WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

Champions of the world - and now Champions of Europe! The victorious Scotland team, captain Scott Knwles and coach Ian Rae in high spirits after being England in the final (image by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography; click to enlarge).

Scotland salutes its golfing heroes:

World, now champions of Europe

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
It goes not get much better than adding the European men's amateur team championship at Conwy, North Wales today to the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur team title won at Adelaide, Australia last October.
That's the brilliant achievement by the cream of Scotland's amateur golfers. Savour it long and sweet. It's a double that might not happen again for many years because of the rising standards among countries that once upon a time merely made up the numbers.
The common factors in both Scotland's memorable wins - in Australia and again this week, culminating in a 5-2 win over England in the final - were Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) and Wallace Booth (Comrie). They, alongwith Calum Macaulay (Tulliallan) won the Eisenhower Trophy. Calum is now finding his feet on the European Tour.
Dear and Booth, probably playing their last season in amateur golf, completed a terrific double whammy by joining up with Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), the Colville Park pair of Ross Kellett and Paul O'Hara, and Blairgowrie's Glenn Campbell to become champions of Europe this week.
How many of these Scottish golfing heroes will be rewarded with places in the GB&I Walker Cup line-up for the United States in September? We must wait and see but today's victory over England must have impressed the selectors.
To take a 2-0 lead over England from the morning foursomes was a big boost to the Scots.
Gavin Dear and Glenn Campbell finished one up on Dale Whitnell and Charlie Ford while Wallace Booth and Michael Stewart were 2 and 1 winners over Matt Haines and Tommy Fleetwood.
British amateur championship beaten finalist Sam Hutsby got one point back for England in the singles by beating Wallace Booth 5 and 4 but young Michael Stewart cancelled that out by beating Dale Whitnell 5 and 4.
That left Scotland leading 3-1 with three ties to finish.
Gavin Dear and Matt Haines were all square after 16 holes before Haines won at the 19th.
Ross Kellett was one up after 14 on Fleetwood and kept his nose in front to the winning line, winning by one hole.
Paul O'Hara was two up on Luke Goddard after 13 holes and stayed that way to win on the 17th green.
Behind these bare scorelines lies a lot of great golf, a lot of anxiety but a lot of after-glow enjoyment as well.
Well done, Team Scotland! We're proud of you.

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE:
SGU National Coach Ian Rae said, “Undoubtedly the double victory in the morning foursomes set us up perfectly for the afternoon singles and afforded us some breathing space. They played exceptionally well which really gave us the upperhand from the outset and we continued to build upon that momentum.”
Depsite two losses in the top two singles campaigns, Michael Stewart and Ross Kellett were exerting their dominance over counterparts Dale Whitnell and Tommy Fleetwood (respectively) with four hole leads in their matches.
Rae added, “There was no doubt that despite the calibre of their opponents these were matches that we looked set to win and were crucial in securing us points for our victory.”
With two wins apiece between England and Scotland in the singles it was left to Edward Trophy winner Paul O’Hara to seal the victory when he sank the winning putt at the 17th. Rae added, “Paul sealed the deal but everyone today played their part in securing this great win for us, the whole event has been a great experience and a tremendous achievement to hold both world and European titles simultaneously.
“We selected a team which we felt could deliver at the highest level of the game and this victory today has cemented Scotland’s position at the top of the amateur game.”

FINAL DETAILS
SCOTLAND 5, ENGLAND 2
Foursomes (2-0)
Gavin Dear & Glenn Campbell bt Dale Whitenll & Charlie Ford 1 hole.
Wallace Booth & Michael Stewart bt Matt Haines & Tommy Fleetwood 2 and 1.
Singles (3-2)
Booth lost to Sam Hutsby 5 and 4.
Stewart bt Whitnell 5 and 4.
Dear lost to Haines at 19th.
Ross Kellett bt Fleetwood 1 hole.
Paul O'Hara bt Luke Goddard 2 and 1.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
1 Scotland bt England 5-2.
3 Italy bt Norway 5-2.
5 France bt Sweden 3-2.
7 Finland bt Germany 3-2.
SECOND FLIGHT
1 Ireland bt Denmark 3-2.
3 Spain bt Iceland 3-2.
5 Netherlands bt Portugal 4-1.
7 Belgium bt Wales 3-2.
THIRD FLIGHT
1 Austria
2 Czech Republic.
3 Greece.
4 Turkey