Ireland face battle for fifth place after loss to Italy

Irish hopes of a first European Amateur Team Championship triumph since 2008 were dashed yesterday as they suffered defeat to Italy in the quarter-finals over the challenging Chantilly course in France.

Having qualified for the match play stages in sixth, Tony Goode’s side were outdone 4½-2½ by the Italians and means the highest they can finish now is fifth. It was all square after the two morning foursomes, with both Irish pairs two down with three to play in their matches.

Tullamore’s Stuart Grehan and Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) completed a stunning fightback as they eventually took their match with Jacopo Vecchi Fossa and Guido Migliozzi on the 20th.