Hill will use next events to make up for Monifieth woe

TANTALLON teenager Calum Hill, the last Lothians player to bow out of this year’s Scottish Boys’ Championship, is 
hoping a double date can help him forget his disappointment at Monifieth.

The eighth seed crashed out in the last 16, losing 5 and 4 to Ayrshireman Stuart Easton on a bright but breezy day on the Angus coast.

It followed exits earlier on the fourth day for Hill’s clubmate Lewis Reid, Dalmahoy’s Callum Cochrane and Alastair Thurlow of Murrayfield.

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Hill’s biggest frustration about his defeat was that he’d not putted particularly well throughout the event.

“I just wasn’t good enough on the greens to compete out there,” admitted the 17-year-old after falling short in his bid to improve on reaching the semi-finals at Dunbar two years ago.

Two down after four, Hill’s sole success in the match came at the eighth, but his opponent then chipped at the tenth and also won the 12th with a birdie.

“Stuart was one-under for the holes played and I don’t think anyone would have been able to beat him this afternoon,” reported Hill. “As well as the chip-in, he got up and down a lot.”

Hill’s next outing is for Merchiston Castle in the British Schools’ Final at Royal St George’s next week. After that, he’s part of the Scotland squad competing in the prestigious McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath.

“I’m still looking forward to having a good season,” insisted Hill, who is off to college in America later in the year.

Reid, who lives on the outskirts of Glasgow but has played his golf in North Berwick for the last seven years, saw his title bid ended by Powfoot’s Duncan McNeill.

The 15-year-old lost that one 3 and 2, but has three more cracks at the prestigious title, starting at West Kilbride in 
12 months time.

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Cochrane, the Lothians Boys’ champion, and Thurlow also lost in morning fourth-round matches.

Against a player who later took title favourite Ewan Scott to the last green, Cochrane went down 5 and 4 to Nairn’s Andrew Burgess.

Thurlow, who had given an excellent account of himself to reach the last 32, saw his run ended by Glenbervie’s 
Blair Carnegie, who won their contest 4 and 2.

The failure to have a 
single Lothians representative in the last eight will no doubt be viewed as a disappointment in Capital golfing circles.

However, Paul Gibson, the Lothians junior convenor, and his team will waste no time in getting spirits raised again.

Lothians have won the 
Scottish Area Boys’ Team title for the last three years and will start as favourites again for that event at Prestwick St Cuthbert in June.

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