Sporting Digest: Golf

THE 1999 Ryder Cup is to be played at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

BRITISH YOUTHS' CHAMPIONSHIP (Royal St David's, Harlech): England 5 1/2 Scotland 9 1/2 . Foursomes (Eng names first): M Foster (Worksop) and S Drummond (Shrewsbury) lost to G Sherry (Kilmarnock Barassie) and D Downie (Ladybank) 3 and 2; A Wall (Sunningdale) and S Webster (Atherstone) lost to A Reid (Kilmarnock Barassie) and H McKibbin (Troon Welbeck) 2 and 1; S Davis (Kedleston Park) and J Healey (Hull) bt C Hislop (Powfoot) and G Davidson (Langholm) 2 holes; D Lynn (Trentham) and D Howell (Broome Manor) lost to B Collier (Callander) and M Urquhart (Inverness) 3 and 1; R Bland (Bramshott Hill) and L James (Broadstone) lost to S Gallacher (Bathgate) and D Summers (Ratho Park) 7 and 5. Singles: Foster lost to McKibbin 2 and 1; Drummond bt Gallacher 3 and 2; S Griffiths (Wentworth) lost to Sherry 1 hole; Wall lost to Reid 1 hole; Webster bt A MacDonald (Hayston) 2 and 1; Davis lost to Urquhart 5 and 4; Lynn bt Summers 3 and 2; Howell bt Hislop 3 and 2; Bland halved with Downie; James lost to B Collier 2 and 1.

IRISH AMATEUR CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP (Portmarnock): Semi-finals: D Higgins (Waterville) bt J Fanagan (Milltown) 3 and 1; P Harrington (Stackstown) bt J Morris (Douglas) 3 and 2. Final: Higgins bt Harrington at 20th.