DAY ONE OF SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

  FAVOURITE FERGUSON SURVIVES 

FIRST-ROUND WEST KILBRIDE SCARE

FROM THE SGU WEBSITE
Ewen Ferguson and Murray Naysmith, among the fancied players at this week’s Scottish Boys Championship, overcome day one scares to keep their title tilt on course at West Kilbride.
On a first day that ended in glorious late sunshine on the Ayrshire coast, the leading lights continued to shine brightly as all five seeded players in action progressed to round two – keeping alive their dreams of following in the spike marks of past winners such as Andrew Coltart, Steven O’Hara and Scott Henry.
For Ferguson, the top seed, there is much expectancy, especially as he thrived in the knockout format in 2013, winning the British Boys title at Hoylake – the first Scot to do so in almost 10 years – and reaching the last-eight of the Scottish Boys and Scottish Amateur Championships.

Ferguson tees off in round one triumph

The Bearsden player was therefore mighty relieved to come through on the final green against Robert Hughan, the big-hitting 17-year-old from Newton Stewart, playing in his fourth Boys’ Championship.
Ferguson, 17, looked in control, two ahead after 10 holes, before Hughan’s spectacular holed 60-yard chip for an eagle 2 at the short par-4 11th and a birdie at the par-3 12th drew him level.
It was nip and tuck from there, until Hughan “chunked a wedge” at the 17th and Ferguson walked through the open door to close out a narrow victory on the 18th.
“Fair play to him, he is a fighter and never gave up,” said Ferguson, the SGU Boys’ Squad player. “A wee bit of pressure for me at this stage is maybe no bad thing and I kept my head cool. I’m trying to keep the same mindset this week and didn’t show my emotions to him.”
“I thought I was going to get cuffed when I saw the draw, so I’m pleased in a way,” admitted Hughan.
Naysmith, meanwhile, last year’s winner of the Paul Lawrie Foundation Junior Jug, found himself three down at the turn to Lochwinnoch’s Fraser Lawrie.
Giving himself a shake on the 10th tee, he decided to be “ruthless” and “attack”. The results were immediate as he reeled off five holes in a row to turn the tie around and stand two up on the 15th tee.
“I think I need to be ruthless no matter who I’m playing,” said the Marriott Dalmahoy player after his one-hole victory. “I worked hard over the winter, but I’ve not played much match play so I’m just feeling my way back into it.”
Lundin’s Niall McMullen, the recent winner of the rescheduled Junior Champion of Champions, was another seed to progress, beating Ogilvie Robertson (pictured) from Kinross 3&2.

Naysmith turned the tide to win

Later in the day as the earlier overcast conditions gave way to a gorgeous evening, Stuart Easton (Irvine) and Calum Fyfe (Cawder) completed the quintet of seeds to claim victories.
Elsewhere, the biggest win of the day came late on from Campbell Mathieson (Troon Welbeck) after his thumping 8&7 success over Luke Ralston of Cawder. Paul Dorrian from Greenock also dished out an 8&6 defeat of Rory Asher (Nairn).
To the other extreme, Drumpellier’s Innes Ferguson needed four extra holes before seeing off the challenge of Jack Cummings (Uphall), as players across the day’s 74 ties enjoyed the challenge presented by the links, some perhaps distracted by the wonderful views to Arran.
Peebles’ Darren Howie, brother of Craig, the 2012 champion at Murcar Links, also progressed to round two.
Deeside’s Michael Lawrie, youngest son of Open champion Paul, and second seed Robert MacIntyre, the left-hander from Glencruitten, begin their challenges tomorrow.
> View day one scores from the Scottish Boys Championship
> View more information on West Kilbride GC
All photos: Kenny Smith Photography