Golf: Doyle turns for the better

GREAT BRITAIN and Ireland's hopes of taking the Eisenhower Trophy were dashed by some sloppy play at the end of the final day - and an amazing round from the American, Allen Doyle.

The 46-year-old recovered from a nightmare start, which saw him four over in 40 at the turn, to post an inward half of 30, which helped the United States to an overall total of 23- under-par 838.

Great Britain and Ireland were leading by two strokes after eight holes, but were undone by the water hazards surrounding the closing holes of the National course, near Versailles. Gordon Sherry and Warren Bennett found the drink at the 15th, and Stephen Gallacher and Lee James ended up in the lake at the 18th.

Sherry was pleased with the performance, though, saying: 'We have finished second in the world and although I know everyone loves to beat the Americans, we've done not bad.'

sWORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (Eisenhower Trophy, La Boulie, Versailles) Final-round totals: 1 USA 838; 2 Great Britain-Ireland 849; 3 Sweden 855; 4 Australia 858; 5 New Zealand 860; 6 Spain 866; 7 Belgium 872; 8 Austria 878; 9 Netherlands 878; 10 Canada 880. Individual: 1 A Doyle (US) 277pts; 2 W Bennett (GB) 281; 3 L James (GB) 282; 4 F Jacobson (Swe) 283; 5 M Brown (NZ) 283.