Golf: Forrest aims to chop down Scottish Boys' title rivals

Local member Grant Forrest, already winner of the Scottish boys' match-play championship in April and bidding to become the first player since Scott Henry in 2004 to to achieve the title double, will start the day's final 36 holes in third place, only one shot behind Linus Vaisanen (Finland) and Lloyd Best (Sherwood Forest).

Playing over your home course in such a situation can be a double-edged sword.

The burden of expectation from your fellow members can weigh you down so much you just cannot perform at your best. On the other hand, a lot of local support in the gallery can inspire a player to play above himself when the chips are down.

Forrest has had rounds of 69 and 71 so far for two-under-par 140. The young men in Grant's sights, Vaisanen and Best have both scored 67 and 72 for 139. So, in a match-play situation, Forrest would have lost to both in the first round and probably just beaten them both in the second round.

But it is by no means a three-horse race for the title. Only one shot behind Forrest are Jamie Lynch (Falkirk Tryst), with rounds of 74 and 67 and Scott Gibson (Southerness) after steadier scores of 70 and 71.

Lynch's 67 (31-36) was the best second round by anyone. He was a beaten semi-finalist in the Scottish boys championship at West Kilbride in April.

There is another Craigielaw member in the top 12 to draw the locals out in force. He's Euan Donaldson, joint 12th at halfway with rounds of 69 and 75 for 144.

Defending champion Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) has it all to do after a two-over par 73 left him six shots behind the leaders on 145, while 14-year-old Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), who won his second successive national Under-14s title last week, and Scottish boys championship beaten finalist Ian Redford both birdied the last hole to scrape inside the cut mark on 148, six-over par.