Golf: Knowles leads from front

SCOTT KNOWLES was the only Scottish team captain still in the medal hunt after the qualifying rounds of the European Team Championships.

His side comfortably secured a place in the men's top flight in Portugal after a strong-second day performance over the Vilamoura Victoria course.

Led by Michael Stewart's sizzling 66, the Scots slashed ten shots off their first-day total to finish in a tie for fourth on 708 and earn a quarter-final tie today against Germany.

In the Czech Republic, Lothians duo Grant Forrest and Anthony Blaney both contributed counting scores for the boys but the Scots fell one short of the top eight.

The women, bronze medallists last year, also missed out in Austria, where Jane Turner shot a 71 on the second day, but Rachael Watton took ten shots more. Led by Baberton's Karen Marshall, the girls had to settle for 14th place in Sardinia.