ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON AMATEUR GOLF IN AYRSHIRE

Sunday, November 27, 2005

5,000 and counting !!!!

Thanks to those who have been logging on to the site over the past year or so, who have taken the number of visits beyond the 5,000 mark.

Whilst we will continue to bring news of county events via the site, we would also be happy to hear any newsworthy items from clubs in Ayrshire. If your club has any news which may be of interest, send details to aj-malcolm@fsmail.net .

With the onset of winter golf, there is not a great deal to report on, but keep logging on over the winter months, for any news and information on the 2006 season.

Monday, November 21, 2005

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Secretary and Assistant Secretary to retire at the Annual General Meeting

Ayrshire Junior Golf League Secretary Alasdair Malcolm (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) and Assistant Secretary Alastair Graham (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) have both intimated their intention to retire from their respective posts at the Annual General Meeting on 5th December.

Both post holders, who were elected at the Annual General Meeting in 1989, have just completed their 16th season administering The League and associated competitions, and were both elected Honorary Members of The League in 2002, in recognition of their services to junior golf in the county.

Alasdair Malcolm will continue to serve on the Ayrshire Golf Association Executive, a position he has also served in for 16 years, with particular responsibility for the Ayrshire Boys Championships and the junior Order Of Merit, whilst Alastair Graham's administrative experience is already being utilised within his home club.

2005 AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE ANNUAL DINNER - Barassie sweep the boards as McEwan retains Junior Golfer Of The Year award

Over 100 golfers and guests gathered at Irvine Ravenspark on Monday 7th November 2005 for the 37th annual Ayrshire Junior Golf League dinner, to honour the succesful teams and individuals from the 2005 season.

The impressive guest list included

GRAHAM EWART Scottish Golf Union President
IAN GUTHRIE Ayrshire Golf Association President
IAN BUNCH Secretary, Prestwick Golf Club
JIM PETTIGREW Captain, Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club
MILTON MURRAY Captain, Irvine Ravenspark Golf Club
DAVID REYNOLDS National Playing Fields Association
GRAHAM ROSS Coaching Professional
GREGOR HOWIE Coaching Professional
TOM FERGUSON Vice Captain, Prestwick St. Cuthbert Golf Club
SAM COULTER AJGL Honorary Member
ROBERT F. GRASSOM AJGL Honorary Member
IAIN HARVEY AJGL Honorary Member
RUSSELL CAMERON AJGL Honorary Member
CHARLES McGREGOR AJGL Honorary Member
ALASTAIR GRAHAM AJGL Honorary Member
ALASDAIR J. MALCOLM AJGL Honorary Member


League Chairman RICKY MAGEE (Caprington) presided over events which included an excellent meal and well supported raffle.

The evening culminated in the presentation of awards for the season, with a special presentation being made to WESCOT CREDIT SERVICES in recognition of many years of practical support given to The League. The award was accepted on behalf of the company by AJGL Honorary member, Bob Grassom.

David Reynolds of the National Playing Fields Association took on his now traditional role of presenting the first trophy of the evening, the Macrobert Thistle Junior Golfer Of The Year Trophy.

Despite some notable performances from other players in the county throughout the season, the very worthy winner for the second successive season was announced as STEVEN McEWAN (Kilmarnock Barassie) whose achievements during the year included wins in the Scottish Boys Strokeplay event, the AJGL Champion Of Champions Trophy and a number of other events and culminated in selection not only for his national team but also to represent GB & I in the match against the Rest Of Europe for the Jaques Leglise Trophy.

As Steven was unable to attend the dinner, due to a previous commitment to a coaching event in Portugal, the trophy was accepted on his behalf by his father TOMMY McEWAN.

