Hopes of Walker Cup spots fade for Scotland

SCOTLAND’S hopes of being represented in next month’s Walker Cup appear slim after a last-day defeat to England saw the defending champions finish third in the Home Internationals at Ganton.

Needing a comfortable win over the Auld Enemy to have any hope of hanging on to the title, the Scots shared the morning foursomes but were outgunned in the singles as England ran out 9-6 winners overall to add the crown to their European Championship victory last month.

Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest headed into the final session with a 100 per cent record but went down 2 and 1 to Craig Hinton, leaving him sweating as Great Britain & Ireland team captain Nigel Edwards prepares to unveil his Walker Cup team on Monday. Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson had gone into the event in Yorkshire as Scotland’s leading hope of being part of that trophy defence against the Americans and he signed off with a battling win over Callum Shinkiwn. But, compared to his six wins out of six at Glasgow Gailes 12 months ago, the Stirling student failed to fire on all cylinders in his last chance to impress Edwards and the other GB&I selectors.

It already looked as though England would provide the 
majority of the players in the ten-man team and that is more of a possibility now after the hosts regained the title with an understrength side. Missing at Ganton were the likes of Garrick Porteous, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Neil Raymond, all of whom have been competing in the US Amateur instead this week.

Ireland finished second after beating Wales 9-6 in their final match, but Edinburgh-born Reeve Whitson, a Walker Cup contender, lost his singles match.