Golf

Scotland open the defence of their European Amateur Team title at Port Marnock today, after the most thorough preparation of any of the visiting countries. Under Colin Wood, the new captain, Scotland have taken squads to the tough links twice this year and seen them in varying conditions. Two of the players, Michael Brooks and Barclay Howard, competed for Great Britain and Ireland in the World Team Championships last November and the team also has a Walker Cup man in Graham Rankin and the current Amateur Champion Craig Watson.

Rocco Mediate, a two-time PGA Tour winner who grew up in western Pennsylvania, shot a 6-under-par 65 on Monday to take the first-round lead in the 36- hole Family House Invitational. He scored with six birdies in a front- nine 30 on the Oakmont Country Club course.