AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Spence, Brown, Murray and McInally in semi finals

The quarter finals of the 2009 Ayrshire Matchplay Championship were held at a wet and windy Prestwick Golf Club on Tuesday evening, 5th May.

In the first match out on the course, Steven Spence (Irvine) - pictured right - recorded par figures to the turn to go four up against Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay). Spence maintained his advantage with four to play, but to his credit malcolm Pennycott fought back to win the 15th and 16th. At the 17th however Spence produced a magnificent recovery shot after finding the left rough from his drive and his ball settled only eight feed from the pin. Sufficient for a half in par, Spence took the first semi final place by 2 & 1.

Tommy McInally (Loudoun) - pictured left - was always in control in his match against Billy Hunter (Troon Welbeck) turning for home with a four hole advantage which he converted into a 5 & 3 win.

In a close match, Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck) - pictured right - and Ian Walker (Turnberry) traded holes until Murray forged a telling two hole lead after 15, which he converted to a 3 & 2 win at the following hole.

In the final match on the course, Ayrshire Boys Champion Scott Brown (Turnberry) - pictured left - faced Champion Of Champions Trophy holder Paul Moultrie (Troon Portland) and the match was close throughout with Brown holding a one hole lead as the players teed off at the final hole.

Moultrie hit a fine tee shot just short of the green and chipped up to 8 feet from the hole whilst Brown let his tee shot drift right and founsd a bunker. Unperturbed however, Brown played an excellent recovery shot to 15 feet and followed up by holing for an excellent birdie three and a one hole win.

In the semi finals, at 5.00 p.m. on Wednesday night, Stephen Spence faces Scott Brown whilst Stephen Murray and Tommy McInally, the winners of the title in 2007 and 2006 respectively, battle it out for a place in the 2009 final.

QUARTER FINAL RESULTS

MALCOLM PENNYCOTT (Whiting Bay) lost to STEPHEN SPENCE (Irvine) by 2 & 1

SCOTT BROWN (Turnberry) beat PAUL MOULTRIE (Troon Portland) by 1 hole

STEPHEN MURRAY (Troon Welbeck) beat IAN WALKER (Turnberry) by 3 & 2

TOMMY McINALLY (Loudoun) beat BILLY HUNTER (Troon Welbeck) by 5 & 4

SEMI FINALS

STEPHEN SPENCE (Irvine) Vs. SCOTT BROWN (Turnberry)

STEPHEN MURRAY (Troon Welbeck) Vs. TOMMY McINALLY (Loudoun)