In what proved to be an outstanding season for the Kilmarnock Barassie club, trophies won by club teams and individuals presented at the dinner included

THE MATT LYGATE TROPHY (Ayrshire Boys Team Champions)
THE PRESTWICK CIRCUITS TROPHY (Robert McKnight)
THE AYRSHIRE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP (Jamie Mackay)
THE AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY TROPHY (Euan Brown)
Order of merit - 6th place (David Currie)
Order Of Merit - 3rd place (Steven McEwan)
ORDER OF MERIT TROPHY WINNER (Jamie Mackay)
WALLACE THORNTON TROPHY
UNDER 16 KNOCKOUT TROPHY
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY (Steven McEwan)

Although Kilmarnock Barassie secured many of the trophies other clubs also had good performances throughout 2005

BALLOCHMYLE followed up their early season success in winning the ANDREW D. NIMMO TROPHY and the CARRICK TROPHY (David Robertson) with a semi final spot in the AJGL CHAMPIONSHIP

AYR BELLEISLE continued their good form of recent years with a semi final place in the AJGL CHAMPIONSHIP, whilst PRESTWICK ST. NICHOLAS, represented by Donald Hawthorn and Ryan Crane, took the keenly contested SILVER JUBILEE TROPHY at the annual convenors outing.

The ORDER OF MERIT trophy competition was again keenly contested this season, and created much interest amongs the junior golfers of the county. With generous support once again from Wilson Sporting Goods, and the hard work of Andy Clift and Ian Walker, the prize table for the Order Of Merit event was as impressive as ever.

The top 7 places, in reverse order, this season were :-

235 pts - DAVID CURRIE (Kilmarnock Barassie)
250 pts - JOHN SHANKS (Ardeer)
275 pts - CRAIG McLAUGHLIN (Largs)
305 pts - GRAEME GIMSON (Prestwick St. Cuthbert)
350 pts - STEVEN McEWAN (Kilmarnock Barassie)
375 pts - STUART ROBIN (Prestwick St. Nicholas)
660 pts - JAMIE MACKAY (Kilmarnock Barassie)

The presentation of prizes culminated in the awards to the runners up and winners of the 2005 AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Runners up in 2005 were ARDEER, who reached the final for a third successive season, and were bidding for a third title win in a row, before being ousted in the final match.

The 2005 league champions, winning the title for the first time since joining the League in 1988 were WEST KILBRIDE, and the winning team were present to accept the trophy from the SGU President, Graham Ewart.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks, proposed by League Vice Chairman, Robin Baker (Troon Welbeck)

2005 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Champions - WEST KILBRIDE Posted by Picasa

John Shanks receives the League Championship Runners Up pennant on behalf of ARDEER Posted by Picasa

League Championship Semi Finalists - BALLOCHMYLE  Posted by Picasa

League Championship Semi Finalists - AYR BELLEISLE Posted by Picasa

Champion Of Champions Trophy runner up - STUART ROBIN (Prestwick St. Nicholas) Posted by Picasa

Under 16 Knockout Trophy winners were KILMARNOCK BARASSIE Posted by Picasa

KILMARNOCK BARASSIE retained the WALLACE THORNTON TROPHY Posted by Picasa

AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY Champion Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) Posted by Picasa

AYRSHIRE BOYS CHAMPION Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie) Posted by Picasa

The PRESTWICK ST. NICHOLAS pairing of Ryan Crane and Donald Hawthorn who won the SILVER JUBILEE TROPHY Posted by Picasa

BALLOCHMYLE were the winners of the ANDREW D. NIMMO TROPHY Posted by Picasa

Jamie Mackay and Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) with the MATT LYGATE TROPHY Posted by Picasa

Tommy McEwan receives the Macrobert Thistle Junior Golfer Of The Year Trophy , on behalf of his son STEVEN McEWAN (Kilmarnock Barassie). Presenting the trophy is David Reynolds of The National Playing Fields Association Posted by Picasa

Order Of Merit Trophy winner 2005 - JAMIE MACKAY (Kilmarnock Barassie) Posted by Picasa

Order Of Merit runner up STUART ROBIN (Prestwick St. Nicholas) Posted by Picasa

Order of Merit 4th place winner - GRAEME GIMSON (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) Posted by Picasa

Order of merit 5th place - CRAIG McLAUGHLIN (Largs) Posted by Picasa

6th in the Order Of Merit - JOHN SHANKS (Ardeer) with Graham Ewart Posted by Picasa

Saturday, November 19, 2005

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - Youths have mixed results in West Inter County League

The Ayrshire youth team encountered some mixed results as the West Of Scotland Inter County league concluded recently.

