McNICOLL A HERO FOR SCOTS AS

THEY BEAT SPAIN 4-3 TO EARN LAST

FOUR TIE AGAINST FRANCE

Scotland are through to a semi-final meeting on Friday with France, one of the most improved teams of the season, in the European men's amateur team championship at Western Gailes Golf Club, Ayrshire.
But Scotland, the No 2 seeds, were given a bit of a fright by seventh qualifiers Spain before eliminating them 4-3.
France, the No 3 qualifiers, beat Wales 5-2.
Ireland, the No 4 seeds, whipped Sweden 4-1 and will play top seeds England in the second semi-final . England beat Denmark 5 1/2-1 1/2.
Keir McNicoll , pictured right, from Carnoustie was Scotland's hero after the Spaniards had fought back to level the match overall at 3-3 with a shock two-hole defeat for anchor man Richie Ramsay and a reverse for Jonathan King.
Kevin McAlpine, top Scot in the qualifying rounds, had another another great day, winning at the 19th against Pedro Erice. Lloyd Saltman had won the No 12 singles match by 4 and 3 over Ignacio Elvira.
With the match capable of going either way at 3-3, Keir aced the 13th hole on his way to a 19th hole win over Jorge Campillo.
McNicoll is the second Carnoustie player Campillo has faced in recent weeks. It was the Spaniard who defeated Scott Mann 3 and 2 in the second round of the British amateur championship at Royal Lytham. Campillo went on to reach the quarter-finals before losing by one hole to eventual runner-up Tim Stewart, Australia.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-final results:

SCOTLAND 4, SPAIN 3
Foursomes (1-1)
L Saltman & K McAlpine lost to I Urquizu & J Campillo 2 and 1.
R Ramsay & J King bt J Sarasti & P Erice 3 and 1.
Singles (3-2)
Saltman bt I Elvira 4 and 3.
McAllpine bt Erice at 19th.
King lost to Urquizu 2 and 1.
K McNicoll bt Campillo at 19th.
Ramsay lost to Sarasti 2 holes.

WALES 2, FRANCE 5
Foursomes: 0-2.
R Davies & N Edwards lost to A Kaleka & A Bernadet 4 and 2
L Matthews & C Evans lost to J Wolff & V Dubuisson 4 and 3.
Singles: 2-3
Matthews lost to R Bechu 4 and 3.
R Enoch bt K Le Safer 2 and 1.
R Thomas halved with Kaleka.
Davies halved with Bernadet.
Edwards lost to Dubuisson 6 and 5.

IRELAND 6, SWEDEN 1
Foursomes: 1-1
R McIlroy & J Caldwell bt J Sjoholm & T Rosendahl 4 and 3.
S Lowry & R Kilpatrick lost to B Akesson & J Kennegard 2 and 1.
Singles: 5-0
McIlroy bt J Blixt 4 and 2.
Lowry bt Kennegard 1 hole.
Kilpatrick bt Akesson 3 and 2.
Caldwell bt Sjoholm 5 and 4.
S Ward bt Rosendahl 5 and 4.

DENMARK 1 1/2, ENGLAND 5 1/2
Foursomes: 0-2
P Baunsoe & M Madsen lost to J Moul & G Wolstenholme 3 and 2.
P Drost & J Roth lost to D Horsey & G Boyd 5 and 4.
Singles: 1 1/2-3 1/2
Madsen lost to P Waring 3 and 2.
Baunsoe bt J Parry 2 holes.
Drost lost to Boyd 4 and 3.
R Neilsen halved with Horsey.
Roth lost to Mould 1 hole.

FLIGHT TWO
NETHERLANDS 4, Finland 1.
Belgium 1/2, GERMANY 4 1/2.
PORTUGAL 3, Austria 2.
Switzerland 1 1/2, NORWAY 3 1/2

FLIGHT THREE
Turkey 2, ICELAND 3.
CZECH REPUBLIC 3, Italy 2.