BELLEISLE CUP - Draw for order of play

The draw for the 2011 Belleisle Cup competition, to be played on Sunday 5th June at Ayr Belleisle, has been published :-

There are still some spaces available, for late entries please phone Robert Morrison on
07708 861569

7.30	12.00	J SLOAN	DOON VALLEY
7.30	12.00	J CAIRNEY	IRVINE RAVENSPARK
7.30	12.00	C TELFER	P'WICK ST CUTHBERT
7.40	12.10	G GIMSON	P'WICK ST CUTHBERT
7.40	12.10	G MacNEAL	TROON WELBECK
7.40	12.10	G ROBERTSON	IRVINE RAVENSPARK
7.50	12.20	G TELFER	P'WICK ST CUTHBERT
7.50	12.20	C NAIRN	P'WICK ST NICHOLAS
7.50	12.20	B YATES	P'WICK ST CUTHBERT
8.00	12.30	G VOGWELL	WEST KILBRIDE
8.00	12.30	G ROWAN	BALLOCHMYLE
8.00	12.30	J WHITELAW	WEST LINTON
8.10	12.40	K CLARK	WEST KILBRIDE
8.10	12.40	B O'ROURKE	KILBIRNIE PLACE
8.10	12.40	JG BOYLE	AYR DALMILLING
8.20	12.50	B O'DONNELL	CAPRINGTON
8.20	12.50	A McLEAN	KILBIRNIE PLACE
8.20	12.50	K HAMILTON	AYR BELLEISLE
8.40	1.10	P STEVEN	AYR BELLEISLE
8.40	1.10	M PENNTCOTT	WHITING BAY
8.40	1.10	N TINDALL	TAM O' SHANTER
8.50	1.20	R SMITH	AYR DALMILLING
8.50	1.20	C HARKINS	AYR BELLEISLE
8.50	1.20	C PORCIANI	AYR BELLEISLE
9.00	1.30	G McINROY	AYR BELLEISLE
9.00	1.30	D LOW	AYR BELLEISLE
9.00	1.30	S McCAHILL	MAYBOLE
9.10	1.40	D BROWN	AYR BELLEISLE
9.10	1.40	S FINDLATER	TROON WELBECK
9.10	1.40	S RYAN	AYR DALMILLING
9.20	1.50	C HUME	AYR BELLEISLE
9.20	1.50	G PRICE	PAISLEY
9.20	1.50	A CAMPBELL	ROWALLAN CASTLE
9.30	2.00	K OTTLEY	AYR BELLEISLE
9.30	2.00	B ADAM	PAISLEY
9.30	2.00	M SMYTH	ROYAL TROON
9.50	2.20	S MITCHELL	AYR BELLEISLE
9.50	2.20	G TIERNEY	P'WICK ST NICHOLAS
9.50	2.20	J McCLUSKEY	AYR BELLEISLE
10.00	2.30	S BROWN	TURNBERRY
10.00	2.30	M SMITH	TROON WELBECK
10.00	2.30	J SMART	PAISLEY
10.10	2.40	D FERGUSON	PAISLEY
10.10	2.40	G BRYDEN	GIRVAN
10.10	2.40	P BOND	IRVINE RAVENSPARK
10.20	2.50	M WATT	P'WICK ST CUTHBERT
10.20	2.50	G CREE	TROON WELBECK
10.20	2.50	P O'KANE	BALLOCHMYLE
10.40	3.10	K BROCK	P'WICK ST NICHOLAS
10.40	3.10	D McLELLAN	LARGS
10.40	3.10	B GIBSON	TROON WELBECK

CHARITY UK END2END CHALLENGE - Rickman raises magnificent total in charity challenge

After 9 days and 885 miles, the 'Rules Man' David Rickman from the R & A completed his charity challenge and signed off at John O Groats today around 1.30 p.m., having raised a magnificent total for charity on the way.

Intent on raising a sizeable donation for the British Lung Foundation charity, in memory of his late father who passed away in February 2010 from a respiratory condition, David's plans were altered due to the cancellation of the original trip, but not to be diverted from his goal, David agreed with the British Lung Foundation that £2000 of the funds raised would be re-directed to Action Medical Research, a medical research charity determined to stop the suffering of babies and children caused by disease and disability. This enabled David to join the "UK end2end" group on their ride from Lands End to John O' Groats, even though this meant a change of date for David and a need to cover the distance in less days than originally planned. Despite this, David completed the task today, Monday 30th May.

