SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - 19 Ayrshire boys bid for national title

19 of the best young golfers in Ayrshire are in the starting field of 256 for the 2008 Scottish Boys Championship, which takes place at Southerness Golf Club from 7th to 12th April.

Alan Bruce (Kilmarnock Barassie) is the first of the Ayrshire boys in action when he tees off in the second match, at 0653 on Monday 7th April, against Steven Sidowra (Camperdown)

Scott Brown (Turnberry) - pictured right - is off at 0717 on the Monday, against local player Liam Johnston (Pines), and also in action early on day one is Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) - pictured left - who is one of the players fancied for the title, and opens his bid against Jamie Binning (Ranfurly Castle).

The two Ayrshire players have the prospect of facing each other in round 2, should they progress on the Monday.

As well as Michael Stewart, the Troon Welbeck club provide three other players in the championship :- Sam Findlater, Marc Smith and Charles Doyle.

Kilmarnock (Barassie) also have Andrew Wright (pictured above left) and Kyle Smith (pictured above right) in the field alongside Alan Bruce, whilst Ayr Belleisle are represented by 2007 quarter finalist Scott Clark (pictured below right), 2007 Ayrshire Boys Matchplay finalist Adam Foley (pictured below left), as well as Callum Stewart and Murray McBride.

The north of the county are represented by Fraser Lawrie (West Kilbride) - pictured below -, Michael Roos (West Kilbride), Colin Robinson (Millport) and Calum Crowe (Kilbirnie Place).

The remaining two Ayrshire players in the field are Craig Goodwin (Loudoun Gowf) and Craig Hessett (Prestwick St. Nicholas, who is scheduled to tee off in the last of the first round matches, on the Tuesday afternoon.

DETAILS OF FIRST ROUND TIES INVOLVING AYRSHIRE PLAYERS :-

MONDAY 7TH APRIL

Match 2 - 0653 - Steven Sidowra (Camperdown) Vs. ALAN BRUCE (Kilmarnock Barassie)

Match 5 - 0717 - SCOTT BROWN (Turnberry) Vs. Liam Johnston (Pines)

Match 6 - 0725 - MICHAEL STEWART (Troon Welbeck) Vs. Jamie Binning (Ranfurly Castle)

Match 13 - 0821 - Stuart Wylie (Mount Ellen) Vs. SAM FINDLATER (Troon Welbeck)

Match 20 - ANDREW WRIGHT (Kilmarnock Barassie) Vs. Ali Begg (Muir Of Ord)

Match 24 - 0953 - Greg Haddow (Balmore) Vs. CALLUM STEWART (Ayr Belleisle)

Match 32 - 1101 - FRASER LAWRIE (West Kilbride) Vs. Ryan Asher (Nairn)

Match 38 - 1149 - COLIN ROBINSON (Millport) Vs. Bryan Wharton (Kirkhill)

Match 39 - 1157 - MARC SMITH (Troon Welbeck) Vs. Jack Scott (Deeside)

Match 47 - 1305 - Taylor Matthews (West Lothian) Vs. ADAM FOLEY (Ayr Belleisle)

Match 54 - 1401 - Graeme Duncan (Shotts) Vs. MURRAY McBRIDE (Troon Welbeck)

Match 56 - 1417 - Jeff Wright (Forres) Vs. MICHAEL ROOS (West Kilbride)

Match 65 - 1533 - Fraser McKenna (Balmore) Vs. CALUM CROWE (Kilbirnie Place)

Match 71 - 1621 - SCOTT CLARK (Ayr Belleisle) Vs. Bryan Robertson (Renfrew)

TUESDAY 8TH APRIL

Match 81 - 0733 - Taylor Edwards (Lochmaben) Vs. CHARLES DOYLE (Troon Welbeck)

Match 90 - 0849 - Sean Thompson (St. Andrews) Vs. CHRISTOPHER BUTLER (Irvine Ravenspark)

Match 97 - 0945 - KYLE SMITH (Kilmarnock Barassie) Vs. Sam Binning (Ranfurly castle)

Match 116 - 1221 - CRAIG GOODWIN (Loudoun Gowf) Vs. Christopher McManus (Douglas Park)

Match 128 - 1401 - Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) Vs. CRAIG HESSETT (Prestwick St. Nicholas)

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - 41 bid for Champion Of Champions title

41 champions from Ayrshire clubs will compete over the summer months in a bid to be crowned the 2008 Ayrshire Champion Of Champions.

