Golf: Triumphant Nicholson sets sights on Spain

Haddington golfer Lesley Nicholson was looking to plot another notable triumph this morning as her Scotland side continued their glory bid in the semi-finals of the European Women's Team championship at La Manga.

National team skipper Nicholson the former Scottish Women's Strokeplay champion, watched her talented squad overcome highly-rated England 4-3 in their opening championship-flight match yesterday to set up a clash with host nation Spain.

Nairn's Kelsey MacDonald, who won the Scottish title at Craigielaw back in May,and Fife's Louise Kenney beaten by her team-mate in that final, were the stars of the show and posted three crucial points to the board.

The duo combined in the foursomes to beat Hayley Davis and Hannah Burke 3 and 1 as the Scots took a vital 2-0 lead into the five afternoon singles and left the home hopefuls needing just two points for overall success.

England, eight-times Euro champions, showed their class and picked up three points but any hopes of a comeback were thwarted by MacDonald, who beat Charlie Douglass 2 and 1, and Kenney, who clinched the win with a 3 and 2 defeat of Burke.

Craigielaw's Jane Turner, the British Universities' champion, was defeated 2 and 1 by Hannah Barwood in her singles match yesterday and the Lothians golfer was left on the sidelines for this morning's duel with the Spanish.