David's original target of raising £10,000 was passed early on and he revised his target to an optomistic £20,000 which, due to the generosity of many donors, was also reached and surpassed by the time the journey ended.

To date, David's efforts have raised the magnificent sum of £22,629 which has been boosted by gift aid to a total of £25,270.47.

Offline donations have also ammounted to £5,594.00.

You can still support David's cause and donate simply on line by following the link below

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/davidrickman

Ayrshiregolf sends many congratualtions to David on his achievement and his magnificent effort in raising such an outstanding donation to his chosen charity.

72nd US SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP - Drummond finishes tied 76th

A final round of 78 for a 17 over par total of 305 left Ross Drummond from Prestwick, the only Scot to make the cut for the final two rounds, in joint 76th place in the 2011 US Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla on Sunday.

Tom Watson holed a three foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to beat fellow American David Eger in a play-off for the title and in the process won his 14th Major title.

This was Watson’s sixth Major since turning 50, to add to his five Open Championships, Two Masters and one US Open.

Three of his six Majors as a senior have come in the Senior Open Championship.

At 61, watson became the oldest player to win a Senior major since the US seniors tour was created in 1980 and the second oldest in history, after Jock Hutchinson, who was 62 when he won in 1947.

Eger closed with a five under par 67 to Watson’s 70 to tie on ten under par 278, both players narrowly missing birdie putts on the 72nd hole to win it outright in regulation play, but Watson prevailed in the play-off.

SCOTTISH OPEN STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Macneal fades in final round

A final round 82 by lone Ayrshire survivor Charlie Macneal (Troon Welbeck) saw him drop down to equal 41st, on +17, in the Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship at Blairgowrie on Sunday.

Overnight leader Andrew Sullivan (Nuneaton) returned a final round 69 for a four round total of 6 under par to take the title by a single shot.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY BOYS LEAGUE - Ayrshire win opener against Glasgow

The Ayrshire Under 18 team got off to a flying start in the 2011 West Of Scotland Inter County Boys League for the Wishart Trophy on Sunday 29th May with a 5 - 3 win over defending champions Glasgow.

In their first match under the new management team of Cliff Francis and John Duncan, and having to cope with a strong wind at the Largs Kelburn course, Ayrshire were narrowly behind over the four under 16 ties, but took the four under 18 ties 3.5 - 0.5 to win the match against their visitors, who have won the Wishart Trophy in 2008 and 2010 and been beaten on the countback in 2009.

Match details (Ayrshire names first) :-

Louis Murray (Troon Welbeck) lost to G Burns (Williamwood) by 3 & 2
Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat F Davren (Williamwood) by 6 & 5
Callum Gorrie (Kilmarnock Barassie) halved with G Yule (Bishopbriggs)
Euan Henderson (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to S Clarke (Haggs Castle) by 5 & 3
Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) halved with B Dalgleish (Ralston)
Jack McCluskey (Ayr Belleisle) beat A Waugh (Cowglen) by 7 & 5
Callum Beveridge (Troon Welbeck) beat G Hasenne (Haggs Castle) by 3 & 1
David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) beat R Small (Cathkin Braes) by 2 holes

AYRSHIRE  5   GLASGOW  3

The Ayrshire boys' next match in the series is on Sunday 19th June against Renfrewshire at Ranfurly Castle, with a 10.30 a.m. tee off.

SCOTTISH OPEN STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Macneal is sole Ayrshire survivor for last two rounds

Ayrshire Boys Champion Charlie Macneal (Troon Welbeck) is the sole Ayrshire survivor to qualify for the final two rounds of the Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship, to be played at the Blairgowrie Lansdowne course on Sunday 29th May.

With Scottish Amateur Champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) still sidelined through injury and having to withdraw from the tournamant, Macneal was one of only four Ayrshire players left in the field, and he qualified to play the final two rounds after a one under par opening round on Friday was followed by a second round 76 on Saturday to give him a 3 over par total fo 147 which proved to be the score at which the cut fell.

Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) with 75 - 74 fell two short of the mark on five over par whilst his clubmate, Ayrshire Matchplay Champion Michael Smyth, carded two successive 77's for a 10 over par total.

The other Ayrshire player in the field, Scott Brown (Turnberry) finished on 11 over par after rounds of 77 & 78.

