SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - 19 Ayrshire boys bid for national title

19 of the best young golfers in Ayrshire are in the starting field of 256 for the 2008 Scottish Boys Championship, which takes place at Southerness Golf Club from 7th to 12th April.

Alan Bruce (Kilmarnock Barassie) is the first of the Ayrshire boys in action when he tees off in the second match, at 0653 on Monday 7th April, against Steven Sidowra (Camperdown)

Scott Brown (Turnberry) - pictured right - is off at 0717 on the Monday, against local player Liam Johnston (Pines), and also in action early on day one is Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) - pictured left - who is one of the players fancied for the title, and opens his bid against Jamie Binning (Ranfurly Castle).

The two Ayrshire players have the prospect of facing each other in round 2, should they progress on the Monday.

As well as Michael Stewart, the Troon Welbeck club provide three other players in the championship :- Sam Findlater, Marc Smith and Charles Doyle.

Kilmarnock (Barassie) also have Andrew Wright (pictured above left) and Kyle Smith (pictured above right) in the field alongside Alan Bruce, whilst Ayr Belleisle are represented by 2007 quarter finalist Scott Clark (pictured below right), 2007 Ayrshire Boys Matchplay finalist Adam Foley (pictured below left), as well as Callum Stewart and Murray McBride.

The north of the county are represented by Fraser Lawrie (West Kilbride) - pictured below -, Michael Roos (West Kilbride), Colin Robinson (Millport) and Calum Crowe (Kilbirnie Place).

The remaining two Ayrshire players in the field are Craig Goodwin (Loudoun Gowf) and Craig Hessett (Prestwick St. Nicholas, who is scheduled to tee off in the last of the first round matches, on the Tuesday afternoon.

DETAILS OF FIRST ROUND TIES INVOLVING AYRSHIRE PLAYERS :-

MONDAY 7TH APRIL

Match 2 - 0653 - Steven Sidowra (Camperdown) Vs. ALAN BRUCE (Kilmarnock Barassie)

Match 5 - 0717 - SCOTT BROWN (Turnberry) Vs. Liam Johnston (Pines)

Match 6 - 0725 - MICHAEL STEWART (Troon Welbeck) Vs. Jamie Binning (Ranfurly Castle)

Match 13 - 0821 - Stuart Wylie (Mount Ellen) Vs. SAM FINDLATER (Troon Welbeck)

Match 20 - ANDREW WRIGHT (Kilmarnock Barassie) Vs. Ali Begg (Muir Of Ord)

Match 24 - 0953 - Greg Haddow (Balmore) Vs. CALLUM STEWART (Ayr Belleisle)

Match 32 - 1101 - FRASER LAWRIE (West Kilbride) Vs. Ryan Asher (Nairn)

Match 38 - 1149 - COLIN ROBINSON (Millport) Vs. Bryan Wharton (Kirkhill)

Match 39 - 1157 - MARC SMITH (Troon Welbeck) Vs. Jack Scott (Deeside)

Match 47 - 1305 - Taylor Matthews (West Lothian) Vs. ADAM FOLEY (Ayr Belleisle)

Match 54 - 1401 - Graeme Duncan (Shotts) Vs. MURRAY McBRIDE (Troon Welbeck)

Match 56 - 1417 - Jeff Wright (Forres) Vs. MICHAEL ROOS (West Kilbride)

Match 65 - 1533 - Fraser McKenna (Balmore) Vs. CALUM CROWE (Kilbirnie Place)

Match 71 - 1621 - SCOTT CLARK (Ayr Belleisle) Vs. Bryan Robertson (Renfrew)

TUESDAY 8TH APRIL

Match 81 - 0733 - Taylor Edwards (Lochmaben) Vs. CHARLES DOYLE (Troon Welbeck)

Match 90 - 0849 - Sean Thompson (St. Andrews) Vs. CHRISTOPHER BUTLER (Irvine Ravenspark)

Match 97 - 0945 - KYLE SMITH (Kilmarnock Barassie) Vs. Sam Binning (Ranfurly castle)

Match 116 - 1221 - CRAIG GOODWIN (Loudoun Gowf) Vs. Christopher McManus (Douglas Park)

Match 128 - 1401 - Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) Vs. CRAIG HESSETT (Prestwick St. Nicholas)