ENGLAND BEAT SCOTLAND IN EUROPEAN THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF

ENGLAND BEAT SCOTLAND IN THIRD 

PLACE MEN'S PLAY-OFF IN FINLAND

Scotland lost 2 1/2-4 1/2 to England in the third place play-off today (Sat) at the European men's amateur team golf championship at Linna, Finland.

The writing was on the wall for the Scots when they lost the foursomes 2-0. James Ross and Jack McDonald going down heavily, by 7 and 6, to Ryan Evans and Paul Howard.

Grant Forrest and Bradley Neil, Scotland's top two world-ranked players, could do no better than a 2 and 1 defeat at the hands of Euroepan champion Ashley Chesters and Lytham Trophy winner Ben Stow.

Irish open amateur stroke play champion Jamie Savage raised Scotland hopes by winning the lead-off singles by two holes against Howard but Jordan Smith restored England's 2pt advantage by beating Graeme Robertson by two holes.

Forrest and Stow halved before Evans clinched an overall England victory by beating Neil 4 and 3.

Ross won the last match for Scotland, beating Toby Tree by one hole.

Spain beat Ireland 5-2 in the European final.

ENGLAND 4 1/2, SCOTLAND 2 1/2

Foursomes: R Evans and P Howard bt J Ross and J McDonald 7 and 6; A Chesters ande B Stor bt G Forrest and B Neil 2 and 1 92-0)

Singles: Howard lost to J Savage 1 hole, J Smith bt G Robertson 2  holes, Stow halved with Forrest, Evans bt Neil 4 and 3, T Tree lost to Ross 1 hole (2 1/2-2 1/2).