WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE - Ayrshire Under 18's get off to winning start

The Ayrshire Under 18 team made a winning start to their quest for the West Of Scotland Inter County Under 18 League for the Wishart Trophy on Sunday 30th May, with a narrow win over their visitors Dumbartonshire at Ardeer.

With four Under 16's and four Under 18's in the team, Ayrshire were under pressure as the first two games resulted in narrow defeats for the local players, David Wilson and Callum Gorrie.

Euan Walker in match 3 was one ahead playing the last but lost the hople to a birdie two and the tie was halved. In the final Under 16 tie, Calum Beveridge reduced the defecit with a 5 & 3 win.

With Marc Smith and Gregor Macintosh winning their ties at the 14th and 17th holes respectivelty, and Scott Johnston behind in his tie, the result of the match between Ciar Porciani and Liam Chambers of cardross looked likely to prove decisive.

All square on the last tee, Chambers put his tee shot on the front edge of the green ad to his credit Porciani's effort from the tee safely found the middle of the gren, some 25 feet from the hole. Chambers' putt for a two pulled up some eight feet or so short but he was not required to hole his par put as Porciani struck a confident putt which disappeared into the hole for a winning birdie two to take his tie by one hole and give Ayrshire a 4.5 - 2.5 lead.

The result of Porciani's tie was all the more significant when Scott Johnston was edged out by 2 & 1 in the final tie, to give an overall result of Ayrshire 4.5 Dumbartonshire 3.5.

MATCH DETAILS (Ayrshire names first)

DAVID WILSON (Troon Welbeck) lost to ANGUS CARRICK (Douglas park) by 3 & 1
CALLUM GORRIE (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to GAVIN RODGER (Clober) by 2 holes
EUAN WALKER (Kilmarnock Barassie) halved with GEORGE DUNCAN (Windyhill)
CALUM BEVERIDGE (Troon Welbeck) beat CAMERON KIRKWOOD (Bearsden) by 5 & 3
CIAR PORCIANI (Ayr Belleisle) beat LIAM CHAMBERS (Cardross) by 1 hole
GREGOR MACKINTOSH (Girvan) beat DANIEL MUIR (Hayston) by 2 & 1
MARC SMITH (Troon Welbeck) beat LIAM HALLIDAY (Cardross) by 5 & 4
SCOTT JOHNSTON (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) lost to CAMERON FARRELL (Cardross) by 2 & 1

AYRSHIRE 4.5 DUMBARTONSHIRE 3.5

Ayrshire's next match in the five match series is on 27th June against Glasgow at Bishopbriggs.