EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - Stewart to the fore in Scotland revival

Michael Stewart

Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) was at the forefront of a Scotland revival in the second round of the qualifying for the European Team Championships at Vilamoura in Portugal on Wednesday, which eventually saw the Scotland team qualify in seventh place for the top flite of the matchplay beginning on Thursday.

Having opened with a 76 on Monday, Stewart improved by a full 10 shots with a second round total of six under par 66, including an eagle and six birdies.

Three other scores under par from James Byrne (69), Ross Kellett (70) and David Law (71), along with a 73 from Greg Paterson set Scotland on track to seventh place of the eight top flite qualifiers with an overall total of 12 under par.

Spain were the top qualifiers on 24 under par with Germany in second place, and it is the German team that Scotland face in the first round of Matchplay on Thursday.

1st Flight (Championship) qualifiers

696 - Spain
700 - Germany
702 - France
708 - Finland, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland
713 - Sweden

Match play round 1 ties :-

Spain v Sweden
Finland v Switzerland
France v Ireland
Germany v Scotland

 

In the BOYS EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP in Prague, Scotland, with Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) in the team, agonisingly missed out on qualifying for the top flight by one shot, finishing in joint ninth place on 723, just behind France and Ireland.