SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - 5 in and 7 out as Ayrshire challenge begins

The Ayrshire challenge for the 2010 Scottish Boys Championship began at West Kilbride on Monday 5th April with 12 local players beginning their bid for the title with first round matches.

First of the local players on the course in the morning, in match number 6, was Cameron MacLean of the host club. Despite local knowledge, MacLean bowed out of the tournament at the first stage, going down by 4 & 2 against Euan Mackay (Craigielaw).

In the first quarter of the draw, two other Ayrshire players bowed out in the first round, Patrick Timmons (Troon St. Meddans) losing at the 19th against Kevin Mustard (Elgin) whilst Sean Thorburn (Ayr Belleisle) went down by 5 & 4 to John Scott (East Renfrewshire).

It was left to two county players to maintain Ayrshire interest in the first quarter by winning through to round 2.

Scottish Boys Internationalist and present holder of the Boys Strokeplay title, Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) - pictured right - has been installed as one of the favourites for the title this week and he secured a second round place in style with a 6 & 4 win over Jordan Shaw (Kingussie) in round 1.

McDonald now faces a second round match against Cameron Maclean's conqueror, Euan Mackay (Craigielaw), on Tuesday afternoon.

Also through to round 2 in the first quarter is Marc Smith (Troon Welbeck) - pictured right - who defeated John Innes (Kirkcudbright) by 6 & 5 to set up a second round match on Tuesday against the first round victor over Patrick Timmons, Kevin Mustard (Elgin).

In the second quarter of the draw, two out of four local players succeeded in securing a second round place.

Callum Gorrie (Kilmarnock Barassie) bowed out of the championship, defeated on the last green by Jack Scott (Deeside), but not before he had given his opponent a fright by fighting back from a five hole defecit.

Also exiting in round one was Rory McKenzie (Troon Welbeck) who lost by 4 & 3 to Sean Burgess (Nairn).

Burgess now faces another Ayrshire player in round two on Wednesday morning after Ciar Porciani (Ayr Belleisle) beat Craig Mclay (Bishopbriggs) by 6 & 5 to reach the second round.

Also maintaining an Ayrshire interest in the second quarter is Graeme Ritchie (Troon Welbeck) who beat Evan Robertson (Inchmarlo) by 3 & 2 to secure a second round match on Wednesday morning against Euan Douglas (Dunblane New).

In the third quarter, 10 first round matches were played late on Monday afternoon, which resulted in one Ayrshire player going through and two others going out of the competition.

Ben Gibson (Troon Welbeck) lost by 5 & 4 to Ross Gillan (Torrance House) and Josh Nordbo (Largs) went down by 3 & 2 to Ryan Gordon (Alford), whilst , in the last match of the day, Callum Beveridge (Troon Welbeck) had a 2 hole win over Fergus Sandison (Blairgowrie) to set up a second roundf match on Wednesday against Ross Black (Alness).

Seven more Ayrshire hopefuls begin their title challenge with first round matches on Tuesday, four in the remaining third quarter matches and three in the fourth quarter of the draw, whilst Jack McDonald and Marc Smith will take on their second round opponents on Tuesday afternoon.