Ireland are just a win over Switzerland away from a return to the top flight after they topped strokeplay qualifying by 23 strokes in the European Boys Team Championship Division 2 in the  Czech Republic.

The boys in green finished on eight over 728 at Mladá Boleslav with Joh Murphy the leading individual on three under 141 after rounds of 72 and 69, one stroke ahead of Slovakia’s Pavol Mach.

Second place was taken by Iceland (751) closely followed by Slovakia (752) and Switzerland (754) in place three and four, respectively.

All four qualified for Flight A, where the teams will play two foursomes matches in the morning followed by five singles matches in the afternoon.  

Ireland will face Switzerland and Iceland is up against Slovakia in the race for the medals and the two promotion spots. 

The winner and runner-up will be promoted to the European Boys’ Team Championship, which will be played at La Manga Club, Spain, in 2017.

In Flight B, Estonia is straight through to the semi-final owing to its fifth place in the qualification. Its opponent will be decided in the morning’s quarter-finals: Hungary vs. Croatia and Turkey vs. Poland. The matches in Flight B will consist of one foursome and four singles matches.  

European Boys Team Championship Division 2, Mladá Boleslav (Par 72), Czeh Republic

Detailed scores

Semi-finals

• 07:30 Ireland v Switzerland
• 07:50 Iceland v Slovakia

Team

1. Ireland  +8  362 366 728    
2. Iceland +31 382 369 751    
3. Slovakia  +17 375 377 752    
4. Switzerland +34  379 375 754    
5. Estonia +52  392 380 772    
6. Turkey +61  392 389 781    
7. Poland +61 F 386 395 781    
8. Hungary +74  403 391 794    
9. 9 Croatia +102 408 414 822    

Individual

• 1 MURPHY, John 72 69    141    
• 3 POWER, Mark 73 70 143    
• 4 LE BLANC, Kevin 68 76 144    
• 5 BRADY, John 74 72 146    
• 26 FAHY, Alan   75 79 154    
• 38 O’HARE, Hugh 76 83 159