Golf: Scots boys shine in the sun to sit second

Scotland used their local knowledge to sit second after the first day of the European Boys’ Team Championship at a glorious Murcar Links.

In conditions somewhat different from the Scottish Boys Championship played at the north-east venue last April, the Scots impressed in the sunshine to be in a promising position.

Having posted a four-over-par total for the first of two stroke play qualifying rounds, the Scots trail leaders Italy by four shots and sit five ahead of France in third place.

The lowest five scores from each team’s six players count and Dumfries & County’s Scottish Schools champion Connor Syme highlighted the home efforts with a one-under-par 70.

Bearsden’s Ewen Ferguson (71), Calum Hill of Tantallon (72) and Kilmarnock Barassie’s Euan Walker (72) handled the conditions well too, with Scottish Youths champion Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten) battling to a 74.

“It’s a solid start for us and hopefully we can keep it going,” said Syme.

The best round of the day came from Denmark’s Jeppe Kristian Andersen after a 69, while Frenchman Pierre Mazier enjoyed the thrill of a hole-in-one at the short 12th.

The top eight sides after 36 holes of individual stroke play qualify for the Flight A matchplay stages, with the bottom eight in the Flight B section.

Meanwhile, at the European Men’s Team Championship at Silkeborg in Denmark, Scotland are in a tie for third after the first round of stroke play qualifying – the same format as the Boys’ event.

The Scots posted an 11-over-par total over the demanding layout, with James Ross (Royal Burgess) and Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) recording the best scores, both firing level-par 72s. Scotland are tied with Ireland, with France leading the way on one-over-par and Germany second on eight-over.