Golf: Lothians' new talent given chance to come to the fore

LOTHIANS captain Keith Nicholson has plumped mainly for experience in his first team selections for the new season – but is hoping at least one young gun can force his way into the side for the revamped Scottish Area Team Championship.

The 13-times winners start their build up with a match against Kingsknowe on Saturday before two matches next weekend. Craigielaw stages a men's select v boys/youths select on the Saturday before Stirlingshire visit the Glen the next day for a friendly.

The former will be a singles format and Nicholson admits he's looking forward to seeing how players like Grant Forrest, the Scottish Under-16 champion, Tom Blennerhasset and Stuart Boyle fare against more experienced opponents.

"We opted to play the Craigielaw match as singles as it will give myself and the selectors a better chance of seeing how players perform on their own," said Nicholson. "We need to see them stand up and be counted and, hopefully, one or two of them can produce performances that will open our eyes as we start to think about the team for the Scottish Area Championship (at Kinross on May 15-16)."

With that on the horizon, Nicholson grabbed the offer to play against Kingsknowe, where it will be fourball better ball on the front nine then singles on the back nine. He added: "It will still be competitive and the more games the better between now and the Area Championship."

Team to play Kingsknowe on Saturday: A Armstrong (Turnhouse), S Boyle (Harburn), M Cunningham (Craigielaw), D Muir (Dunbar), S Neilson (Dunbar), K Nicholson (Haddington), K Reilly (Silverknowes), S Simmants (Dunbar), M Timmins (Pumpherston), K Young (Glencorse).

Teams for Men's Select vs Boys/Youths Select at Craigielaw on Saturday, 27 March: Men: S Armstrong, A Culverwell (Dunbar), A Dick (Kingsknowe), M Hillson (Craigielaw), D Miller (Duddingston), S McGarvey (Glencorse), S Neilson, K Nicholson, S Smith (Duddingston), M Timmins, K Young. Boys/Youths: S Boyle, T Blennerhasset (Dalmahoy), S Buckley (Royal Burgess), M Cunningham, E Donaldson (Craigielaw), G Duncan (Kingsknowe), G Forrest (Craigielaw), C Low (Tantallon), O Huish (North Berwick), F Thain (West Linton), L Gaughan (Bahgate), J Rhind (Uphall).

Team vs Stirlingshire (The Glen, Sunday, 28 March): S Boyle, M Cunningham, M Hillson, D Miller, D Muir, S Neilson, K Nicholson, S Simmants, M Timmins, K Young.