The remaining two rounds will  be played on Sunday.

Andrew Sullivan (Nuneaton) leads the field after rounds of 65 & 71 for an eight under par total of 136.

US SENIORS PGA CHAMPIONSHIP - Drummond is lone Scot in final two rounds

Prestwick's Ross Drummond is the only one of the four Scots competing in the 72nd US Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla this week who survived the halfway cut.

After an opening round of 5 over par 77, Drummond bounced back with a one under par 71 in the second round for a two round total of 148 to make the halfway cut.

Fellow Scots Sam Torrance, Bill Longmuir and Andrew Oldcorn failed to make the cut after their opening two rounds.

Unfortunately, a third round 79 left Ross Drummond tied in 72nd place on 227, 11 over par, with the final round to be completed on Sunday.

With one round to go, American Hale Irwin leads the championship with rounds of 69, 68 & 69 for a 10 under par total of 206.

PRESTWICK LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP - Fourth title for Glass and Boyd Cup goes to McAlpine

David Glass on the left with the Nickson Trophy
& Kenny McAlpine on the right with the Boyd Cup

David Glass (Prestwick St Cuthbert) won the Nickson Trophy and Prestwick Links Championship for the fourth time, at a windy Prestwick Golf Club on Saturday evening, 28th May whilst Kenny McAlpine (Prestwick St Nicholas) took the Boyd Cup and handicap title in extra holes.

2011 Prestwick Links Champion David Glass

Having previously won the Prestwick Links in 1991, 1998 and 2000, David Glass faced 19 year old Sandy Darroch (St Nicholas) in the final, who was not even born when Glass enjoyed his first win in the competition.

With his opponent finding trouble over the opening holes, David Glass' steady start saw him win the  1st, 2nd, 4th 5th and 6th holes to forge a 5 hole lead. Sandy Darroch stemmed the flow by winning the 7th but immediately David Glass restored his five hole lead at the 8th, which he maintained to the turn.

Sandy Darroch reduced the defecit to four again when he won the short 11th holeand in the inward stretch the players halved the 12th and traded holes at the 13th and 14th, which left David Glass four holes ahead with four to play. Securing a half at the 15th hole, David Glass won his fourth Prestwick Links Championship, a surprising 11 years after his previous win.

Boyd Cup winner Kenny McAlpine

In the handicap event for the Boyd Cup, Kenny McAlpine (St Nicholas) faced Andrew Scott (St Cuthbert) in what proved to be a close contest throughout, with the players coming to the final hole of the match all square.

McAlpine, receiving four shots from his lower handicapped opponent during the match, found a tough lie in the rough at the final hole whilst Scott was in the centre of the fairway from the tee. McAlpine produced an excellent recovery shot to the green to set up a solid par which was sufficient to half the hole and take the match to extra holes.

At the first extra hole, McAlpine was short in two whilst Scott had played an excellent second to within 15 feet of the hole. As he had done previously in the match, McAlpine struck an excellent approach putt, from around 50 feet, to within a couple of feet of the hole, which prompted a conceded par four. Despite a good putt, Scott's effort for birdie slipped past the right side of the hole and the players moved on to the 20th.

At the short par three hole, Scott was short of the green from the tee whilst McAlpine was just off the putting surface, pin high on the right. Whilst Scott chipped onto the green around 18 feet past the hole, McAlpine produced another fine approach put to within four feet of the hole.

Scott missed his effort for par leaving McAlpine with a holable putt for the trophy, but his putt struck the back of the hole and spun out, sending the players on to the 21st hole.

With McAlpine receiving a stroke, both players were safely in play from the tee but whilst McAlpine found safety with his second, Scott saw his second drop into the famous Cardinal bunker and come to rest on the grass bank within the hazard. Scott could only play his third out short of the green whilst McAlpine found the green with his third shot, coming to rest at the back of the green around 35 feet from the hole.

Scott's approach, his fourth shot, came to rest near to McAlpine's ball and when Kenny McAlpine produced another excellent approach putt to within 3 feet of the hole to lie four net three, and Scott's attempt from the same distance for a five failed to drop, the St Cuthbert player graciously conceded the hole and the match to Kenny McAlpine.

At the conclusion of the matches prizes were presented to the qualifying round winners and all four finalists by Michael Brown, Captain of Prestwick Golf Club.

