PROFESSIONAL GOLF - Callum Nairn fades in final round at Deer Park.

Halfway leader Callum Nairn (Kilmarnock Barassie) with a 66, faded to a second-round 74 for 140 and joint ninth place in the St Andrews Brewing Company's £7,000 36-hole Order of Merit competition at Deer Park Golf and Country Club, Livingston writes Colin Farquharson on the scottishgolfview.com website.

An error-strewn run of bogey, double-bogey, bogey at the 14th, 15th and short 16th for an inward 39 killed off his hopes.

Chris Currie, in the last trio off the tee, fired a seven-birdie, bogey-free round of 65 for a 12-under-par total of 132 to avert the possibility of a play-off between the clubhouse leaders, Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo) and Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), and win the £1,100 first prize outright

The Caldwell Golf Club, Renfrewshire tour pro, who had eight birdies but three bogeys in his opening round of 67, eliminated the mistakes on the second day and won by two strokes from Hutcheon (69-65) and Patterson (69-65) who earned £775 apiece.

Hutcheon had eight birdies in his second round and was four under par for his last seven holes.
Patterson had seven birdies in his bogey-free closing halves of 31 and 34.

Paul O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure) gained the fourth place prize of £625 with rounds of 68 and 67 for 135.


FINAL TOTALS
par 144 (2x72)

132 C Currie (Caldwell) 67 65 (£1,100).
134 G Hutcheon (PLGC Inchmarlo) 69 65, M Patterson (Kilmacolm) 69 65 (£775 each).
135 P O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure) 68 67 (£625).
136 N Fenwick (Dunbar) 67 69 (£550).
137 J McGhee (Swanston New) 69 68 (£475).
138 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 70 68, S Gray (Lanark) 69 69 (£375 each).
140 S O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure) 70 70, G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 69 71, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 68 72, C Nairn (Kilmarnock Barassie) 66 74 (£262.50 each).
141 S Maxwell (Eastwood) 73 68, C Ronald (Carluke) 73 68, A Tait (Deer Park) 71 70, G McBain (Newmachar) 71 70, S Savage (Dalmuir) 71 70, G Wright (West Linton) 71 70, G Hay (Grantown on Spey) 68 73 (£128.50 each).
142 F McKenna (Caldwell) 74 68, S Morrison (Tain) 72 70, I Graham (Crow Wood) 72 70.
143 R Munro (Duddingston) 75 68, G Brown (Montrose Links) 68 75.
144 G Forbes (Mar Hall) 75 69, D Wood (Hirsel) 73 71, C Marr (Musselburgh) 72 72.
145 J Lomas (Caprington) 74 71, K Hutton (Downfield) 72 73.
146 I Stoddart (Deer Park) 75 71, A Welsh (Cathkin Braes) 73 73, P Robinson (Largs) 72 74.
147 S Borrowman (Linlithgow) 74 73, M Mackenzie (Edzell) 72 75, C McMaster (Downfield) 69 78.
148 P Wardell (North Berwick) 75 73, S Ross (Turnhouse) 73 75, M Owenson (Gullane) 73 75, C Porciani (Trump Turnberry) 73 75 C Goodwin (Strathlene) 72 76.
149 A Forsyth (Mearns Castle) 78 71, S McAllister (S McAllister Golf) 72 77.
150 R McConnachie (Peterculter) 74 76.
151 O Robertson (Panmure) 74 77
152 S Houlden (East Kilbride) 81 71.
154 G Hardy (Prestwick St Nicholas) 83 71, S Henderson (Kings Links) 82 72, N Gardiner (Cawder) 75 79, K Zeynalov (Portlethen) 75 79.
163 D Lee (American Golf) 81 82
164 Kirsten Scott (Gleneagles) 86 78, G Gillies (Baberton) 85 79.
168 S Wilson (unatt) 87 81.

NO THANKS GENTS, WE'RE FINE AS WE ARE - Ayrshire Ladies' County Golf Association members reject amalgamation proposal

The membership of the Ayrshire Ladies' County Golf Association overwhelmingly rejected proposals to amalgamate with The Ayrshire Golf Association, at an Extraordinary General Meeting held at Caprington Golf Club on Tuesday 26th September 2017.

