SCOTS BOYS SQUEEZED OUT AT 20TH BY NORWAY IN QUARTER-FINALS

        CALUM HILL ... Scotland's only winner in the singles  Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Third seeds Scotland nosedived out of the title hunt by losing 4-3 to Norway in a cliff-hanger of a quarter-final in the European boys' team championship at Murcar Links late this afternoon.
Having won the morning foursomes 2-0, captain Scott Knowles' squad looked set fair for a place in the semi-finals.
But Ewen Ferguson lost by 5 and 4 followed by a 4 and 3 defeat for Ewan Walker.
That levelled the scores at 2-2 overall with three singles to finish.
At one point Scotland led in one, through Calum Hill, were all square in the second (Connor Syme) and trailed in the third (Robert MacIntyre).
Hill duly delivered his point, winning by 3 and 1, but Scottish youths champion left hander Robert MacIntyre went down by 3 and 2.
That meant it was 3-3 with the  Syme v Viktor Hovland match to finish.
It was Syme's 18th birthday today and he had already won his foursome in the morning, with Hill. But there was to be no birthday double for the young man from Dumfries who has won the Scottish schoolboys title for the past two years.
He had a 6ft putt for birdie but missed it and then lost at the 20th and Scotland were beaten 4-3, having lost the singles 4-1. The best they can do now is to finish fifth in the championship flight.
Would it have been in any different in such a tight finish if Bradley Neil and Ewan Scott - Scotland's top two boys who are playing for the men's team in Denmark - had been in the home line-up at Murcar Links? Who can say?
Sixth qualifiers Norway go forward to a semi-final meeting with second seeds England who were in rampant mood in outclassing Ireland 6-1.
The other semi-fial is between No 1 qualifiers Italy and No 4 seeds France. 


 QUARTER-FINALS
ITALY 5, SWEDEN 2
FRANCE 6, DENMARK 1

SCOTLAND 3, NORWAY 4
Foursomes (2-0)Connor Syme and Calum Hill bt Kristogger Reitan and Kristian Johannsen.
Robert MacIntyre and Euan Walker bt Andreas Halvorsen and Kristoffer Ventura 3 and 2.
Singles (1-4)
Ewen Ferguson lost to Halvorsen 5 and 4.
Syme lost to Viktor Hovland at 20th.
Hill bt Reitan 3 and 1.
MacIntyre lost to Johannsen 3 and 2.
Walker lost to Venture 4 and 3.

ENGLAND 6, IRELAND 1

        CONNOR SYME ... Disappointment on 18th birthday, beaten at the 20th in decisive tie.
                            Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency at Murcar Links this afternoon

NEWS RELEASE BY ENGLAND GOLF Singles sweep sees England boys through to semi-finals at Murcar Links England boya secured their place in the semi-finals of the European boys' team championship Team with a victory over Ireland today.  The morning foursomes were both close games with Lincolnshire's Ashton Turner and Sussex’s Marco Penge losing out on the last hole. But at the end of the morning the scores were even as Hampshire’s Jack Singh Brar and Bradley Moore from Derbyshire (image copyright Tom Ward Photography),  took their Irish opponents to the 19th hole before securing the win. The afternoon singles turned out to be a clean sweep for the England team and it began with a convincing 5&3 win by Cumbria's Adam Chapman who was first out. The reigning English Amateur Champion Harry Ellis, also from Hampshire, secured the next game with Moore gaining the important fourth point that would take the team through to the semi-finals with a 3&1 win. Penge again demonstrated confident golf in his 4 and 3 win and the successful afternoon concluded with a 2 and 1 victory for Turner. England will face Norway in the semi-finals, who beat Scotland today. The other semi-final match will be contested by Italy and France. For full scores visit the championship website. Press Office England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 01526 354500