At the end of the prizegiving, Championship winner David Glass thanked the championship organisers and officials of all three Prestwick clubs on behalf of all the competitors in the championship and concluded with an emotional tribute to his late father, Jim Glass, who served as a tournament organiser of the event for many years and sadly passed away a few weeks after the championship last year.

PRESTWICK LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP - St Cuthbert Vs St Nicholas in both finals on Saturday

The finals of both the scratch competition, for the Nickson Trophy, and the handicap event, for the Boyd Cup, in the Prestwick Links Championships will feature a St Cuthbert Vs St Nicholas match, after the semi final matches were played on Friday evening at Prestwick Golf Club.

Both semi finals in the Nickson Trophy were very close, with both matches being concluded on the final green, with the winners going through by the narrowest of margins.

Former winner David Glass (St Cuthbert) beat clubmate Ian Morrison by 1 hole, and in the final will meet Sandy Darroch of St Nicholas, who had a semi final win by the same margin over Kevin Fergusson (St Cuthbert).

In the Boyd Cup competition, leading qualifier Kenny McAlpine (St Nicholas) continued his good form to book a place in the final with a 2 & 1 win over Robin Richmond (St Cuthbert).

In the final, McAlpine will play Andrew Scott (St Cuthbert) who also won through to the final courtesy of a 2 & 1 win, over clubmate Martin Robbins.

Both finals are scheduled to be played on Saturday evening, 28th May, at Prestwick Golf Club.

WEST OF SCOTLAND LADIES INTER CLUB LEAGUES - Greenlees matches under way in all three divisions

Matches are under way in all three leagues in the 2011 West Of Scotland Ladies Inter Club leagues, for the Greenlees Trophy, with Ayrshire clubs featuring in all three divisions.

In DIVISION 1, Kilmarnock Barassie opened with a 4.5 - 4.5 draw at home to Milngavie and followed up with a 8.5 - 0.5 home win over newly promoted Prestwick St Nicholas in their second match.

Troon Ladies first match in the division resulted in a 7 - 2 defeat away to Ranfurly Castle.

In DIVISION 2, West Kilbride opened their bid for promotion in great style with a 8 - 1 home win over Williamwood. Largs have still to play their first match of the season after their opening fixture at home to West Kilbride was postponed due to the weather.

In DIVISION 3, Loudoun have started very well with an opening 7.5 - 1.5 away win at cawder being followed by a 9 - 0 win away at Bothwell Castle.

Matches will continue to be played in all three divisions, on a home and away basis, throughout the summer, with the matches being scheduled for completion during September.

WEST OF SCOTLAND VETERAN LADIES GOLF - Glennie leads qualifiers for West vets Championship

Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) - pictured right - produced the best scratch score of the day amongst the 69 players who contested the West Of Scotland Veteran Ladies Spring Meeting competition at Whitecraigs Golf Club on Wednesday 25th May and as a result was the first qualifier for the West Vets matchplay Championship which will take place at Renfrew GC next Thursday & Friday

Leading Scores in the Spring Meeting were :-

Scratch
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 81

Silver
1st - Enid Young (Balmore) 84 (9) 75
2nd - Sandra Gilchrist (Whitecraigs) 88 (12) 76
3rd - Pat Hutton (Lanark) 82 (6) 76

Bronze
1st - Sandra Carruthers (Whitecraigs) 97 (24) 73
2nd -  Anne Reid (Douglas Park) 102 (21) 81
Super Vet - Sandra Carruthers


The draw for the West Vets Championship is:-

Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) v Lorraine Campbell (Cardross)
Anna Telfer (Milngavie) v Janette McCartney (Erskine)
Pat Hutton (Lanark) v Enid Young (Balmore)
May Hughes (Lanark) v Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle)

The draw for the Bronze Championship is :-

Mary Irving (Ranfurly Castle) v Helen Crichton ( Ranfurly Castle)
May McGhee (Balmore) v Anna MacDougall (Old Ranfurly)

PRESTWICK LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP - Semi final line ups

The quarter final matches in the 2011 Prestwick Links Championship took place at Prestwick Golf Club on Thursday evening, 26th May.