Shortly after the amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association in 2015, initial discussions took place between officials of the men's Area Association and the Ladies' County Association to investigate  whether amalgamation of the two Ayrshire bodies would be a positive step, to form a middle tier administrative body in the county representing all club golfers of both genders.

Discussions progressed over the intervening two years, which included liaison with clubs in the county with exclusively female members, by officials of both the men's  and ladies' county administrations, to highlight the perceived benefits of the proposed amalgamation for all golfers in the county.

The Ayrshire Golf Association also arranged an information evening for the member clubs to seek the feeling of their membership regarding the proposed merger, which would have seen Ayrshire leading the way as the first all encompassing local golf administration for both genders in Scotland.

The Ayrshire Ladies' County Golf Association Captain, Liz Keohone and Vice captain Catherine Malcolm presented the concept of the proposed amalgamation to the individual female members of the ladies' county association at the meeting, seeking their approval to progress the proposed amalgamation to a conclusion, but the overwhelming majority of the individual members present, estimated at around 50 ladies, voted against the proposal.

Ayrshire Golf Association Secretary Alasdair Malcolm commented:-

" It is disappointing that the members of the Ayrshire Ladies' County Golf Association felt unable to support the proposed amalgamation of the two bodies, which the Ayrshire Golf Association Executive considered to be a positive progression to safeguard the golfers and golf clubs in the county and allow consolidation and positive development of the activities of both current bodies whilst also providing resilience to golf and amateur golf events in the county going forward".   

US COLLEGE GOLF - Third win for Connie Jaffrey

Connie Jaffrey (Troon ladies) secured her third win on the US College circuit last week when she left the field trailing in the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational. Played at Colbert Hills Manhattan, Kansas from 17^th to 19^th September.

An opening round of 66 and two rounds of 72 gave Jaffrey a 6 under par total of 210, which was a full six shots ahead of her nearest challenger.

Jaffrey’s individual performance helped her Kansas State team to a commanding seventeen shot victory in the team event.

Best individual scores:-

Par 72

210 (-6) - Connie Jaffrey (Kansas State) 66/72/72

216 (E) - Johanna Samuelsson (Tulsa) 73/72/71

218 (+2) - Chloe Weir (Kansas State) 71/71/76

219 (+3) - Ashleigh Greenham (Rutgers) 78/66/75 

221 (+5) - Sabrina Bonanno (Little Rock) 77/70/74

221 (+5) - Lizzie Winyarat (Kansas, Univ. of) 76/73/72

221 (+5) - Reid Isaac (Kansas State) 72/77/72

Team Scores

881 (+17) Kansas State

898 (+34) Kansas, Univ. of 

899 (+35) Tulsa

904 (+40) Rutgers

906 (+42) North Texas

908 (+44) Arkansas State

918 (+54) Little Rock

932 (+68) Central Arkansas

951 (+87) Georgia Southern

Also performing well in The USA is Stuart Easton (Irvine), a third-year student at Western Kentucky University, who finished joint fifth in a field of 75 players at the Memphis Intercollegiate tournament in Tennessee recently, writes Colin Farquharson.

Stuart had rounds of 72, 69 and 73 for a two-under-par total of 214, which left him four strokes behind the winner by two strokes, Hunter Richardson (UT Michigan),who recorded rounds of 67, 71 and 72 for 210.

Western Kentucky (873) finished fourth of 13 in the team event behind winners Middle Tennessee State (868), runners-up Arkansas State (869) and third-placed Little Rock (872).

PROFESSIONAL GOLF - Calum Nairn is halfway leader at Deer Park

Former Ayrshire county youth player Calum Nairn (Kilmarnock Barassie) shot his lowest round of the year - a six-under-par 66 - to give himself a chance of achieving his first win of the season, in the 36-hole St Andrews Brewing Company 36-hole Order of Merit event at Deer Park Golf and Country Club, writes Colin Farquharson.

Nairn had a bag of eight birdies and two bogeys in matching halves of 33 after standing four under par after eight holes.

At the halfway point, he leads by one shot from Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) and Chris Currie (Caldwell).