The scratch matchplay knockout event begins this month and culminates in the semi finals and final which will be played at Royal Troon on 1st and 8th August respectively.

The draw for the first two rounds is :-

ROUND 1 (to be completed by 13th April)

Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) Vs. Robert Gilchrist (Chase)
Alan Stewart Jr (Stewarton) Vs. Andy Mathie (Ayr Dalmilling)
Steven Dunn (Ayr Seafield) Vs. Colin Robertson (Glacier)
Ian Davidson (Prestwick) Vs. Andrew Carroll (Drongan)
Alan Burns (Malletsheugh) Vs. Scott Brown (Brunston Castle)
Jim Arnott (Crosshouse) Vs. Billy Murdoch (Ayr Carrick)
Elliot Braddock (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) vs. John Cairney (Holder - Irvine Ravenspark)
Craig Adams (Ardeer) Vs. Stuart Angus (Muirkirk)
Graeme Johnston (Royal Troon) Vs. David Gemmell (Braehead)

ROUND 2 (to be completed by 18th May)

Miller or Gilchrist Vs. David Gilmour (Moorpark)
Stewart or Mathie Vs. Tony Stafford (Troon St. Meddans)
Dunn or Robertson Vs. James McKinnon (Alton)
Davidson or Carroll Vs. Alan McLean (Kilbirnie Place)
Burns or Brown vs. Scott McCahill (Maybole)
Arnott or Murdoch Vs. George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark)
Braddock or Cairney Vs. Neil McCormack (New Cumnock)
Adams or Angus Vs. James Graham (Doon Valley)
Johnston or Gemmell Vs. Ewan McKinnon (Corrie)
David Low (Ayr Belleisle) Vs. Fraser Lawrie (West Kilbride)
Billy Campbell (Ballochmyle) Vs. Nick Tindall (Tam O Shanter)
Paul Moultrie (Troon Portland) Vs. Gavin Wilson (Loudoun Gowf)
Brian Moore (Largs) Vs. Steven McEwan (Caprington)
Gavin Lawrie (Prestwick St. Nicholas) Vs. Rory Acheson (Largs Routenburn)
Ian Harding (North Beach) Vs. Alex Gourlay (Irvine)
James Kerr (Annanhill) Vs. Robert Ferguson (Troon Welbeck)

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - Fourball Knockout Championship draw

35 clubs will contest the 2008 Ayrshire Golf Association Fourball Championship, with the draw for the competition being announced recently.

The full draw is :-

FIRST ROUND (To be played by 20.04.2008)

John Campbell & Robin Paton (West Kilbride) Vs. William Simpson & David Brackenridge (Ayr Dalmilling)
David & George McCulloch (Brunston castle) Vs. John Harris & Brian Graham (New Cumnock)
Campbell & Ross McCluskie (Crosshouse) Vs. Willie Marshall & Andrew Blackwood (Moorpark)

SECOND ROUND (To be played by 25.05.2008)