In the scratch championship, for the Nickson Trophy, the results were :-

Ian Morrison (St Cuthbert) beat Scott Johnston (St Cuthbert)
David Glass (St Cuthbert) beat Andrew Miller (St Cuthbert)
Kevin Fergusson (St Cuthbert) beat Drew Wallace (St Cuthbert)
Russell Wittaker (St Nicholas) lost to Sandy Darroch (St Nicholas)

The line up for the semi finals, to be played on Friday evening, is :-
Ian Morrison (St Cuthbert) Vs. David Glass (St Cuthbert)
Kevin Fergusson (St Cuthbert) Vs. Sandy Darroch (St Nicholas)

In the Handicap event, for the Boyd Cup, the quarter final results were :-

Neil Dawson (St Cuthbert) lost to Kenny McAlpine (St Nicholas)
Robin Richmond (St Cuthbert) beat Billy Wilson (St Nicholas)
Martin Robbins (St Cuthbert) beat Sandy McNeill (St Cuthbert)
Robert Steele (St Cuthbert) lost to Andrew Scott (St Cuthbert)

The semi final line up for Friday evening is :-

Kenny McAlpine (St Nicholas) Vs. Robin Richmond (St Cuthbert)
Martin Robbins (St Cuthbert) Vs. Andrew Scott (St Cuthbert)

PROPOSED SGU & SLGA AMALGAMATION - SGU areas throw out amalgamation proposals

(SGU press release)

This evening, Thursday 26th May, the Scottish Golf Union held a Special Meeting with the sole purpose of considering the amalgamation proposal. This proposal has been widely consulted upon with Areas, Counties and Clubs. The proposal was approved at the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association’s Special Meeting yesterday, 25th May.

The Scottish Golf Union’s shareholders, comprising the sixteen Area Associations, voted 10 to 6 against the amalgamation proposal. This means the proposal in its current format has not received the required level of support by our shareholders and therefore amalgamation cannot proceed at this stage

The Scottish Golf Union Board is disappointed with the outcome of the Areas’ vote. The Board believes that the vote is contrary to the wishes of the majority of clubs they represent, which saw 263 affiliated clubs (89.2%) approve the amalgamation proposal from the 295 clubs (51%) that formally responded with their views.

The amalgamation proposal has also been strongly supported by the amateur game’s other key stakeholders, including the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association and its members (Clubs and Counties), major funders sportscotland and other commercial sponsors and partners.

The Scottish Golf Union’s commitment to supporting clubs, together with developing talent and growing the game, remains at the heart of our activities and we will continue to strengthen relationships with clubs to deliver against this strategy. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all clubs for their assistance and patience during this lengthy process.

The Scottish Golf Union Board believes that this result is a setback for the future development and governance of Scottish amateur golf. However, the Board takes heart from the fact that all 16 Areas have consistently reaffirmed their support for amalgamation and a commitment to finding a way to achieve amalgamation working with the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association.

The Board will continue to act in the best interests of Scottish golf and will meet on 6 June to consider how we can progress this important matter.

Whilst no official information has been forthcoming as to which way each area voted, information in the press last weeks indicated that the areas who had indicated they were certainly voting for the amalgamation proposals were :-

ANGUS (30 clubs/ 2 societies)
AYRSHIRE (65 clubs)
NORTH (59 clubs)
NORTH EAST (56 clubs/ 2 societies)
PERTH & KINROSS (38 clubs/ 5 societies)

BORDERS (21 clubs) indicated a U turn in their position during the week, after strong criticism from their member clubs, and are also thought to have voted for the proposals as a result.

Consequently, it would seem that the following areas are the 10 who voted against the proposals

ARGYLL & BUTE (26 clubs)
CLACKMANNANSHIRE (6 clubs)
DUMBARTONSHIRE (26 clubs)
FIFE (50 clubs/ 5 societies)
GLASGOW (26 clubs/ 5 societies)
LANARKSHIRE (39 clubs/ 3 societies)
LOTHIANS (74 clubs/ 48 societies)
RENFREWSHIRE (23 clubs)
SOUTH (24 clubs)
STIRLINGSHIRE (17 clubs/ 1 society)

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Where now for the process of amalgamation, and perhaps more importantly to clubs throughout the country, how is this decision likely to affect government funding and funding from sponsorship in the future, and consequently the ammount of funding the SGU will be seeking from the member clubs through the per capita subscriptions. ?.

If anyone has any views or comments on the whole amalgamation issue and the decisions made by the SGU and SLGA at the Special meetings this week, either email us at ayrshiregolf@fsmail.net or click on the little comment icon at the foot of this post and leave your views.