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72

66 C Nairn (Kilmarnock Barassie).
67 N Fenwick (Dunbar), C Currie (Caldwell).
68 G Brown (Montrose Links), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), G Hay (Grantown on Spey), P O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure).
69 M Patterson (Kilmacolm), J McGhee (Swanston New), C McMaster (Downfield), S Gray (Lanark), G Hutcheon (PLGC Inchmarlo), G Fox (Clydeway Golf).
70 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), S O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure). 71 G Wright (West Linton), S Savage (Dalmuir), G McBain (Newmachar), A Tait (Deer Park).
72 C Goodwin (Strathlene), I Graham (Crow Wood), M Mackenzie (Edzell), S Morrison (Tain), S McAllister (S McAllister Golf), P Robinson (Largs), C Marr (Musselburgh).

SCOTTISH JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Milligan stars as Kilmarnock (Barassie) finish third

Ewan Milligan

Ewan Milligan led the way as Kilmarnock (Barassie) took equal 3rd place in the inaugural Scottish Junior Team Championships, played at Glenbervie GC on Sunday 24th September.

In very difficult wet conditions Milligan shot a gross 70 (-1)  to help his Kilmarnock (Barassie) team mates Robbie Muir, Ross McDonald, Ben Watson, Fraser Wallace and Craig Erentz to equal third place with a score of 163 points in the stableford competition, where the best five from six scores counted.

Milligan's 41 points was the best individual score of the day.

The Kilmarnock (Barassie) team at Glenbervie
With Junior Convener |Graeme Hope

Craigmillar Park were crowned Scottish team champions with an exceptional score of 178 points and a 14 point winning margin.

Final placing:

178 pts - Craigmillar Park

164 pts - Alloa

163 pts - Kilmarnock (Barassie), Craigielaw

162 pts - Cruden Bay

157 pts - South 

155 pts - Drumpellier

153 pts - Blairgowrie

148 pts - Dumbartonshire

147 pts - Borders

138 pts - Dunblane New

130 pts - Ralston

126 pts - Royal Montrose

SCOTTISH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - Ballochmyle finish third in rain shortened event at Eastwood

Ballochmyle Golf Club finished in third place in the Scottish Club Championship at Eastwood GC on Sunday 24^th September 2017, after the championship was reduced from 36 holes to just nine holes due to the deterioration in course conditions following heavy rain which fell overnight and continued during the competition.

Bronze medalists at Eastwood
Callum McKirdy, James McMurdo & William Fleming
of Ballochmyle GC

Due to the weather it was decided that all three scores taken over nine holes would determine the team score.

Representing the Ayrshire Club Champions, who took the national title in 2011, Callum McKirdy (38), William Fleming (38) and James McMurdo (37) combined for a total of 113 for the Ayrshire team, which left them three shots adrift of the winning score of 110, posted by the Lothians representatives from Duddingston GC and the Perth & Kinross representatives from Kinross GC, with Duddingston taking the title on the countback.

The best individual score of the day was posted by Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen) with 34 for nine holes.

The final team positions were:-

1 Duddingston GC (Lothians) 110

2 Kinross GC (Perth & Kinross) 110

3 Ballochmyle GC (Ayrshire) 113

4 Cambuslang GC (Lanarkshire) 114

5 Lundin GC (Fife) 115

6 Fereneze GC (Renfrewshire) 116

7 Torwoodlee GC (Borders) 116

8 Downfield GC (Angus) 118

9 Royal Aberdeen GC (North-East) 118

10 Cawder GC (Glasgow) 118

11 Balmore GC (Dumbartonshire) 119

12 Falkirk GC (Stirlingshire) 120

13 Inverness GC (North) 120

14 Millport GC (Argyll & Bute) 122

15 Newton Stewart GC (South) 123

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire Youths crash to defeat against Lanarkshire

The Ayrshire Youths team crashed to a second successive defeat in the West Of Scotland Inter County Youth League on Sunday 24th September, when they lost to Lanarkshire at Troon Darley.

