Consistent Gleeson tied second at Sotogrande
Alex Gleeson
Alex Gleeson continued his excellent start to the season with a runner-up finish in the European Nations Championship in Spain.
The Castle golfer, who was runner-up in the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point at Easter, made six birdies in his second successive, three-under 69 to finish tied second at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande on level par.
England's Todd Clements shot 70 to win the title by five strokes on five-under 283 from Gleeson, Denmark's Ramus Nergaard-Petersen and compatriot Gian-Marco Petrozzi.
Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty was an excellent tied 12th on eight-over after a 71 with Naas' Jonny Yates tied 20th despite a final round 75.
There was also a happy ending for Tramore's Robin Dawson, who finished well after struggling on Friday and Saturday, closing with a 71 to end a mixed week tied 46th on 309.
England won the team title by 20 strokes from Ireland on 11-under par with Denmark third, a further seven shots behind.
Denmark's Sofie Kibsgaar Nielsen (71 77 76 71) won the women's event by two strokes from Candice Mahe of France on seven-over.
European Nations Championship, RCG Sotogrande (Par 72)
1 CLEMENTS, TODD (Eng) -5 69 73 71 70 283
- T2 GLEESON, ALEX -3 76 74 69 69 288
- T12 RAFFERTY, CAOLAN +8 72 79 74 71 296
- T20 YATES, JONATHAN +10 77 74 72 75 298
- T46 DAWSON, ROBIN +21 72 86 80 71 309
