EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP - Stewart leads Scots challenge

(News Release by Ross Duncan, Marketing & Media Manager of the Scottish Golf Union)

Newly-crowned South African amateur champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) heads a quartet of Scots looking to emulate Paul Lawrie’s recent Spanish success when they line up in the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande this week (March 30 to April 2).

Stewart is joined by fellow GB and I Walker Cup squad players Ross Kellett (Colville Park) and Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh), with one of Lawrie’s North-east protégés Philip McLean (Peterhead) the fourth man in a strong line-up, all having recently returned from South Africa.

The Scotland team go into the event in confident mood following their recent successes in South Africa and in addition to the inspiration drawn from their countryman’s success in Malaga, the quartet will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of Wallace Booth, Scott Henry, Callum Macaulay and Keir McNicoll who won the title in 2008.

National coach Ian Rae believes the team has a good chance of victory:

“The players have had fantastic preparation for the season ahead with the training in the United Arab Emirates followed by the competitive trip to South Africa and they’re looking forward to competing in this week’s event,” he said.

“Both Paul and Martin Laird’s victories on Sunday have been a great boost for Scottish golf and our amateur players have also enjoyed success this season, so we go into this event in a very positive frame of mind. All four boys are playing well.” he added.

Defending champions England will be looking for a hat-trick of European Nations Championship victories, while reigning world champions France will also start among the favourites. The championship is played over 72 holes with the best three cards counting towards the team total each day, while an individual competition runs alongside it for the Amateur Masters Jacket.

The championship gets underway on Wednesday, concluding on Saturday at the Copa Real Club de Golf.