With Aiden Long being awarded his tie after the visitors arrived one player short, Ayrshire hopes of a win were boosted, but with only Sandy Walker winning his tie in the remaining pairings, the home side crashed to a 6 - 2 defeat overall.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) lost to Greg Dalziel (Airdrie) by 3&2
Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Mitchell Ronald (East Kilbride) by 2&1
Greg Vernon (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to John Woodhouse (East Kilbride) by 4&3
Aiden Long (Ayr Belleisle) w/o Kieran McAllister (Easter Moffat) Scr.
Andrew Gordon (Ayr Belleisle) lost to David fair (Hamilton) by 5&4
Callum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Greg Andrews (East KIlbride) by 1 hole
Allan Watson (Ballochmyle) lost to Tommy Boyd (Bothwell Castle) by 9&8
 Daryll Lynch (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Jack Emerson (East KIlbride) by 1 hole

AYRSHIRE    2   LANARKSHIRE   6

The corresponding A team match, scheduled to take place at Crow Wood GC, was postponed following the heavy overnight rain, and will be reschedule to late October.

Next Sunday, 1st October, the youths team are at home to Renfrewshire at Kilbirnie Place whilst the A team travel to Paisley in the corresponding fixture.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Winning start for Ayrshire in title defence

The Ayrshire A team got off to a winning start in the defence of their West Of Scotland Inter County League title on Sunday 17th September when they beat Stirlingshire 5 - 3 at Prestwick St Cuthbert.

The match was close throughout and the result was in doubt until the final tie on the course reached the final hole.

In what is thought to be a first in recent memory in the West Leagues, Stirlingshire fielded a father and son in their eight man team, the elder Richard Johnston from Glenbervie, being joined by his son, also Richard, in the senior side for the first time.

The younger Johnston contributed one of the first two points for Stirlingshire with a 2 &1 win over Jack Broun adding to the first point posted for the visitors by mark Hislop who defeated Tommy McInally.

With Craig Hamilton one behind with two to play in the lead tie, the early signs were not good for the Ayrshire team, but Hamilton won the seventeenth to square the tie and followed up b y hitting two great shots to within a few feed at the last which eventually prompted his opponent to concede a winning eagle three to Hamilton.

Greg Telfer lost the final hole to be pegged back for a half match but Jim Johnston, one behind with three to play, pulled his tie back to earn another vital half point for Ayrshire.

In the two anchor ties, host club members Craig Telfer and Stuart Robin secured comfortable wins in their respective ties to give Ayrshire four points overall and ensure at least a half match, with one tie remaining on the course.

In the final tie on the course, Scotland internationalist Euan Walker, back in the county side after a four year absence due to his university studies in the USA, was all square with two to play against David Oates. With Walker having bunkered his tee shot at the seventeenth, and Oates on the green, albeit some distance from the hole, the tie looked to be turning in the favour of the visitors, but Walker showed his mettle by almost holing his bunker shot which prompted a conceded par three and his effort proved all the more important when his opponend three putted the hole to give Walker a one hole lead and effectively ensure a match win for Ayrshire.

At the final hole, walker played safely and was ultimately conceded a winning birdie four which gave him a two hole win and Ayrshire victory by 5- 3 overall.

Next week the A team are away to Lanarkshire at Crow Wood.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) beat Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) by 1 hole
Tommy McInally (Loudoun) lost to Mark Hyslop (Glenbervie) by 4&3
Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Richard Johnston Jr. (Glenbervie) by 2&1
Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) halved with Tam Beattie (Grangemouth)
Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) halved with Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth)
Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat David Oates (Stirling) by 2 holes
Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Richard Johnston Sr. (Glenbervie) by 6&4
Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Stuart irving (Falkirk) by 5&3

AYRSHIRE    5    STIRLINGSHIRE    3

In the corresponding youths match, also played on Sunday 17th September, Ayrshire were away to Stirlingshire at Callander and lost out by 6 - 2 to their hosts.

At the turn the Ayrshire team looked to be in a good position to get an away win in the match but the loss of holes in a number of ties late in the round by Ayrshire turned the match in favour of the hosts from Stirlingshire.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) beat Greg Nicol (Bonnybridge) by 3&1
Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Peter Maxwell (Glenbervie) by 2&1
Greg Vernon (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Greg McLellan (Stirling) by 2&1
Andrew Gordon (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Stuart Myurray (Falkirk) by 2 holes
Murray McCrone (Troon Welbeck) lost to Thomas Craig (Falkirk) by 3&2
Aiden Long (Ayr Belleisle) lost to James Yarnell (Glenbervie) by 2&1
Callum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Stewart McLellan (Stirling) by 5&3
Daryl Lynch (Ayr Belleisle) beat Dariusz Kunecki (Stirling) by 1 hole

STIRLINGSHIRE YOUTHS  6  AYRSHIRE YOUTHS  2

Next sunday, 24th September, the youths play host to Lanarkshire at Troon Darley.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Kilmarnock (Barassie) win 2017 league title on countback

Kilmarnock (Barassie) are the 2017 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Champions, after edging out Ballochmyle in a close final at Troon Darley on Sunday 17th September.

