United States win The Spirit title: Good last

day for Scots women but men disappoint

Despite a great last-day, four-under-par better-ball round of 68 by Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Pitreavie's Louise Kenney, Scotland's combined team - Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill) were the male half of the quartet - finished 18th of the 20 countries competing in the biennial The Spirit International better-ball team tournament at Whispering Pines, Trinity near San Antonio, Texas
The Scots girls saved their best performance for the last day after earlier better-ball rounds of 72, 73 and 70. Their 284 aggregate was four-under-par.
In contrast, Bookless and Shields finished with a one-over-par better-ball total of 289, made up of rounds of 70, 75, 72 and 72.
Walker and Kenney finished joint ninth in the women's team standings.
Bookless and Shields came last of 20 in the men's team table.
Italy, with British amateur champion Matteo Manassero and Andrea Pavan, combined for a brilliant 27-under-par total of 261 (64-64-67-66), topped the men's standings and United States (14-year-old Alexis Thompson and Jennifer Johnson) led women's table with a 24-under-par total of 264 (66-64-66-68).
But it was the United States (Jordan Spieth and Ben Martin completed their team) who had the best combined men's and women's team aggregate with a staggering 45-under-par 531 - but only two shots ahead of South Korea.
England (Matt Haines, Stiggy Hodgson, Holly Clyburn and Rachel Jennings) came fifth overall with a total of 545 after a disappointing last round total of 140, their worst of the four days.
Medals were also awarded for individual totals of birdies and eagles.
Alexis Thompson finished up with four golds - US team, US women and women's individual. She has 17 birdies over the four rounds. England's Rachel Jennings tied for sixth with a bag of 12 birdies; Kylie Walker finished joint 16th with eight; Holly Clyburn had seven and Louise Kenney four.
Bum-Geun Chae (South Korea) had the most birdies (20) in the men's category. Matthew Haines (England) finished joint seventh with 14 and Stiggy Hodgson joint 18th with 11. Paul Shileds had six for joint 36th position and Mark Bookless had three birdies.

HOW THEY FINISHED
COMBINED TEAM TOTALS
Par 576
531 United States 134 129 131 137.
535 South Korea 137 136 133 129.
543 Denmark 134 138 133 138.
544 Chinese Taipei 130 136 144 134.
545 England 136 135 134 140.
552 Germany.
553 Italy.
555 Sweden, Canada.
556 Colombia.
559 France.
560 South Africa, Australia.
562 Belgium.
563 Argentina.
564 Norway.
570 Philippines.
572 Scotland 142 148 142 140.
574 Czech Republic.
589 Mexico.
MEN'S TEAM TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
261 Italy 64 64 67 66.
264 South Korea
265 Chinese Taipei
266 Denmark, Canada.
267 Sweden, United States.
268 England 71 64 66 67.
269 Germany
270 Australia.
273 South Africa.
278 Belgium.
279 Norway.
281 Colombia, Czech Republic.
2892 France.
284 Argentina.
287 Philippines.
288 Mexico.
289 Scotland 70 75 72 72.

MEN'S INDIVIDUAL BIRDIES
20 Bum-Geun Chae (SKor).
Selected:
14 Matthew Haines (England) (jt 7th).
11 Stiggy Hodgson (England) (jt 18th).
6 Paul Shields (Scotland) (jt 36th).
3 Mark Bookless (Scotland) (38th).

WOMEN'S TEAM TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
264 United States 66 64 66 68.
271 South Korea.
275 Colombia.
277 Denmark, England, France.
279 Argentina, Chinese Taipei.
283 Germany, Philippines, Scotland 72 73 70 68.
284 Belgium.
285 Norway.
287 South Africa.
288 Sweden.
289 Canada.
2890 Australia.
292 Italy.
293 Czech Republic.
301 Mexico.

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL BIRDIES
17 Alexis Thompson (US).
Selected:
12 Rachel Jennings (England) (jt 6th).
8 Kylie Walker (Scotland) (jt 16th).
7 Holly Clyburn (England) (jt 21st).
4 Louise Kenney (Scotland) (jt 33rd).