West Kilbride or Ayr Dalmilling Vs. Brunston Castle or New Cumnock
Crosshouse or Moorpark Vs Scott McCahill & David Wallace (Maybole)
Archie McKie & Archie McKie Jr. (Irvine Ravenspark) Vs. Brian Worrall & Michael Penman (Ayr Seafield)
Willam Alexander & Joe Kilpatrick (North Beach) Vs. William Brown & William Hunter (Doon Valley)
David Hay & David Bray (Kilmarnock Barassie) Vs. James & Paul McKinnon (Alton)
Barry Stewart & Lohn Burns (Stewarton) Vs. Charlie Bell & Andy Paton (Braehead)
Douglas Gillespie & Ian Young (Ardeer) Vs. Alan Hayes & Chris Rimmer (Ayr Belleisle)
Ian Austin & John Young (Annanhill) Vs. Craig Murdoch & Andy Reid (Ayr Carrick)
Alex Gourlay & Colin Kennedy (Irvine) Vs. Andrew Scanlon & Alex Hughes (Auchenharvie)
Jim Pearson & A. McLuckie (Glacier) Vs. J. McCall & D. Barr (Caprington)
Eric & Martin Bradford (Ballochmyle) Vs. Eamon McFadden & Frank Greer (Troon St. Meddans)
David Glass & Robert Steele (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) Vs. Robert Gilchrist & Duncan McCreadie (Chase)
Graham McLaughlan & David Munro (Troon Portland) Vs. Lee & Dale McBurnie (Kilbirnie Place)
Chris & Alan Bone (Loudoun) Vs. Ian Girvan & Stuart Angus (Muirkirk)
Andrew Kent & Dean Gibson (Troon Welbeck) Vs. Jim Young & Roddy Davidson (Drongan)
Mark Hyslop & Steven Bolland (Tam O Shanter) Vs. George Ross & David Burns (Malletsheugh)

ROBERT JAMIESON - Ayrshire golf stunned by tragic death

Ayrshire golf is in mourning after the tragic death of 18 year old Loudoun Gowf Club member Robert Jamieson in a three-car accident on the A91 in Fife around 10.00 p.m. on Tuesday 11 March, which happened between Guardbridge and St Andrews.

The crash also claimed the life of fellow Elmwood College student Duncan Beaton from the Forfar area.

A woman driver was seriously injured and another motorist hurt.

Robert - pictured with fellow Loudoun junior team members Craig Goodwin, Michael Cameron and Darren Tannock - was a leading light in the junior section at Loudoun and was a member of the team who won the Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy during the Ayrshire Boys Team Championship competition in both 2006 and 2007.

On behalf of The Ayrshire Golf Association,

Sincere sympathy is extended to Robert's family, friends and clubmates at this time and no doubt the thoughts of many of the golfing community in Ayrshire and beyond will be with those closest to Robert, and his young friend Duncan.

THE WEST OF SCOTLAND GIRLS GOLFING ASSOCIATION - New website launched

The West Of Scotland Girls Golfing Association, which celebrated its Golden Jubilee a year ago, has recently launched a new website at http://www.wsgga.btik.com


Membership of the Association is open to any girl resident in the West of Scotland who is under 18 years of age on 1st January 2008, and has an LGU handicap. The association also have an 18-21 section.


The West Girls Secretary, Irene Stewart, comments :-


"Our association covers the whole of the West of Scotland, including Ayrshire, and is designed to encourage any girl with a CONGU handicap to join us and play in medals and matches at a variety of prestigious courses throughout the West of Scotland.
The girls are very friendly and the Committee who run the organisation will give new members a warm welcome.
We wonder encourage girls who play golf, and their parents, to look at our website and see what we have to offer ".

Former West girls include Janice Moodie and Mhari Mackay, who are now both playing on the LPGA Tour in America.

For those girls who may be interested in joining the West Girls, annual membership is £15.

Early season fixtures for 2008 are :-

1st Medal (inc.Medal Finals & 9 holes)
Troon Portland, Saturday 19th April - 1.30p.m.

2nd Medal
Kilmacolm, Sunday 11th May - 10.30a.m.

3rd medal (incl. Daily Telegraph Qualifying)
Cawder (Keir), Monday 7th July - 10.00a.m.

