Golf: Boyle proves hot to handle

STUART BOYLE boosted his hopes of making the Lothians team for the revamped Scottish Area Championship – by dishing out a rare defeat to captain Keith Nicholson on East Lothian soil.

The Harburn player beat Nicholson 3 and 2 at Craigielaw playing for a youths/boys' select against the Lothians men's side.

Boyle also won his match, 4 and 3 against Ryan Campbell, as Lothians beat Stirlingshire in a friendly at the Glen the following day.

Despite his own defeat, Nicholson reckoned the Craigielaw match had been a "worthwhile exercise" as experience prevailed over youth. The men won 10-2, though, like Boyle, Tom Blennerhasset put a feather in his cap in beating Steven Armstrong.

Having won 9-1 in a match against Kingsknowe, the previous weekend, Lothians kept up the good work with their narrow victory against Stirlingshire.

Lothians 5, Stirlingshire 4: (Lothians names first): M Hillson lost to C Mundie one hole; M Cunningham bt A Lynch 3 and 2; M Timmins lost to C Lawton 2 and 1; K Young lost to N Cunningham two holes; S Boyle bt R Campbell 4 and 3; D Muir bt S McLaughlan 3 and 2; S Simants bt L Blair 3 and 2; S Neilson lost to M Cox one hole; D Miller bt R Kane 6 and 5; K Nicholson halved with K Anderson.

Lothians Men's Select 10, Lothians Youths/Boys Select 2: Z Culverwell bt M Cunningham 3 and 2; M Hillson bt S Buckley one hole; A Dick bt O Huish one hole; S Armstrong lost to T Blennerhasset one hole; K Nicholson lost to S Boyle 3 and 2; M Timmins bt G Forrest 2 and 1; S Smith bt F Thain 6 and 5; D Miller bt G Duncan 5 and 4; K Reilly bt J Rhind 4 and 3; S Neilson bt C Low two holes; D Warner bt E Donaldson two holes; K Messer bt L Gaughan 6 and 5.