Jack McDonald is in search of home comfort

Jack McDonald will be aiming to make home advantage count when he launches his assault on the British Boys' championship title at Barassie and Dundonald today.

The Kilmarnock teenager, who won the Scottish Boys' Strokeplay title last season, is one of 252 players teeing up in the 36-hole qualifying stage of an event that boasts a list of winners including Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia and Rhys Davies.

"Barassie is a course where it's important to have local knowledge," said host club member McDonald, who will be looking to become the first Scot to win on home soil since Steven O'Hara triumphed at Ladybank in 1998.

"I've played Dundonald a lot too so that will be a big advantage this week."

McDonald will be joined in an international field by current Scottish Boys' champion Grant Forrest of Craigielaw and the in-form Blairgowrie youngster Bradley Neil, who has won both the Scottish and English Open under-14 titles over the past month.

Italian 14-year-old Domenico Geminiani, who became the youngest player to compete in a European Tour event when he teed up in the Italian Open back in May of this year, is also in action this week.