NICOL AND BYRNE CHEER UP SCOTLAND'S DAY AT VILAMOURA

Two very good late evening scores by Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol (four-under-par 68) and Banchory's James Byrne (70) cheered up the Scotland camp at the end of the first day of the European men's amateur team championship at Vilamoura Victoria on Portugal's Algarve. But, even so, the Scots are in 12th place on 359. Their target must be to catch either Finland or England, sharing seventh/eighth places on 353, over the second qualifying round to make the top flight of eight for the match-play stages. NIcol, pictured, had a bogey-free round and birdied the second, third, fifth and 15th. Byrne looked set to break 70 until he bogeyed the very last hole. The other Scots' scores were: Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 71, David Law (Hazlehead) 74, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 76 and, the non-counting 77 by Greg Paterson (St Andrews New). Scottish champion Stewart had 7s at the fifth and seventh in an outward 40. Spain (338) lead from France (340) and Germany (343). Scotland were in eighth place in the European boys team championship at Prague City. Scots individual scores were: Eamon Bradley two-under-par 70, Jack McDonald 71, Grant Forrest 72, Ewan Scott 75, Greig Marchbank 76, and the non-counter, Anthony Blaney 82. Germany (350) lead from Finland (358). Scotland are on 364. England (366) are in 11th place. Ireland are on 370 and Wales are tied 15th on 372.  France's Florian Loutre had the best individual round of seven-under-par 65.