Golf: Thain blazes a trail at Braids

WEST LINTON'S Fraser Thain produced the best golf of the night in the second round of the Golf Finance-sponsored Lothians Boys' Championship at the Braids, writes MARTIN DEMPSTER.

Thain, runner-up to Craigielaw's Grant Forrest in last season's Scottish Under-16 Championship, was six-under-par for 13 holes in beating Lee Morgan of Newbattle by 6 and 5. He won the first five holes – the fourth with an eagle-2 – and was out in 31, four-under before starting for home with a birdie at the tenth and then halving the 11th with birdies.

Thain's opponent in tonight's semi-finals is Anthony Blaney, the Liberton player having underlined his title credentials by beating Bathgate's Louis Gaughan, the top seed.

In a cracking encounter, Blaney edged in front with a birdie-2 at the ninth before also claiming the tenth and 11th, both with birdies, to go three up.

Gaughan, last year's beaten finalist, hit back with a birdie at the 12th only to three-putt the 14th to lose that and Blaney went on to win by 3 and 2.

Craigielaw clubmates Simon Fairburn and Ewen Donaldson meet in the other match tonight. Fairburn, the defending champion, beat Bathgate's Greg Miller 4 and 2, while Donaldson was all square with Longniddry's Michael Bacigalupo with three to play but won the 16th with par and the 17th with a birdie-2.