Amateurs: Robertson, McDonald help seal semis spot

At the demanding tree-lined layout of Silkeborg in Denmark, the Scots – the 2012 Home Internationals winners – came out on top 4-3 in a nail-biting clash with Germany, booking their place in the last four of the 16-team event. After the foursomes ties finished 1-1 – with Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) and Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) shining as a pairing once more to win their match – the Scots edged home thanks to late joy in the singles.

Robertson continued his form with a 3&1 win over Maximilian Mehles, but the talented teenager Dominic Foos replied for Germany with a 4&3 success over McDonald. With Martin Keskari in charge against James Ross (Royal Burgess), seeing out a 3&2 triumph, it was all down to Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil and last year’s SGU Men’s Order of Merit champion Scott Borrowman. Neil, a late replacement for Grant Forrest as he prepares for his Open debut at Muirfield next week, finished strongly for a 3&2 win against Maximilian Rottluff, before Dollar’s Borrowman held his nerve on the 18th to defeat Maximilian Roehrig by a hole.

“It’s one of the best feelings I have had on a golf course,” admitted Borrowman, 26. “It was really good to get over the line as a team after such a tight match all the way. I was one down after 14 having lost a ball off the tee there, but made a birdie on 15 and had a birdie conceded on 16 to turn it around. The 18th is an intimidating hole, 450 yards, but I made a good par-4 there after a nice chip when I needed it.

“In individual play your head can go down from time to time, but not in team golf. You never give up, especially when you are playing for Scotland. We’ll give it our best shot against France.”

However, on home soil on another glorious day at Murcar, in a disappointing afternoon session the young Scots lost out 4-3 to Norway in the European Boys Team Championship.

Having won the morning foursomes ties 2-0, the hosts looked in good shape – only for Norway to stage a brilliant fightback. Calum Hill (Tantallon) was the sole singles winner for the Scots, with Connor Syme’s match against Viktor Hovland ultimately proving decisive.

The Norwegian went out of bounds at the 18th to mean the match went to extra holes. Syme, on the day of his 18th birthday, missed a chance from six feet at the 19th for victory, before the Dumfries & County player’s hopes ended after driving near the edge of a bush at the 20th.

Italy, France and England progressed with Norway to the semi-finals. Scotland now play Ireland, after they lost to England.