Scots women cap impressive team campaign with bronze

Scotland's amateurs returned to home soil last night after contrasting fortunes in the European Team championships at the weekend.

Lesley Nicholson's women's side finished their impressive campaign on a high at La Manga in Spain and secured the bronze medal with a 4-2 victory over the 2009 champions Germany in the third and fourth place play-off. The Scots, whose title bid was ended in the semi-finals by host nation Spain, seized control of the clash and won both the morning foursomes to open up a 2-0 lead. Despite defeats for Curtis Cup player Pamela Pretswell and St Rule Trophy winner Laura Murray in the singles, wins for Scottish champion Kelsey MacDonald, who beat Valerie Sternebeck at the 20th hole, and Craigielaw's Jane Turner, who eased past Stephanie Kirchmayr by 5 and 4, pushed the Scots over the winning line. In a closely fought final, Nathalie Mansson beat Ane Urchegui on the 19th hole of the deciding match to give Sweden a 4-3 victory over Spain.

At the Osterakers club in Sweden, Scotland's men, who failed to mount a defence of their title having missed out on qualifying for the top flight of matchplay, ended a disappointing week with a 4-1 defeat to finish tenth overall. England, runners-up to the Scots last year, secured a tenth European crown after a 4-2 victory over the Swedes in the final with four players in the top ten of the world amateur rankings and three English Golf Union squad members, Laurie Canter, Jamie Abbott and Tyrell Hatton all set to play in this week's Open.

In Turkey, Scotland's under-18s finished 11th in the European Boys' event at after a final day 4- win over Portugal while the Scottish girls' team beat the Netherlands 2- in Denmark to finish 15th.