AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - Winning start for the county side in the Area Team Championship

Ayrshire got off to the best possible start in the 2005 Area Team Championship with a 5.5 - 3.5 away win over Argyll & Bute at Rothesay, on Sunday 15th May, in the first of the series of matches in Section D.

The Ayrshire side for the match included the 3 Scottish Boys Internationalists from Kilmarnock (Barassie), David Addison, Steven McEwan and Robert McKnight, along with the Prestwick St. Cuthbert pair, David Glass and Steven Wallace and Loudoun's Tommy McInally.

In the morning foursomes, Ayrshire Matchplay Champion, David Addison was paired with Champion Of Champions Trophy holder Tommy McInally. Despite the pedigree of their match play prowess, the Ayrshire players were defeated 5 & 4 by the local pairing of G. Bolton & G. Reynolds, who used their knowledge of the course to good effect.

The Barassie duo of Steven McEwan and Robert McKnight secured a half match after confidently getting up and down at the final green, and in the final tie the St. Cuthbert duo of David Glass and Steven Wallace had a comfortable win over D. Hunter and R. Currie to ensure that honours were even at 1.5 - 1.5 going into the afternoon singles.

David Addison faced a stiff challenge in the lead match in the afternoon, taking on Rothesay club champion and recent winner of the Edward Trophy, Graeme Bolton, and despite his efforts, Addison was closed out at the 17th hole by 3 & 1.

Steven McEwan levellled the match again with a comfortable 3 & 2 win against David Hunter, and when both Tommy McInally and Robert McKnight secured vital half matches, the match remained finely balanced.

David Glass was in total control of his tie against afternoon replacement, J. O'Donnell, winning 7 & 6 to edge Ayrshire into the lead and leaving Steven Wallace requiring a half match for overall victory.

In the final tie on the course, Steven Wallace faced L. Pirie. 1 hole ahead at the last, Steven Wallace slotted home a 12 foot putt for par to take the final hole for a 2 hole victory and an overall team win by 5.5 - 3.5.

MATCH DETAILS :-

Morning Foursomes

Tommy McInally & David Addison lost to G. Bolton & G. Reynolds 5 & 4
Robert McKnight & Steven McEwan halved with L. Pirie & G. MacMillan
David Glass & Steven Wallace beat D. Hunter & R. Currie 5 & 4

Argyll & Bute 1.5 Ayrshire 1.5

Afternoon Singles

David Addison lost to G. Bolton 3 & 1
Steven McEwan beat D. Hunter 3 & 2
Tommy McInally halved with G. MacMillan
Robert McKnight halved with G. Reynolds
David Glass beat J. O'Donnell 7 & 6
Steven Wallace beat L. Pirie 2 holes

Argyll & Bute 2 Ayrshire 4

MATCH RESULT :- Argyll & Bute 3.5 Ayrshire 5.5

In the other match in the section, Perth and Kinross suffered a rare home defeat at Alyth, going down by 6.5 - 2.5 to Renfrewshire.

Ayrshire now have two home matches in the remaining section matches, facing Perth & Kinross on 31st July and Renfrewshire on 18th September, with both matches scheduled to be played at Brunston Castle.