CRAIGIELAW KID WILLEM IS SCOTLAND'S LAST HOPE AT ST ANDREWS

Craigielaw’s Willem Kerr is the last hope of keeping the Merchants’ Cup – the trophy at stake in the St Andrews Boys’ Open tournament – in Scotland.

Willem has battled his way through to a red-eye semi-final tomorrow morning against George Palmer (Gaudet Luce)

In the other semi-final it’s Englands Benjamin Kerr (Colchester) against Ireland’s Alexander Wilson (Portmarnock).

The semi-finals, both over the Old Course, start at the unearthly hour of 6.30 and 6.40 am with the 18-hole final due to tee off 10 minutes before noon.

Kerr, at No 6 the lowest qualifier in the last four, beat fellow-Scot Ross Millar (Whitekirk) by 3 and 1 while his opponent, Palmer, 31^st of the 32 who advanced from the stroke-play eliminator, was a two-hole winner against William Pennington from Heswall on The Wirral.

David, the No 9 seed, was a comfortable 7 and 6 winner over Alexander Wilson (Portmarnock, who qualified in 28^th position.

In the St Andrews Boys’ Open handicap section for the Murray Mitchell Trophy it will be Daniel O’Connor (Athlone), a four-handicapper, against Lewis Daley who plays off five at Forres. Their semi-final will tee off at 6.50am on the Old Course.

Connor won by 4 and 3 but Daley had to go to the 20^th in his quarter-final over the Eden course.

In the other semi-finals at 7am, it will be Aidan Murphy (Southport and Ainsdale) (5) v Sam Fitzimmons (Windyhill) (5).

The handicap final will tee off at noon over the Old Course.

Results:

ST ANDREWS BOYS OPEN

Eden Course

THIRD ROUND

Blair Carnegie (Dunblane New) bt Euan Davidson (Charleton) at 22^nd.

Benjamin David (Colchester) bt Lyle Sutherland (Alnmouth) 1 hole.

Andrew Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle) bt Adam Fisher (Inchmarlo) 2 and 1.

Alexander Wilson (Portmarnock) bt Rhys Thompson (Boldon) 2 and 1.

George Palmer (Gaudet Luce) bt Ben Craggs (Glenbervie) 3 and 2.

William Pennington (Heswall) bt Greg Forrester (Balbirnie Park) 3 and 1.

Ross Millar (Whitekirk) bt Andrew Davidson (Charleton) 3 and 1.

Willem Kerr (Craigielaw) bt Sam Wilkinson (Fulford) at 20^th.

QUARTER-FINALS

David bt Carnegie 7 and 6.

Wilson bt Cunningham 3 and 1

Palmer bt Pennington 2 holes.

Kerr bt Millar 3 and 1.

BOYS’ HANDICAP OPEN

Eden Course

QUARTER-FINALS

Callum Cochrane (Marriott Dalmahoy) (4) bt Daniel O’Connor (Athlone) (4) 4 and 3.

Lewis Daley (Forres) (5) bt Andrew Young (Turnhous) (4) at 20th.

Aidan Murphy (Southport and Ainsdale) (5) by Thomas Simmonds (Gullane) (5) 2 and 1.

Sam Fitzsimmons (Windyhill) (5) bt Josh Stancer (Hexham) (7) at 20^th.