SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - Easton is sole Ayrshire hope in last 32

Stuart Easton

Boys internationalist Stuart Easton (Irvine GC) is Ayrshire's sole remaining hope for the 2014 Scottish Boys Championship, being held this week at West Kilbride GC, as the championship reached the last 32 stage.

The championship began on Monday with the early plaudits going to Campbell Mathieson (Troon Welbeck) who recorded the highest winning score of the day with a 8 & 7 victory over Luke Ralston (Cawder).

Easton eased through his first round tie on Monday against Lewis Black (Bruntsfield Links) with a 4 & 3 win, whilst his clubmate Ross McDonald also won through to round 2 with a 3 & 1 win over Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright).

Other first round winners on Monday included Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) who beat Keith Bowman (St Andrews New) by 2 & 1, Jack Thomas (Irvine) with a 3 & 1 win over Dylan Burt (Bellshill), Luke Murdoch (Loudoun) who beat Andrew Webber (Lenzie) by 1 hole and Jordan Sweeney (Ayr Belleisle) who went through courtesy of a 1 hole win over David Mackinnon (Peterhead)

Ayrshire players who departed in round 1 on Monday were Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) who last 5 & 4 to Ross Robertson (Old Ranfurly), Robert Meddings (Ayr Belleisle) who lost by the same margin to Ryan Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon), Andrew Gordon ,who lost 3 & 2 to Stuart Lavelle (Dumbarton), Blair Gavin (Kilmarnock Barassie) who agonisingly lost at the 21st to Jack Williams (Sandyhills). Adam Wilson (Ayr Belleisle) who was defeated 6 & 5 by Daragh Cuddihy (Gourock) and finally Murray McCrone (Troon Welbeck)  who lost at the 19th to Josh Beatt (Fereneze).

Ayrshire interest in the remaining first round matches, played on Tuesday morning, were all but snuffed out, with only Hamish Mills, a member at Largs but playing out of Cardross, progressing to the second round, courtesy of a 4 & 3 win over Marc Reid (Royal Musselburgh).

The Ayrshire players who exited in round 1 on Tuesday included Sean Cook (Kilmarnock Barassie) who lost 3 & 1 to Gregor Macintosh (Mannings Heath), Connor McKay (Loudoun) who was beaten 3 & 1 by Conor Toal (Old Ranfurly), Jack Purdie (Largs) who lost by 2 & 1 to Pierce Whelan (Bathgate) and Connor Brooke (Prestwick St Nicholas) who went down 4 & 3 to Conor Harkness (Dumfries & Galloway).

Whilst Stuart Easton edged through his second round match on Tuesday with a 1 hole win over William Walker (Woodhall Spa) his clubmate Ross McDonald bowed out to a 5 & 3 defeat by Paul Dorrian (Greenock).

Also exiting in the second round was Campbell Mathieson (Troon Welbeck), courtesy of a 3 & 1 defeat by Cameron Fraser (Old Meldrum) whilst Hamish Mills kept his efforts on track with a 5 & 4 win over Jamie Sinnamon (Greenock Whinhill).

Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) was halted in round 2 with a 5 & 4 defeat by Findlay Soutar (Montrose Merchantile).

Second round defeats also befell Jack Thomas, who lost 4 & 2 to Ryan Lumsden (Royal Liverpool) and Luke Murdoch (Loudoun) who lost by 6 & 4 to Niall McMullen (Lundin), whilst Jordan Sweeney's hopes continued with a 19th hole win over Fergus Aitken (Cathcart Castle).

In round 3 on Wednesday, Jordan Sweeney (Ayr Belleisle) faced Innes Ferguson (Drumpellier) but lost out by 5 & 3, and when Hamish Mills lost by the same margin to Robert McIntyre (Glencruitten), Stuart Easton was the sole Ayrshire player left in the last 32.

On Thursday morning, Easton faces Callum McGuigan (Comrie) for a place in the last 16 of the competition.