Quadrangular tie-breaker rules make Italy champions

Beaten Scots pipped for boys' title

Scotland lost their final match narrowly (5-4) to Italy - their first defeat over the three days -
and, despite having a superior "goal difference" - were also pipped by the Italians for the boys' quadrangular title at Chiberta Golf Club, Biarritz, in southwest France today.
Scotland and Italy both finished with two wins and one defeat. In most competitions, the Scots would have won the title on the countback of individual games won-lost. The Scots finished +4 in this respect (15 1/2-11 1/2) while Italy were -2 (11 1/2-13 1/2).
But under the rules of the quadrangular tournament, in the event of a tie, the result in the match between the two teams who have the same number of points is the tie-breaker. So Italy, having shattered the teenage Scots' 100 per cent record, scored a double whammy. Their win also gave them the title.
Hard luck on the Under-18 Scots. So near, yet so far. For Italy it represented a tremendous comeback from a 6-1 defeat by Sweden on Day 2.
In the other match of the closing programme, the host nation, France, found their form too late, beating Sweden 7-2 for their only win.
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), the reigning Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship, was the top points scorer for manager Stuart Wilson's squad. Jack won twice today, giving him a final record of five wins from six games.
Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), the Scottish Under-16 champion, was Scotland's second most successful performer with 4 1/2 pt, just ahead of Calum Stewart (Brora) who had four wins out of six.
Ian Redford (St Andrews New) and Scott Gibson (Southerness) collected 3pt apiece while Jack Scott (Deeside) gained a 1/2pt
RESULTS
Thursday - Sweden 2 1/2, Scotland 6 1/2; France 3 1/2, Italy 5 1/2.
Friday - Scotland 5, France 4; Italy 1, Sweden 6
SATURDAY
SCOTLAND 4, ITALY 5
Foursomes (1-2)
Jack McDonald & Scott Gibson bt Mathias Capra & Riccardo Michelini 2 and 1.
Jack Scott & Ian Redford lost to Federico Zucchetti & Lorenzo Guanti 1 hole.
Grant Forrest & Calum Stewart lost to Gabriele Padouano & Corrado De Stefani 5 and 4.
Singles (3-3)
McDonald bt Michelini 4 and 3.
Forrest halved with Succhetti.
Gibson halved with Capra.
Scott lost to De Stefani 3 and 2.
Redford bt Padouano 3 and 1.
Stewart lost to Guanti 1 hole.
Other result:
SWEDEN 2, FRANCE 7
Foursomes (0-3).
Singles (2-4).
HOW THEY FINISHED
1 Italy 2pt (-2 in individual games lost subtracted from individual games won). Italy won on the tie-breaker which was the result between the two teams tieing.
2 Scotland 2 pt (+4). Beaten on tie-breaker.
3 France 1pt (+2).
4 Sweden 1pt (-4).