Golf: Callum aiming to make sure England clash isn't over Hill

CALLUM HILL is hoping the confidence he's gained from a terrific run in the Scottish Boys' Championship will earn him a crack at the Auld Enemy later this year.

The 15-year-old from North Berwick saw his glory bid ended at Dunbar in the semi-finals as he lost 6 and 5 to title favourite Liam Johnston.

Earlier in the day, Hill, a Tantallon member, had chalked up another good scalp on the East Lothian coast when beating Greig Marchbank by 4 and 3.

And, with two more tilts at the title, he is confident he can go all the way in the event before his boys' career comes to an end.

"Getting to the semi-finals in only my second appearance in the event has been a good achievement," said Hill, a product of the clubgolf programme run by Martin Huish in North Berwick. "I've got two more attempts to come and I'll be giving it my best shot to improve on this effort."

The last Lothian representative in the event's 70th staging, Hill got off to the worst possible start against Johnston.

After driving into a bunker up the right, he found more sand with his second to immediately find himself behind.

He also lost the second and, though he never gave up fighting, Johnston was always in the driving seat from that point on.

"The bad start killed me," added Hill. "I didn't feel nervous, but Liam was solid all the way."

Hill missed out on a place in the Scotland team facing Wales, Ireland and Holland in a four-sided under-16s event at Royal Musselburgh next week.

He has no complaints about that but is determined the same thing doesn't happen when the Scots face England in an annual match at the same level later in the year.

"The team for next week's match was based on four events over the winter and I didn't do well enough in them to get picked," he said.

"But there are other team matches to come this year and my big target is to get into the side to face England."

He also his his sights set on a strong challenge in the Lothians Boys' Championship up at the Braids.

"I've not played that in the past due to the US Kids' Golf European Championship in East Lothian," he added.

"But I'll be in the field this year and will be giving it a good go because I am feeling very confident at the moment."

Johnston's reward for beating Hill was a title clash today with Troon Welbeck's David Wilson.

As one of the seeds, Johnston headed into that encounter as the firm favourite - but that suited Wilson to a tee. "I know I'm the underdog, but I like that," said the 17-year-old Ayrshireman,