Golf: Bain hungry for success as he reaches quarter-finals

LEWIS BAIN, the last Lothians player standing in the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Boys Championship, was running on low heading into this morning’s quarter-finals at Murcar Links.

“It is quite a tiring week,” admitted the Turnhouse player after winning an all-Lothians fifth-round clash against Craigmillar Park’s Fraser Christie.

Bain, last year’s Lothians Boys’ champion, had little time to recharge his batteries between his two games on the fourth day on the north-east coast.

After a final-green win over Kingussie’s Jordan Shaw in the morning, he just had time to grab a quick bite to eat before he was back on the tee to face Christie in the last 16. “I only really had half an hour between the two matches,” added 18-year-old Bain.

Perhaps that explained his slow start against Christie, who was quickly into his stride to be four up after just six holes.

Helped by his younger opponent losing a ball at the eighth, Bain started to chip away at that deficit and eventually prevailed on the last green.

“I never got settled at the start and also putted poorly,” he said. “But I love match-play, especially in weather like this when most people would be struggling to keep a score going.”

The victory earned him a last-eight clash against Cowglen’s Alan Waugh, with the winner facing either Blairgowrie’s Bradley of Ewan Scott of St Andrews in the semi-finals.

Neil and Scott were the last seeds standing heading into the event’s fifth day but Bain was bullish about his chances of going all the way.

“With so many of the Scottish squad players out, anyone has a chance now,” he said. “Having got this far, I have to believe I can now go all the way.”

Next up for Christie is the forthcoming British Independent Schools’ final at Carnoustie, where he will be on duty for Heriots.

Bain and Christie were left to fly the Lothians flag in the fifth round after Alexander Wilson (The Renaissance), Adam Loch (Pumpherston) and Callum Cochrane (Marriott Dalmahoy) all suffered morning defeats.

• WEST LINTON’S Gareth Wright took a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the Optical Express 54-holer at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire. The Leith-based player shot a second-round 71 for a ten-under-par total of 134.