Scotland knock out England

England's Alfred Dunhill Cup campaign is over after Scotland handed them a 2-1 defeat on the second day on the Old Course at St Andrews.

After England had been white-washed by Wales and Scotland's loss to Germany on Thursday, both teams needed to win to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Andrew Coltart put Scotland in the driving seat crushing England captain Jamie Spence 68-73, but the remaining two matches were nail-biting right to the last.

But Scotland's captain Colin Montgomerie, who was one behind Brian Davis with four to play, ensured their victory. A birdie on 15 brought him level and then he sank a curling 15-foot birdie putt on the last for a 69-70 victory.

Montgomerie, who went off to address a group of businessmen after rolling in a curling 15-footer to beat Brian Davis, knows that the Scots can beat Wales 3-0 but still fail to progress if Germany whitewash England.

"It's never a good thing relying on England against Germany. We might have to go and cheer for them," joked Montgomerie.

Roger Chapman earned England's only point of the campaign beating Gary Orr in a sudden-death play-off after both players had finished with 69's, but it was too little too late as Scotland earned their first win against England in six attempts.

Wales sealed their second win in as many days to top Group One after beating Germany 2-1. Ian Woosnam beat Bernhard Langer 70-72, while Phillip Price edged Thomas Gogele 69-70 to ensure their victory on the last hole.

But David Park (71) could not complet the white-wash losing to Sven Struver (71) at first extra hole

Wales were not rated as good enough to play in the Dunhill Cup for the past three years but have now moved within touching distance of the semi-finals.

"It's a nice position to be in, but I still don't think that it will be that easy," said Price after sinking a vital 12-foot birdie putt on the final green to beat Thomas Gogele.

Like England, Ireland are out of the running for the title after their 3-0 defeat to fourth seeds South Africa.

Ireland lost any hope of qualifying when Retief Goosen holed a birdie putt at the first play-off hole to defeat Paul McGinley after Des Smyth had lost to David Frost and world number two, Ernie Els, with a round of 67, beat Padraig Harrington by two strokes.

The fourth seeds Springboks are favourites to advance but must avoid defeat to fifth seeds New Zealand.

The Kiwis easily accounted for France, winning all three matches, and then watched anxiously from behind the 18th to see the outcome of the South Africa-Ireland encounter.

Defending champions Spain emerged as victors of a potentially tricky tie against Zimbabwe on Friday.

Spain, who won all three matches against China on Thursday's opening day, accounted for the Zimbabweans two matches to one.

Ryder Cup players Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez, each with rounds of five-under-par 67s, defeated Mark McNulty (71) and Nick Price (68) respectively.

"I played quite well again and it was always going to be a tough match," said Olazabal.

"But tomorrow will be even tougher because we play Sweden and the winner will have the prize of a place in the semi-finals."

Sweden easily accounted for China, winning all three matches.

It’s another early exit for unseeded United States who suffered their second successive defeat to Argentina.

"It was very disappointing and this is not what we have come here for," said U.S. captain Tom Lehman after Angel Cabrera defeated him by three strokes.

Larry Mize, representing his country for the first time in this competition, lost by one stroke to Eduardo Romero.

John Daly, winner of the 1995 British Open at St Andrews, lost his match against Jose Coceres. Coceres, the reigning Dubai Desert Classic champion, recorded a 73 to Daly's 75.

Group Four is now a straight fight between the South Americans and Australia who whitewashed Japan.

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