desperate to get on a team next year."
Following the 2-0 loss to Australia, Ciganda added: "I think it's been great for women's golf, just the two teams that we made it until Sunday. They just played better and that's just golf. We are happy with the way we played and we gave it everything we had. That's just golf."
We've hopefully opened a few more eyes to women's golf and that we can compete and that we are pretty good at what we do - Mel Reid
The home duo captured the imagination of the bumper crowds in St Albans, and Hall was blown away by the support they received before going down 2-0 to eventual winners Ireland.
"I've seen a lot of social media and it's amazing just to get all that support from everyone," she said. "It spurred us on to play well yesterday and also to play well today.
"It was great. Me and Charley didn't play too bad towards Ireland but three under after five, they played amazing and holed some great putts. So it wasn't to be but we had a great week."
Hull added: "It was good. Especially coming from the range to the first tee, the young children, it was very nice to see out there."
