Golf team seventh after 18 holes

Malta's golf team in the Medi-terranean Games competition at the Miglianico Golf Club, in Pescara, is currently seventh after the opening 18 holes were played yesterday.

With the best two scores from the singles tournament also counting for the team event, Andy Borg's three over and Chris Bergedahl's 79 (seven over) has placed the Maltese seventh in the provisional standings, one shot behind Greece but 14 away from current leaders France (140, four under) in the 12-team entry.

In the tournament for individuals, Borg is tied at 14th place along with Rachid Akl (Libya), Casey Calmi (San Marino), Tim Gornik (Slovenia) and Ioannis Kakakis (Greece). Bergedahl is sharing 23rd position with Tunisia's Sabeur Barhoumi.

Malta's other player in the golf tournament, John J. Micallef Verelst, is 29th (83, 11 over).

In all, 36 golfers are taking part. The competition resumes today and comes to a close on Thursday.

Edwin Camilleri's U-20 football team played their last match from Group B and lost to France 1-0. It was the second defeat for the Maltese in Pescara following the 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Turkey last weekend.

France topped the group with two victories. Their winner yesterday came early in the first half through Yohann Lasimant.

Malta started with the following formation: T. Galea, S. Bonnici, T. Fleri Soler, G. Gribbon, T. Farrugia, T. Vella, M. Scerri, K. Micallef, B. Muscat, R. Muscat, J. Galea. Used subs: A. Borg, K. Pulo.

Bowls duo David and Reno Farrugia had to settle for third place in the group of the doubles tournament yesterday after going down to favourites San Marino 12-6 in their remaining qualifier.

San Marino made it to the semi-finals along with Italy who finished second thanks to a comfortable 12-0 victory over Serbia, the wooden spoonists in the group. Malta won against Serbia on Sunday but lost their next match to Italy 12-2.

The match for third place and the final will be played today. David Farrugia will be back in action tomorrow when playing in the singles competition.

Trap shooter Nazzareno Attard was more consistent in his final two qualifying rounds before the barrage. He had scores of 22 and 21 to finish on 104 overall. He was classified 23rd from 28 competitors.

The trap competition was won by Slovenia's Bostjan Macek. He shot a Med. Games record of 144 clays to finish ahead of Italy's Giovanni Pellielo, 142(+1), and overnight leader Francesco Amici, of San Marino.

William Chetcuti and Clive Farrugia will shoot in the Double Trap and Skeet competitions respectively tomorrow.

Wrestler Abraham Vassallo was eliminated from the freestyle 84kg competition after losing his bout against Egypt's Ahmed Elabsawi on points.

Tennis player Kim Cassar suffered the same fate when she was ousted from the singles tournament at the first time of asking. The Malta champion lost to Turkey's Cagla Buyukakcay 6-1 6-0 in 45 minutes.

There were no sailing competitions yesterday due to unfavourable weather condi-tions. Maya Podesta will be hoping for better conditions today to try and improve her 13th place in Laser Radial.

In the basketball tournament, Santino Coppa's girls suffered their third successive defeat when they lost to Serbia 82-48 (15-16, 20-16, 28-7, 19-9) in their final Group B match.

The Maltese were in the match after the opening two quarters when they trailed their more-quoted opponents by just three points, 35-32.

However, at the start of the third session, Serbia stepped up a gear to cruise to a comfortable victory that guaranteed them a place in the semi-finals along with group winners Greece.

Nina Bogicevic was the game's top scorer with 20 points.

The Malta team lined up as follows: F. Savona Psaila, A. Sciortino, C. Grima 2, J. Cardona 7, R. Brincat Thoresen 15, M. Desira, S. de Martino 5, K. Micallef 3, L. Sciberras 10, K. Agius 6, J. Grima, C. Fenech.

Portelli in action

Athletics events in Pescara get under way today with Malta's only representative in track and field, Nicolai Portelli, making his first showing in the 200m semi-finals at the Stadio Adriatico.

Portelli, winner of three medals at the Cyprus GSSE, will also race in the 100m sprints which are scheduled for tomorrow.