England's Ashley Chesters booked himself a place in the GB and I team for next month's Walker Cup match by winning the European men's individual amateur championship at El Prat Golf Club, Spain today (Saturday).
Chesters, who had opened with a 73, never looked back after he took the lead with a second-round, seven-under-par 65. He added a third-round 70 to be clear of the field going into the final round in which he could afford the luxury of 76 for a four-under-par final total of 284.
He won from two Spaniards - David Morago on 285 and Scott William Fernandez (286) who sounds as though he has British blood in his veins.
Another Englishman in the squad for the match against the Americans at the National Golf Links, New York on September 8 is likely to be Jamie Rutherford who tied for fouorth place on 289 (71-73-71-74).
James Ross (Royal Burgess) was the top Scot in joint 11th place on six-over 294, a closing round of 77 aftr scores of 74, 69 and 74, knocked him out of the top 10.
Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) finished joint 21st on 297 with scres of 71-74-77-75 and Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) was a shot behind in a share of 24th place with scores of 75, 75, 72 and 76.
Liam Johnston (Southerness), the only other Scot to survive the third-round cut, finished joint 50th on 300 with rounds of 76, 74, 75 and 78.
EUROPEAN MEN'S INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
El Prat Golf Club, Spain
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
284 Ashley Chesters (Eng) 73 67 70 76
285 David Morago (Spa) 75 68 69 73
286 Scott William Fernandez (Spa) 70 71 71 74
289 Jamie Rutherford (Eng) 71 73 71 74, Thomas Detry (Bel)( 72 71 78 68
291 Benjamin Rusch (Swi) 73 71 72 75
292 Paul Dunne (Ire) 74 74 73 71, Gavin Moynihan (Ire) 72 74 68 78, Dermot McElroy (Ire) 75 70 74 77
293 Ivan Cantero (Spa) 73 77 71 72
294 Kevin Phelan (Ire) 75 71 73 73, Joao Carlota (Spa) 72 72 74 74, James Ross (Sco) 74 69 74 77 (T11).
OTHER SCOTS SCORES
297 Grant Forrest 71 74 77 75(T21)
298 Graeme Robertson 75 75 72 76 (T24)
302 Liam Johnston (Southerness) 76 74 74 78 (T50)