4th Medal
Milngavie,Wednesday 30th July - 12 noon

Development Medal (9 holes only)
Barassie, Sunday 17th August - 11.30a.m.

Foursomes
Jean McCulloch Foursomes
West Kilbride, Sunday 29th June - 2.00p.m.

Further fixtures will be updated on the West Girls site over the coming weeks. The site can be accessed by clicking on the link on the left of this page.

BOYS QUADRANGULAR TOURNAMENT - Scotland win title despite final day defeat

Scotland boys won the quadrangular tournament, played at St. Cyprien, despite crashing to defeat by Sweden in the final match on Sunday.

The Scottish side finished tied on points with Sweden, but took the title on a countback.

After negotiating the first two days without defeat, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) suffered two defeats against Sweden, going down 4 & 3 in the foursomes and by 2 holes in the singles.

Results of the matches played on Sunday 9th march were :-

SCOTLAND 3 1/2 SWEDEN 5 1/2

Foursomes

McLaren & Stewart lost to Blom & Bjork 4 and 3
Bookless & McLachlan lost to Carlsson & Nordqvist 1 hole
Law & Shiels bt Jennevret & Gaad 2 holes

Singles

Stewart lost to Bjork 2 holes
McLaren bt Blom 1 hole
McLachlan bt Carlsson 1 hole
Bookless halved with Nordqvist
Shields lost to Jennevret 6 and 5
Law lost to Gaad 6 and 5.

FRANCE 7 ITALY 2

Foursomes

Wattel & Brun bt Gobbi & Aoloognesi 1 hole
Vielledent & Weber bt Terragni & Vigano 5 and 4
Levy & Stalter bt Vianelli & Dall'arche 4 and 3

Singles

Levy bt Bolognesi 3 and 2
Stalter lost to Gobbi 3 and 2
Weber lost to Vigano 2 holes
Vielledent bt Terragni 1 hole
Brun bt Dall'arche 1 hole
Wattell bt Vianelli 3 and 2

BOYS QUADRANGULAR TOURNAMENT - Stewart unbeaten as Scotland make it 2 wins from 2

Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) managed a half in the foursomes and a win in his singles as Scotland beat Italy 5.5 - 3.5 in their second match in the Boys Quadrangular tournament at St Cyprien, France on Saturday 7 march 2008, to maintain their 100% record.

Scotland took the foursomes 2-1 with Stewart and combining with Scott Mclaren (King James VI) for a half match in their tie.

Scotland won the singles by 3.5 - 2.5 where Stewart had a 4 & 3 win in difficult conditions, with strong wind

In the other match played on Saturday, defending champions Sweden lost by 5 - 4 to France.

SCOTLAND 5.5 ITALY 3.5

Foursomes

S McLaren (King James VI) & M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) halved with L Gobbi & V Dall'arche
M Bookless (Sandyhills) & A McLachlan (Bonnyton) halved with C Terragni & C Vigano
D Law (Hazlehead) & P Shields (Kirkhill) bt A Bolognesi & F Vianelli 2 and 1

Singles

McLaren halved with Terragni
Stewart bt Dall'arche 4 and 3
McLachlan lost to Vigano 3 and 2
Bookless lost to Gobbi 2 and 1
Shields bt Vianelli 2 and 1
Law bt Bolognesi 2 and 1

FRANCE 5 SWEDEN 4

Foursomes

R Wattel & J Brun lost to A Bjork & E Blom 2 and 1
L Weber & E Vielledent halved with N Carlsson & D Jennevret
A Levy & J Stalter bt M Nordqvist & P Gaad 2 and 1

Singles

Stalter halved with Bjork
Levy bt Blom 1 hole
Weber lost to Carlsson 5 and 4
Vielledent lost to Jennevret 5 and 4
Brun bt Nordqvist 3 and 2
Wattel bt Gaad 5 and 3

BOYS QUADRANGULAR TOURNAMENT - Stewart shines on opening day win over the hosts

Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton) and Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) were double winners as Scotland defeated the fancied host nation, France, in the opening day of the quuadrangular tournament at St Cyprien Golf Club.

