10/07/12
Scotland are sitting in seventh place after the first day of the European Boys Team Championship in Sweden.
The renowned team event is taking place at Lidingo Golf Club near Stockholm, the oldest 18-hole course in Sweden, from today until Saturday (10-14 July). A total of 16 sides from across Europe are represented.
A six-strong Scottish side, featuring Ewan Scott (St Andrews), Craig Howie (Peebles), Greig Marchbank (Dumfries & County), Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Lawrence Allan (Alva) and Jamie Savage (Cawder), are seeking success.
After the first stroke play qualifying round earlier today, the Scots posted a 13-over-par total to lie seventh, with five of the six scores counting.
St Andrews' Ewan Scott, the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths champion, and SGU 2011 Boys' Order of Merit winner Greig Marchbank (Dumfries & County) were the top Scots after firing one-over-par 71s.
Blairgowrie's in-form Bradley Neil was one shot further back after a 72, which featured an astonishing albatross 2 at the par-5 10th hole.
Lawrence Allan (Alva) posted 74, Peebles' Craig Howie 75 and Jamie Savage (Cawder) 76.
The Scots are only one shot behind Ireland and Sweden and a stroke further adrfit of England, yet only one ahead of France and Norway.
A further stroke play qualifier is played tomorrow before the match play stages commence. The leading eight teams after tomorrow will contest the top-flight match play phase, so a tight battle is predicted to qualify.
>> Click here for live scoring from the European Boys Team Championship
Round-up
* Former shinty player John Fraser (Royal Burgess), Angus Lamond (Haggs Castle) and Brian Smith (Kilmacolm) headed the 32 qualifiers for the Scottish Seniors Match Play Championship at West Kilbride in Ayrshire earlier today.
* Scotland's Russell Weir has received an early birthday present after accepting the challenge to serve as Captain of the Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team a second successive time.
Weir, who turns 61 tomorrow and is the joint record-holder for PGA Cup appearances, will have the chance to avenge a 17.5-8.5 defeat to the United States last autumn at CordeValle in San Martin, California.
A native of Dunoon, Weir will guide his team in the 26th PGA Cup at Northumberland's De Vere Slaley Hall from 20-22 September, 2013.