SCOTTISH U18 BOYS MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS TODAY

 

Forsyth Reflects on Davidson Duel as West Kilbride Prepares for Boys Tee Off

 

SGU MEDIA RELEASE

BY ED HODGE

Alastair Forsyth will always cherish his Scottish Boys memories, including a memorable match with ex-Scotland footballer Callum Davidson at West Kilbride, and has urged this week’s hopefuls to enjoy the perfect links test on its return to the Ayrshire venue.

 

The Paisley pro, back on the European Tour this season, fondly recalls his Boys’ appearances down the years, playing at West Kilbride on four straight occasions from 1990-93 and the staging at Dunbar in 1994.

Forsyth reached the final in 1992, beating now St Johnstone assistant manager Davidson in the third round en route, before losing out to Alan Reid (then of Kilmarnock Barassie) at the final hurdle. 

“I’m sure I beat Callum down the last,” recalls Forsyth. “I got to the final of the Boys that year which was a wee bit of a surprise, as I wasn’t involved in any Scottish squads at the time and was playing off a two or three handicap.

“I thought Callum was going to put golf before football, but he ended up doing not badly at that! He started at St Johnstone, got his move to Blackburn and won Scotland caps. He was one of those annoying people as a boy who was good at everything!”

A host of the country’s leading young golfers will seek to create their own special memories in Ayrshire from today. While the world’s best will seek to wrap the Green Jacket around their shoulders at Augusta National for the Masters, a talented field of 256 Under-18 boys will chase national glory. 

“It’s a brilliant week,” adds Forsyth, 38, a two-time European Tour winner. “It’s the event that traditionally kick starts the golf season in Scotland, together with The Masters on the television.

“The Scottish Boys sees a packed clubhouse at the start of the week and I’ve always felt there is a great atmosphere to the event. It’s the biggest thing you play as a boy until you get into the international ranks. West Kilbride is a good links course but isn’t that long so it works well for the boys. It’s the perfect test for them all, really.” 

West Kilbride – offering spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde to the island of Arran – stages the knockout event for the 11th time since first visiting in 1979, when Duncan Weir, now Executive Director – Working for Golf at The R and A, came out on top.

Other winners at the par-71 venue down the years have included Callander’s Ben Collier, three-in-a-row Boys champion Steven Young (Inverallochy) and Grant Forrest, with Scotland’s highest-ranked amateur taking the title at the last West Kilbride staging in 2010. Andrew Coltart, Steven O’Hara and Scott Henry are also past Scottish Boys’ champions. 

A new name will be on the trophy this year, with Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil – who defeated Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 4 and 2 in last year’s final at Monifieth – sitting the event out as the teenager focuses on making continuing inroads at Men’s level.

From 313 entries, remarkably the same number of entries as for the 2006 staging at West Kilbride won by James White, the handicap ballot came at 5.8. 

Such is the nature of matchplay, picking a favourite is difficult but a number of players will fancy their chances. Not least Ewen Ferguson from Bearsden, who showed his knockout qualities to become the first Scot in almost 10 years to win last year’s British Boys title.

The Scottish Golf Academy graduate also reached the quarter-finals of the Boys last year, as well as the last eight of the Scottish Amateur at Blairgowrie. 

“You need to grind it out in matchplay, it doesn’t need to be pretty, it’s about getting the job done,” said Ferguson, who feels fitter and stronger after being part of the SGU’s winter performance programmes in Abu Dhabi and South Africa. “It’s important not to get ahead of yourself and stay patient.

“I played in my first Scottish Boys at West Kilbride in 2010 when I was 13, reaching the third round, and I’ve played it a few times over the years.” 

Ferguson has been picking the brains of 2008 Boys champion and young pro Michael Stewart, adding: “I was practising at Glasgow Gailes last week with Mikey. It was nice to feed off his experience. He has always been good with me at passing on advice.”

St Andrews’ Ben Kinsley, newly-crowned Junior Champion of Champions winner Niall McMullen (Lundin) and Marriott Dalmahoy’s Murray Naysmith will also hope to be in the mix, as will Michael Lawrie from Deeside, set to be watched in person by his father Paul, the former Open champion and Ryder Cup hero. 

Robert MacIntyre, the Glencruitten left-hander, is also one to watch, as he seeks to add to his two national titles from 2013 – the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths and the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Scottish Boys Stroke Play.

MacIntyre added: “It’s match play, at the end of the day, and I wouldn’t say anyone is the favourite. It’s all about on the day. If I play well, I have a chance. If I don’t, I’ll be out early. After winning the two national events last year, it is something I’ve thought about. It would be good to win this one to cap it all off.”

 

Entry at West Kilbride is FREE all week to spectators, with Saturday’s final played over 36 holes. 

Follow live scores and latest news from the 2014 Scottish Boys Championship at www.scottishgolf.org or on Twitter @SGUGolf and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ScottishGolfUnion

 

ENDS