After opening with a win and a draw in the first two matches, the youth side crashed to defeat against Stirlingshire at Dunblane, before recording a second win of the campaign, with a win at Barassie oferLanarkshire and finishing with a narrow defeat in their final match at Bearsden against Dumbartonshire.

At Dunblane on 22nd October, the team suffered defeats in the first five of the ten ties, and despite a couple of wins in the latter ties, narrow defeats suffered by Euan Brown and John Shanks ensured a win for the hosts.

Match details were :-

Stuart Robin (St. Nicholas) lost to Gavin Smith (Stirling) 5&4
John Sloan (Doon Valley) lost to Scott Aitken (Dunblane) 2&1
Ian Guthrie (Ballochmyle) lost to Craig McCann (Dunblane) 4&3
Graeme Gebbie (Loudoun) lost to Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 4&2
Gary Neil (Caprington) lost to Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 3&2
Alastair Leggate (Barassie) beat Colin Scott (Falkirk) 3&2
Jamie Mackay (Barassie) beat Brendan Watt (Stirling) 4&3
Euan Brown (Barassie) lost to Alan Brown (Kilsyth Lennox) 2&1
John Shanks (Ardeer) lost to Alan Kane (Falkirk Tryst) 1 hole
Craig McLaughlin (Largs) halved with Ross Kane (Grangemouth)

AYRSHIRE 2.5 STIRLINGSHIRE 7.5


A reshuffled team, with the return of Robert McKnight and Cameron Gray, faced Lanarkshire at Barassie on 29th October. With wins in the first four ties, later wins by Jamie Mackay and Ian Guthrie secured a win for the local side.

Match details were :-

Robert McKnight (Barassie) beat David Henderson (Hamilton) 1 hole
Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) beat Gordon Robertson (Drumpellier) 2 holes
John Sloan (Doon Valley) beat Christopher Kelly (Kirkhill) 5&4
Nicky Sinclair (Barassie) beat Brian Scott (Hamilton) 4&3
Stuart Robin (St. NIcholas) lost to Alan McCandlish (Kirkhill) 6&5
Alastair Leggate (Barassie) lost to Graham Molloy (Wishaw) 3&2
Jamie Mackay (Barassie) beat Robbie Main (Airdrie) 3&2
Graeme Gebbie (Loudoun) lost to Marcello Russo (Drumpellier) 3&1
Ian Guthrie (Ballochmyle) beat Ryan Delaney (Hamilton) 6&5
Craig McLaughlin (Largs) lost to Stewart Nelson (Kirkhill) 5&4

AYRSHIRE 6 LANARKSHIRE 4

In the final match of the campaign, on Saturday 5th November, Ayrshire travelled to Bearsden to play Dumbartonshire which resulted in a narrow win for the home side.

Match details were :-

Robert McKnight (Barassie) lost to Craig Harper (Lenzie) 3&2
Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) beat James McEwan (Clydebank) 2 &1
Ian Guthrie (Ballochmyle) beat Richard Graham (Hayston) 4&3
Nicky Sinclair (Barassie) lost to Martin Williams (Hayston) 2&1
Graeme Gebbie (Loudoun) lost to Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) 3&2
Alastair Leggate (Barassie) beat Simon Barras (Helensburgh) 4&3
Jamie Mackay (Barassie) halved with David Parlane (Helensburgh)
Craig McLaughlin (Largs) lost to Scott Moore (Clydebank) 3&2
Euan Brown (Barassie) beat Jack Meechan (Dullatur) 1 hole
Gary Neil (Caprington) lost to Robbie King (Dumbarton) 6&5

AYRSHIRE 4.5 DUMBARTONSHIRE 5.5