A HOST of the country’s leading young golfers descend on Ayrshire next week, with the prestigious Scottish Boys Championship returning to the wonderful test of West Kilbride.

While the world’s best will seek to wrap the Green Jacket around their shoulders at Augusta National for The Masters, a talented field of 256 Under-18 boys will chase national glory over the much-loved links from Monday, April 7.

For the domestic season’s traditional curtain-raiser, the picturesque course – offering spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde to the island of Arran – stages the knockout event for the 11th time since first visiting in 1979, when Duncan Weir, now Executive Director – Working for Golf at The R&A, came out on top.

Other winners at the par-71 venue down the years have included Callander’s Ben Collier, three-in-a-row Boys champion Steven Young (Inverallochy) and Grant Forrest, with Scotland’s highest-ranked amateur taking the title at the last West Kilbride staging in 2010.

A new name will be on the trophy this year, with Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil – who defeated Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 4&2 in last year’s final at Monifieth – sitting the event out as the teenager focuses on making continuing inroads at Men’s level in 2014, From 313 entries, remarkably the same number of entries as for the 2006 event at West Kilbride won by James White, the handicap ballot came at 5.8.

Such is the nature of matchplay, picking a favourite is difficult but a number of players will fancy their chances. Not least Ewen Ferguson from Bearsden, who showed his knockout qualities to become the first Scot in almost 10 years to win last year’s British Boys title.

The SGU National Boys’ Squad player also reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Boys last year, as well as the last eight of the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship at Blairgowrie.

“You need to grind it out in matchplay, it doesn’t need to be pretty, it’s about getting the job done,” said Ferguson, who feels fitter and stronger after being part of the SGU’s winter performance programmes in Abu Dhabi and South Africa. “It’s important not to get ahead of yourself and stay patient.

“I played in my first Scottish Boys at West Kilbride in 2010 when I was 13, reaching the third round, and I’ve played it a few times over the years.” Ferguson has been picking the brains of 2008 Boys champion and young pro Michael Stewart, adding: “I was at Glasgow Gailes earlier this week with Mikey. It was nice to get some practice with him, play different links shots and feed off his experience. He has always been good with me at passing on advice.” St Andrews’ Ben Kinsley, newly-crowned Junior Champion of Champions winner Niall McMullen (Lundin) and Marriott Dalmahoy’s Murray Naysmith will also hope to be in the mix next week, as will Michael Lawrie from Deeside, set to be watched in person by his father Paul, the former Open champion and Ryder Cup hero.

Robert MacIntyre, the Glencruitten left-hander, is also one to watch, as he seeks to add to his two national titles from 2013 – the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths and the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Scottish Boys Stroke Play.

MacIntyre, fit again after pulling out of last week’s rescheduled Junior Champion of Champions due to illness, said: “The game is feeling pretty good and I’m ready to go.

“It’s match play, at the end of the day, and I wouldn’t say anyone is the favourite. It’s all about on the day. If I play well, I have a chance. If I don’t, I’ll be out early.

“After winning the two national events last year, it is something I’ve thought about. It would be good to win this one to cap it all off.” Entry at West Kilbride is free all week to spectators, with Saturday’s final played over 36 holes.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.