Golf: Kerr leads Capital boys' title charge

WILLEM KERR, a 15-year-old with a German mother and a Dutch Christian name, produced a stirring fight-back to join fellow Capital youngster Anthony Blaney and tournament favourite Jack McDonald in the third round of the Scottish Boys' Championship at West Kilbride.

Playing in the event for the first time, Kerr, a Heriot's pupil, was two down with five to play against Paisley's Philip Gordon but squeezed through on the final green.

He won the 14th with a birdie and then took both the 15th and 17th – pars proved good enough at them – as well to set up a clash today with Mount Ellen's Nicky Clenaghan.

"I'm pretty happy to have won that one," said Kerr, who reached the final of the Craigmillar Park club championship last year and has just joined Craigielaw.

Blaney, the rising star at Liberton, cruised into the third round with a thumping 9 and 7 win over Crieff's Sean Gadsby.

Enjoying the best of the weather late in the day, Blaney was one-under for the 11 holes played and is hoping he can keep up the good work against Mark Smith from Troon Welbeck.

McDonald, bidding to complete the Scottish Boys' double after lifting the stroke-play title at Ladybank last summer, proved too strong for Craigielaw's Euan Mackay winning 4 and 3.

Simon Fairburn, who won the Lothians Junior Championship last year playing out of Craigielaw but has entered this event out of Torwoodlee, his home club, came through the longest match of the week so far in his opening match. His opponent, Harry Whittle from Woburn, holed from 20 feet at the last to take the tie into extra holes and Fairburn was kicking himself after missing from no more than four feet to win it at the 19th.

After Whittle had failed to convert a chance from eight feet at the next, Fairburn holed from ten feet to stay alive at the fifth extra hole before getting two in two putts at the 24th to go through.

His opponent in the second round is Euan Paterson, the 18-year-old Bruntsfield Links giant, who recovered from losing the opening two holes to beat Newtown Stewart's Scott Whannel on the home green.

Like Fairburn, Tantallon's Calum Hill and Nathan Free of Craigielaw won matches in extra-time, while other Lothians players to keep their hopes alive included Musselburgh's Cameron Marr, Euan Bowden from the Glen and Gullane's Greg Houlston.