Scotland ran out winnes by 6.5 - 2.5, taking the morning foursomes 3 - 0 and following that with a 3.5 - 2.5 singles win.

players in the tournament.But, on the opening day, Scotland rose to the occasion and slew the giants by the convincing margin of 6 1/2-3 1/2.The morning foursomes set the tone for the day with the Scots making a 3-0 clean sweep and also winning the singles session 3 1/2-2 1/2.

Sweden beat Italy 6-3 in the other opening day match.

RESULTS

FRANCE 2 1/2 SCOTLAND 6 1/2

Foursomes:

J Stalter & A Levy lost to S McLaren (King James VI) & M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 1 hole
J Brun & L Weber lost to M Bookless (Sandyhills) & A McLachlan (Bonnyton) 3 and 2
R Wattel & E Vielledent lost to D Law (Hazlehead) & P Shields (Kirkhill) 2 and 1

Singles

Levy lost to Stewart 1 hole
Stalter bt McLaren 2 and 1
Vielledent lost to McLachlan 2 and 1
Brun lost to Bookless 2 and 1
Weber halved with Shields
Wattel bt Law 2 and 1

SWEDEN 6 ITALY 3

Foursomes
M Nolquist & P Blom lost to L Gobbi & V Dall'arche 2 and 1
A Bjork & P Gaad halved with C Terragni & C Vigano
D Jennevret & N Carlsson lost to F Vianelli & A Bolognesi 2 and 1

Singles
Gaad halved with Dall'arche
Nolquist bt Vigano 2 and 1
Blom bt Terragni 5 and 4
Bjork bt Gobbi 2 and 1
Jennevret bt Vianelli 2 and 1
Carlsson bt Bolognesi 2 holes

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR - Drummond tied 9th after closing 71

Prestwick golfer Ross Drummond had a closing round of 71, 1 under par, in the European Seniors Tour DGM Barbados Open at the Royal Westmoreland club on Friday, leaving him on a 3 round total of 216 and in a tie for 9th place.



Fellow Scot Bill Longmuir took the title after a closing round of 65 for a 206 total.

The next scheduled event on the tour is in Portugal at the end of March, when the Azores Seniors Open takes place at Batalha Golf Course.

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR - drummond joint 12th after round 2 in season opener

Ross Drummond from Prestwick slipped back to joint 12th after round 2 in the opening event of the 2008 European Seniors Tour, the DGM Barbados Open at the Royal Westmoreland club.

Drummond followed his opening 71 with a 2 over par 74 for a 145 total, leaving him trailing the leaders by 7 shots.

Delroy Cambridge (Jamaica) and Bob Cameron (England) are joint leaders on 138.

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR - Drummond starts well in 2008 opening event

Ross Drummond from Prestwick, who had a successful rookie year in 2008, is off and running in the new campaign for over-50s with a one-under-par 71, leaving him three shots off the pace in the early stages of the eighth DGM Barbados Open at Royal Westmoreland Golf Club.

Fellow Scots John Chillas, Martin Gray and Bill Longmuir are on the 74 mark.

A run of four consecutive birdies on the back nine helped Jamaica’s Delroy Cambridge pip his close friend Jerry Bruner of America to the clubhouse lead, on 68.

Ian Woosnam, playing in his first European Seniors Tour Event after turning 50 at the weekend, finished on level par after an up and down round of 72, which included birdies at the fifth and sixth holes and a triple bogey 7 at the ninth.

FIRST ROUND LEADING SCORES (Par 72)

68 - D Cambridge (Jam)
69 - G Banister (Aus), J Bruner (US)
70 - G Cali (Ita)
71 - R Drummond (Sco), P Oakley (US), B Cameron (Eng).