McDonald suffers in Boys' championship

Jack McDonald was left cursing a late slip in the opening qualifying round of the rain-delayed Boys' Amateur championship at Barassie and Dundonald in Ayrshire yesterday.

While French youngster Julien Brun set the early clubhouse target with a superb seven-under 66 on the Barassie links, Kilmarnock teenager McDonald had to settle for a two-over 75 at his home course The former Scottish Boys' strokeplay champion had been making good progress at one-under through 16 holes but a bogey at 17 was followed by a double-bogey six on 18 as his bid for one of the 64 matchplay spots on offer after two rounds suffered a blow.

"It was a bad finish and I'm a bit disappointed," said McDonald. "But I'm playing fine and I just need to make sure I finish in that top 64."

Early leader Brun, 18, showed what could be done on a testing day and reeled off eight birdies in an impressive card as he charged to the top. Italy's Domenico Geminiani, 14, opened his campaign with a 70 at Barassie.

On the tough Dundonald Links, Pollok's Conor O'Neil posted a battling two-over 74 but Scottish Boys' matchplay champion Grant Forrest endured a torrid end to his round as he signed for a six-over 78.

The Craigielaw golfer, one-over with three to play, racked up a triple-bogey seven on the 16th and a double-bogey six on the last as he slithered down the field.

Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil also suffered and trudged in with an 84.