European Amateur Team Championship:Irish hopes becoming the first nation to retain the European Amateur Team title for nearly 40 years were dashed today at Conwy in North Wales, despite a brave effort on day two.
After beginning the second and final qualifying round 14 shots off that all important eight spot, Kevin Flanagan’s team put in a gutsy display but only got within 10 strokes of their target, finishing in 11th.
The four-under-par performance was a world away from yesterday’s 12 over effort and would have been even more impressive had Simon Ward dropped not four shots when taking an eight at the penultimate hole.
Alan Dunbar, who shot a 79 yesterday, did his part with a 68, while Dara Lernihan had a 71.
Paul Cutler of Portstewart went out in 35 and came home with seven pars and two birdies for a 70.
Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney,ended with a double bogey and signed for a 72, while Ward had a 75 and Cian Curley carded a 77 after a 10 on the 16th.
Norway led the way into the quarter-finals with a 36-hole total of 690, or 30-under-par, but are closely followed by Italy (693), Sweden (697) and England (700).
