Eisenhower Trophy: Scots secure top-10

Scottish trio Bradley Neil, Grant Forrest and Chris Robb secured an impressive top-10 finish at the Eisenhower Trophy as they brought the curtain down on the World Amateur Team Championships in Japan.

One of the most prestigious 72-hole strokeplay events in amateur golf, the Scots finished with a team score of 30-under-par after four rounds, finishing in ninth place in the 67-team competition.

Amateur champion Neil closed his tournament with a seven-under-par 65, carding no fewer than nine birdies in the process, while Meldrum House’s Robb, the Scottish Amateur champion, added a bogey free 68.

“This team was right in the mix, putting Scottish golf back up where to where it should be.” – Scottish Golf Performance Manager Steve Paulding

It was the USA who won the famous trophy, posting a winning score of 38-under-par to retain their title, finishing two shots ahead of Canada. Spain, Sweden and Argentina came third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Scotland, who won the event in Australia in 2008 but shared 44^th spot in Turkey in 2012, will be pleased with their efforts and Scottish Golf Performance Manager Steve Paulding, who captained the team in Karuizawa, said: “The boys played great as a team, each playing a significant part in getting a good top-10 finish.

“Our third day score (four-under-par as a team), was always going to make it tough, but an 11-under-par total today was just what we needed. This team was right in the mix, putting Scottish golf back up where to where it should be.

“It’s on to Mexico in two years, with the work starting now on preparation for the next team.”

In the individual event, Neil finished in a share of 15^th in the individual standings on 13-under-par, while Craigielaw’s Forrest, tied for 46^th and Robb shared 60^th.