Down to last eight at Scottish boys' championship

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
The sharp end of the Scottish Boys Championship has been reached with a strong line-up of the country’s most talented youngsters set to battle it out in this morning’s quarter finals at West Kilbride.
Jack McDonald and Conor O’Neil led the way this afternoon as both players sped to victories in the opening matches. McDonald needed just two hours to dispose of English Boys champion Euan Scott (St Andrews), playing some superb golf which included a run of an eagle and two birdies from the eleventh hole, before closing his game out at 5&3. O’Neil picked up where he left off this morning to record an impressive 5&4 win over Liberton’s Anthony Blaney, having raced to the turn in three-under par.
Elderslie 15-year-old Alasdair McDougall, who has seen his handicap come down from eight to three in the last year, holed a 10-foot birdie putt to see off Angus Carrick on the final green to set up a quarter-final tie against Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest.
McDougall, who became a member of West Kilbride last year, admitted he was a huge fan of the course:
“My game has come on leaps and bounds since I joined West Kilbride. It’s made a massive difference being able to play all year round and the green keeping team to a great job in keeping the course in such good shape in the winter. I’ve learned to play a wide variety of shots, hitting the ball lower into the wind which has really helped me this week.”
The reigning Scottish U16s champion sank a dramatic 40-foot putt on the 17th green to go one up in his match against Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County) and held on to halve the last and seal victory.
Scotland Boys international Calum Stewart (Brora) overcame Troon Welbeck’s Callum Beveridge by a 3&1 margin, with Beveridge’s club mate Charlie Macneal also coming unstuck at the fifth round stage as he lost out by 3&2 to Ian Redford.
The final match of the last eight will be between the youngest player left in the Championship, Lawrence Allan (Alva) and Falkirk Tryst’s Jamie Lynch. Allan, who won his club championship aged just 12, staved off Scott Gibson with a 2&1 win as Lynch stormed past young Borderer Simon Fairbairn with a comfortable 4&3 victory.
Allan, who will play for the Scotland Boys U16s side in The Netherlands next week, said:
“I came into the Championship playing well having finished third in the SGU Winter Series and knew I had the game to do well. I’ve been competing in the event since I was 13 so it’s good to progress from my last couple of years. Hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow against Jamie but we’ll wait and see.”
Click here for fifth round results from the Scottish Boys Championship.