SCOTS SITTING PRETTY IN DENMARK QUALIFYING

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The European men's amateur team golf championship match-play flight

could have a Home Internationals look about it - Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England are all well placed within the potential eight qualifiers after the first stroke-play qualifying round at Silkeborg Golf Club, Denmark.

France are the clear leaders on 361 - seven ahead of Germany.

Then come Scotland and Ireland sharing third place on 371, two shots ahead of

Wales and the Netherlands with England in seventh place on 375, a shot ahead of Portugal.

Scotland's best performers on the day were Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) and James Ross (Royal Burgess) with a pair of par-matching 72s. Robertson had steady halves of 36, while Ross was out in 37, home in 35.

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) salvaged a 74 from an outward 79, while Scottish boys match play champion Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), promoted to fill the

gap left by Grant Forrest's decision to withdraw, shot a 75 (38-37).

Ewan Scott (St Andrews) had a 78 after taking 43 shots to the turn. His outward half included a 7 and a 6.

Dollar's Scott Borrowman had the non-counting Scots score. Unlike Ewan Scott, his problems came on the inward half. After going out in 35, the wheels came off for Borrowman with 44 to get home for a 79.

Ireland's scorers were:
Kevin Phelan 78 (39-39), Jack Hume 75 (37-38), Reeve Whitson 75 (38-37), Gavin Moynihan 79 (38-41), Roy McNamara 70 (37-33) and Paul Dunne 73 (37-36).

EUROPEAN MEN'S AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Silkeborg GC, Denmark

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Par 72

361 France

368 Germany

371 Ireland, Scotland

373 Netherlands, Wales

375 England

376 Portugal

============possible match-play championship flight cut-off

380 Austria

382 Denmark, Finland, Norway

383 Sweden

384 Switzerland

386 Spain

387 Italy.