Golf: Sound advice sets Forrest up for the final hurdle

The 16-year-old, who won the Scottish Under-16 Championship just up the coast at Largs last summer, was up against Ian Redford of St Andrews New in the 36-hole final.

And he had high hopes of emulating Musselburgh kid Lee Harper's title triumph in the same event at West Kilbride 11 years ago thanks to some words of wisdom from Porteous.

Forrest, a fifth-year pupil at Stewart's Melville, revealed he'd been keeping in touch with his coach by phone this week and the advice had certainly been helpful.

"I tend to blame myself when I miss putts but Jonathan told me that you can hit good putts yet there are so many things that can still stop the ball going into the hole," he said. "Dave Peltz (the putting guru] has researched that in his books and Jonathan told me that you shouldn't be ashamed of yourself if you've hit a good putt and the key is trying to stay in control of your emotions."

Forrest, who reached the third round at Royal Aberdeen 12 months ago, secured his place in today's title showdown with two excellent wins on the fifth day of action on the Ayrshire coast.

In the sixth round, he kicked on after a crucial up and down for a half at the 12th to beat Elderslie 15-year-old Alasdair McDougall by 3 and 1.

Then, in the afternoon, he produced his best golf of the week for a two-hole win over Jack McDonald, the 17-year-old tournament favourite from Barassie.

All square after 12, Forrest won the 13th and 14th with birdies to establish a timely cushion and was round in five-under-par.

"I knew I had to play my best golf of the week in this match," admitted Forrest afterwards. "After going two up early on, I made a couple of silly mistakes to lose the sixth and seventh and it was tit for tat for a spell.

"The birdie at the 13th, where I hit a utility club from 200 yards to 20 feet, was key and I was delighted to beat Jack."

As well as seeing his golf game improve since that under-16s title triumph, Forrest has also benefitted from the strength and conditioning work he's been doing at St Leonard's gym in the city.

"I've put on a stone since October and that has definitely helped as I can now hit a good drive about 270 yards," he revealed.

Forrest first played golf at Bathgate when his family lived in Livingston. They then moved to Aberlady and are now at Archerfield.

"I've definitely benefitted from being a member at Craigielaw, where the practice facilities are excellent and we've also got the six-hole short course," he said.

As well as trying to become the first Lothians player to lift the Scottish Boys' title since Baberton's Paul Ferrier at Dunbar in 2007, Forrest was also aiming to complete a hat-trick of national title triumphs for Craigielaw.

Shaun McAllister made the breakthrough for the fledgling East Lothian club when he won the Scottish Boys' Stroke Play Championship in 2006 before Forrest chalked up his success last year.

Forrest was joined by four of his young clubmates in Ayrshire this week, with a number of others, including Lothians junior champion Simon Fairburn and Craig Howie from Peebles, also being members at Craigielaw.