The 2017 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Champions
Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Robbie Muir and Ewan Milligan got the Kilmarnock (Barassie) team off to a good start, winning the leading two ties to put the team 2 - 0 ahead, and with Ben Watson winning his tie comfortably, the Barassie side looked well on the way to a comfortable title win with a 3 - 0 lead overall.

The Ballochmyle team fought back though, Robbie Graham and Jack Allan putting two points on the board and bringing the match score back to 3 - 2 for Barassie with one tie remaining on the course.

With the last tie on the course between Craig Erenz and Cameron Orr going to the last, the previous results already ensured that Kilmarnock (Barassie) would take the title on the countback, even if the final tie was lost, but to the credit of Cameron Orr he battled on for a one hole win to ensure that the match score would finish in a 3 - 3 draw for his team, even though the title was lost on the countback to the 2017 Ayrshire Junior GOlf League champions Kilmarnock (Barassie).

The 2017 Ayrshire Junior Golf League finalists
at Troon

Match details (Kilmarnock Barassie names first):-

Robbie Muir beat Christopher Hunter by 2 holes
Ewan Milligan beat Lewis MacMillan by 3&1
Ross McDonald lost Jack Allan by 2&1
Ben Watson beat Jamie Montgomery by 7&6
Fraser Wallace lost Robbie Graham by 5&4
Craig Erentz lost Cameron Orr by 1 hole

KILMARNOCK (BARASSIE)    3   BALLOCHMYLE   3

Kilmarnock Barassie won on count back.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - First county title win for Ruben Lindsay

2017 Ayrshire Junior Champion Of Champions
Ruben Lindsay

Ruben Lindsay (Ayr Belleisle) won his first Ayrshire county title on Sunday 17th September when he beat Blair Fleming (Troon Welbeck) in the Ayrshire Junior Champion Of Champions Trophy final at Troon Darley.


Lindsay took an early lead, winning the opening hole with a par, but Fleming squared the match at the fourth with a birdie two, only for Lindsay to win the next four holes when he covered the stretch in two under par figures.

The ninth holes was halved, leaving Lindsay four ahead at the turn.

The players matched each other over the opening three holes on the inward nine before a pivotal moment in the tie occurred at the twelfth. With Fleming lying close to the hole for a certain birdie two and Lindsay in the bunker, Fleming looked likely to reduce the match deficit to three holes, but his hopes for the hole, and ultimately the match, were dashed when Lindsay holed his bunker shot for a half  to maintain his four hole lead, with six to play.

The 2017 Ayrshire
Junior Champion Of Champions finalists
at Troon

A half at the following hole and a winning par at the fifteenth were enough for Lindsay to close out the match with a 5 & 4 victory.

The quality of golf and scoring in the match was of a high standard, with Lindsay recording three under par figures for the fifteen holes played.

Ruben Lindsay now goes forward to play in the Scottish Junior Champion Of Champions competition at The Dukes, St Andrews, next weekend.

US COLLEGE GOLF - Connie Jaffrey excited about Kansas State's new-look line-up for 2017-18 US college season

In her time with Kansas State University women's golf, Scottish women's amateur champion Connie Jaffrey has won tournaments, helped the Wildcats claim team trophies and, last season, led a veteran squad to the program's fifth NCAA Regional ever.

Now, Jaffrey, K-State's lone senior, takes on a different task alongside junior Chloe Weir, from Belfast, and sophomore Tash Carlsson, the Wildcats' other two returners from last season
,writes Colin Farquarson (Calcarson Golf Agency)

The three Wildcats with Division I experience look to bring along a new-look roster that holds four freshmen — the most since the 1995-96 season, head coach Kristi Knight's first at K-State.

"I'm pretty excited," said Jaffrey, whose team opened its season this week at the Minnesota Invitational in Woodbury, Minnesota.
"We've got a completely new team, so it's a fresh start and everyone is playing well. The freshmen that came in are really, really good."

