SCOTS GIRLS MISS TOP FLIGHT IN EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Scotland failed by a wide margin to be one of the eight teams who qualified for the top match-play flight in the European girls' golf team championships at St Leon-Rot Golf Club, Germany. England, who had four players in the top five individual scorers over the 36 holes stroke-play section, were leading qualifiers with a 35-under-par total of 685, 21 shots ahead of No 2 seeds Spain. Ireland (753) finished 13th, Scotland (759) 14th and Wales (782) 19th of 20. Scotland's scores were: 147 Clara Young (North Berwick) 70 77 (T40) 151 Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 72 79 (T67) 155 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 77 78, Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) 77 78 (T86) 156 Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 75 81, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 80 76. NEWS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF England gave a command performance to shoot 35-under par and win the qualifying stage of the European girls’ team championship at St Leon Rot in Germany. They finished 21 shots clear of their closest rival, Spain, and are now seeded top in the championship matchplay flight. Tomorrow England will play Sweden in the first knock-out round. Team captain Julie Sparrow commented: “We are delighted, but there’s no air punching or euphoria here. The girls all know they did a good job, but that there is more work to do.” The team were 22-under par after the first qualifying round and they quickly built on their lead today. Charley Hull (Woburn) came in first with a six-under 66, which took her personal score to 10-under. She was followed by Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies), whose 69 took her to 11-under. Shortly afterwards, her overall score was matched by Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) whose 66 included an eagle two on the 10th, where she holed a five iron. Later in the day the wind got up and became steadily stronger and the scores rose. But Emily Taylor (Hillside) managed a one-under 71 for a six-under total, while Bronte Law (Bramhall) added 75. The 78 of Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) was discounted. England players filled the first four places in the individual table, with Elizabeth Mallett and Georgia Hall sharing first place, Charley Hull one shot behind in third, and Emily Taylor sharing fourth place. Championship flight qualifying scores: -35 England -14 Spain Par Germany      +2 Italy +9 Netherlands +10 Denmark +12 France +14 Sweden Championship draw: England v Sweden Italy v Netherlands Denmark v Germany France v Spain Lyndsey HewisonPress Officer England Golf