WILSON BIDDING TO FOLLOW IN FOOTSTEPS OF CLUBMATE STEWART

A fine action picture of Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and County), one of the quarter-finalists in the Scottish boys' championship at Dunbar GC. Image by Kenny Smith and reproduced by courtesy of the Scottish Golf Union.

FRIDAY MORNING'S QUARTER-FINAL TIES IN THE SCOTTISH BOYS'
CHAMPIONSHIP AT DUNBAR GOLF CLUB

Connor Marsland v David Wilson.
Craig Oram v Ben Kinsley.
John Scott v Liam Johnston.
Callum Hill v Greig Marchbank.

NOW READ HOW THEY MADE THE LAST EIGHT:
FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Troon Welbeck’s David Wilson battled back to win a place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish boys' championship and set his sights on replicating clubmate Michael Stewart’s success in the event three years ago.

Wilson, winner of the last two Ayrshire boys' match-play championships, bounced back from being three down after four holes to record a narrow one-hole win over Sean Burgess from Nairn. The 16-year-old had never been past the second round in his previous two attempts in the SGU’s flagship junior event, but is now just two games away from the final.

“I’m delighted to reach this stage of the competition and I’ve been playing some nice golf this week,” said a thrilled Wilson. “There’s a few good players coming through from Troon Welbeck just now and Michael (Stewart) has spurred us all on. We often practise together and he’s given me some good advice, telling me to believe in myself which I have done this week.” he added.

Lincolnshire junior champion Connor Marsland now stands between Wilson and a place in the semi-finals after he overcame Craig Ross – conqueror of defending champion Grant Forrest this morning – by an emphatic 4 and 3 margin.
Marsland, who qualifies for the event through his Scottish grandmother Joan, got off to a flying start, racing to a four-hole lead after seven holes, but Ross fought back to narrow the deficit to one hole around the turn. Ross’s fightback was short-lived however and pars at 13, 14 and 15 were good enough to close the game out.
St Andrews youngster Ben Kinsley enjoyed a comfortable 6 and 5 win over Cameron Mitchell to set up a quarter-final match with Nairn Dunbar’s Craig Oram and the Madras College fourth year pupil admitted his surprise at the lack of success among the ‘Home of Golf’ players in the event:
“I would have expected more St Andrews players to have won this event as we’re used to playing in windy conditions like we’ve had this week. It’s only my second Scottish boys' championship but I’m playing some decent golf and not performing not too badly.” said a modest Kinsley.

Liam Johnston, who reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Amateur Championship just up the coast at Gullane last summer, is through to the last eight after recovering from a late blip to beat young Fifer Andrew Davidson. Johnston was two up with four holes to play before losing 15 and 16 as the match drew level, but a bogey-bogey finish was good enough to seal the match.

North Berwick High pupil Callum Hill (Tantallon) eagled the first for the second time today en route to a convincing 5 and 4 victory over Mount Ellen’s Eamon Bradley and he will now play Dumfries and County’s Greig Marchbank, who edged out Jack Brown (Cathcart Castle).

The first of Friday’s quarter-final matches tee-off at 8am with the semi-finals taking in the afternoon at 12.45 and 1pm.

RECAP ON THE THURSDAY MORNING TIES
Defending champion Grant Forrest and former Scottish boys' stroke-play champion Jack McDonald, two of the pre-tournament favourites, both made fourth round exits at Dunbar this morning.
Forrest was sent crashing 7 and 6 by Junior Champion of Champions winner Craig Ross (Kirkhill) before McDonald, a semi-finalist last year at West Kilbride, was swept aside by 16-year-old Greg Marchbank from Dumfries.

Marchbank, who represented Scotland at under-16s level last year, played some superb golf, reaching the turn in four-under par to lead McDonald by two holes and pars were good enough on the inward stretch to rack up an impressive 4 and 3 victory over the young Ayrshireman.

“I’ve been under par in every game this week so I felt pretty confident going into the match,” admitted Marchbank, who has recently switched his home club to Dumfries and County. “I got off to a great start with birdies at the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th and played solid golf after that.” he added.

Marchbank’s club-mate Liam Johnston, runner-up in the SGU Boys Order of Merit in 2010, kept alive hopes of an all-Dumfries semi-final after battling to a one hole victory over Cowglen’s Callum McLean.
Daniel Flannery, the Peebles club champion, stormed to a 3 and 2 win against Barassie’s Euan Walker.
“My game’s been getting better as the week’s progressed and I played some nice golf this morning with a few birdies. I should have won sooner after being four up but missed a couple of short putts. I really like the course and it’s in great shape so I’m really looking forward to play again this afternoon.” said Flannery, a Colin Brooks coached Academy pupil.
Lundin’s Cameron Mitchell pipped Jamie Savage at the second extra hole while Tantallon’s Callum Hill kept the East Lothian flag flying with a 3 and 1 over Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne).


FOR ALL THE RESULTS SO FAR THIS WEEK AT DUNBAR FROM THE SGU WEBSITE.

CLICK HERE