Final-day defeat sees Scots miss out on crown

SCOTLAND'S teenage golfers were pipped to the Boys' Quadrangular title after a final-day loss to Italy at the Chiberta club in France.

Stuart Wilson's side, who had beaten France and defending champions Sweden in their opening two games, went down 5-4 to the Italians, who stole the crown in the head-to-head tie-breaker.

Trailing 2-1 after the morning foursomes, the Scots levelled the scores in the top singles clash as national boys' strokeplay champion Jack McDonald eased past Riccardo Michelini by 4 and 3.

Ian Redford, the former Scottish under-16 champion, pitched in with a 3 and 1 win over Gabrielle Padouano but Grant Forrest, two up with three to play, and Scott Gibson, three-up with three to play, both had to settle for half points from their ties as the contest remained in the balance.

Italy plundered the title in the final tie as Lorenzo Guanti edged out Calum Stewart by one hole to deny the Scots a third Quadrangular crown in five years.

"The boys were dejected after coming so close," said national junior coach, Spencer Henderson. "We have a motto for the team this year which is 'no excuses' and I know they'll come back stronger."

• Paul O'Hara racked up his third top 10 finish in just over a week in the EPD Tour's winter series in Morocco. The Colville Park rookie, last year's SGU order of merit winner, fired a two-under 70 in the closing round of the Amelkis Classic and claimed sixth place with a five-under 211. O'Hara finished eight shots behind Germany's Marcel Harezma.