9am Round-Up: Scots take on Spain in last eight

Defending champions Scotland faced Spain in the quarter-finals today after finishing joint-top in the European Men's Team Championship stroke-play qualifying in France.

Robert McIntyre. Picture: Kenny Smith

Scottish Amateur champion Bob MacIntyre was the top performer for the title holders in the second roud with a two-under-par 69, which was backed up by the efforts of Grant Forrest (70), Craig Howie (72) and Sandy Scott (74).

The Scots finished with a three-over-par aggregate of 713, which was matched by the hosts at Golf de Chantilly, where the big shock was England failing to qualify for the top flight.

Scotland also passed the qualifying test in the boys’ event in Austria, where they secured a share of fourth spot.

In testing conditions at Atzenbrugg, Old Ranfurly’s Jamie Stewart led the way for the Scots as he finished third in the invidual standings following rounds of 73 and 72.

Denmark, who finished on the same total, are Scotland’s last-eight opponents in that event.

Unfortunately, there was disappointment for both the Scottish ladies and girls in their respective events in Iceland and Norway.

The ladies finished 12th, five shots outside the qualifying zone, at Oddur Golf Club, where they now face Netherlands in the second flight.

And the girls ended up in the same spot in Oslo to also be left playing for minor honours, starting with a match against Slovakia.

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Two Scots - Paul McKechnie and Conor O’Neil - had the leader in their sights heading into the final round of the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters at Montrose Links.

Englishman James Maw moved into top spot after a second-round 67 at the Angus venue to sit on nine-under-par, one ahead of compatriot Peter Tarver-Jones while three other players from south of the Border are sitting a shot further back.

But, lying just three off the pace, both McKechnie (Braid Hills Golf Centre) and O’Neil (Mearns Castle Golf Academy) were in with a chance of delivering a home triumph at the Angus venue.

McKechnie, a winner on the third-tier circuit at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth three years ago, signed for an eagle and three birdies in his 69, though had the gloss taken off it by two late bogeys.

O’Neil, meanwhile, sandwiched six birdies in 11 holes between dropped shots at the second and 16th.

A third Scot, Bradley Neil, is sitting just outside the top 10, five off the lead, after a second-round 67.