European Amateurs: Scotland meet England in final

Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson, who won all six of his matches in helping Scotland claim the Home Internationals crown last year, again proved a hero to help Ian Rae’s charges seal a 4.5-2.5 semi-final success.

Two down with two to play at Silkeborg GC, Robertson dug deep to win the 17th and 18th before the Great Britain & Ireland cap rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt at the 21st to defeat Adrien Saddier.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Dollar’s Scott Borrowman kept his cool to win at the 18th and secure a 4-3 quarter-final victory over Germany.

After Grant Forrest withdrew from the men’s side to prepare for the Open Championship, his replacement, the Scottish Boys champion Bradley Neil of Blairgowrie, has won both his singles matches, the 17-year-old notably taking the scalp yesterday of 2012 Scottish Stroke Play  champion Paul Barjon by 4&3.

England, who have virtually swept all before them at Men’s level this season, thumped the Netherlands 6-1 to reach the final.

“It was a very, very tense occasion and I’m absolutely delighted for our lads,” said Scotland’s National Coach Ian Rae. “It’s been a long couple of days.

“The guys have played really well this week and kept it going against France. It should be a cracker against England.”

France were the top qualifiers after two rounds of strokeplay in the 16-team event for Europe’s finest male players, but Scotland took the game straight to them in the foursomes.

James Ross (Royal Burgess) and Ewan Scott (St Andrews) eased to a 3&2 victory, before Robertson and Kilmarnock Barassie’s Jack McDonald continued their perfect partnership to defeat Saddier and Jo Stalter by a hole. With Ross and Borrowman going down heavily 4&3 in the singles, Neil’s win proved crucial before Robertson’s heroics saw Scotland over the line.

McDonald and Julien Brun were all square after 18 holes and, with the overall match over, decided to pick up their balls and take a half each.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s Boys endured further disappointment at Murcar Links after losing 3.5-1.5 to Ireland – meaning the best they can finish today is seventh.

Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths champion Robert MacIntyre was the sole winner for the Scots.

On Thursday, Scotland surrendered a 2-0 lunchtime lead to Norway to lose 4-3 in the quarter-finals. France and Norway will now contest today’s final, with England and Italy playing off for third and fourth place.