Reid Isaac, a native of Texas and one of those freshmen, started her K-State career well in the Minnesota Invitational.
 
The Wildcats' other freshmen are Darby Deans, also a Texas native, Ella Adams (Australia) and Niamh McSherry (from Lurgan, Northern Ireland).
In pre=season qualifying practices, Isaac, McSherry and Adams claimed K-State's top three spots. Jaffrey and Weir rounded out the Wildcats' line-up for the first tournament, which will be followed by the Marilyn Smith/Sunflower Invitational at Colbert Hills
Both upperclassmen had high praise for the Wildcat newbies.

"They're all really committed. They're all really excited to become part of the team and they all put hard work in, especially in the weight room, and during practice they all bring a good attitude, which is good," Jaffrey said.
"They're all eager to learn from seniors, learn from their fellow freshmen, which is always a good asset for a team."

"I'm honestly amazed at the talent they've brought," Weir added of the newcomers. "I've been really impressed by how mature they are, how quickly they've adapted to college life and I think their talent, from the start, has been amazing.

"Connie, Tash and I are really excited to develop such a young team and hopefully get to Regionals like last year."

As the Wildcats' only two upperclassmen, Jaffrey and Weir have taken on increased leadership roles. Each plan to provide insight and support for the freshmen making a difficult transition.

"I just need to be there for my team-mates, when they're homesick or whatever, that's my job, my role, on and off the golf course," Weir said. "If they're having a bad day on the golf course, just having them remember that this is a process. It's going to be difficult but, if we can all stick together, we can have a common outcome."

Jaffrey, from Kilwinning in Scotland, said one key for the freshmen would be how they adjusted to life off the course.

"It's really big, especially time management and organizational skills, because when we're traveling to tournaments, we wake up early, we're expected to get on our own routine, we're expected to cheer on other people," she said.
 "So if you have a good attitude outside of golf and everything else you do, then you bring a good attitude into the golf environment, which also affects how you perform and will help you play better."

If K-State wants to repeat last year's performance, which included the program's first NCAA Regional appearance since 2004, Weir and Jaffrey said it will boil down to knowing each other's strengths and coming together as a group.

"We all know each other's strengths and weaknesses. When we practice, if someone is weaker at something else, bringing them along is important," Weir said.
"I think the freshmen, compared to my freshman year, have really strong attributes that I didn't have, so me learning from them is as good as them learning from me."

Jaffrey said it all starts with team unity, which she believes was a vital aspect to last year's season.

"Being more connected as a team and playing off each other's strengths, learning and keeping each other on track, and holding each other accountable, stuff like that brought us together and made us perform well in practice and then also in tournaments," said Jaffrey, said who entered this season tied for first in K-State history for career stroke average (74.64).

"That's what we need to bring to this team. We need to develop a close-knit team, make sure everyone's performing well, going down the right path and we'll perform just as well as last year."

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - Initial notice

The initial notice advising that the Annual General Meeting of the Ayrshire Golf Association will be held in Caprington Golf Club, Ayr Road, Kilmarnock, on Tuesday 24th October 2017 at 7.30pm., was emailed to all club secretaries recently

The provisional agenda for the AGM is :-

1. Apologies
2. Minutes of AGM of 25/10/2016
3. Matters Arising
4. Presidents report – to be forwarded in due course
5. Financial report – to be forwarded in due course
6. Coaching report – to be forwarded in due course
7. Course rating report – to be forwarded in due course
8. Ayrshire Junior League Report – to be forwarded in due course
9. Election of Secretary/Treasurer
10. Election of General Committee
11. SGL & Area Subscriptions
12. AOCB

In accordance with the constitution, there are three retiring members from the executive this year. It has yet to be confirmed if they intend standing for re election. It is likely there will remain at least three other vacancies, two for three years and one for one year, on the Executive committee. Service on The Executive will, of course, be dependent on the progress of proposals to amalgamate with the Ayrshire Ladies’ County Golf Association to form a new administration body for amateur golf in Ayrshire

Clubs are requested to encourage interested members to make contact with the Secretary or Executive members for more information and if appropriate seek nomination for the vacant posts.

Under the constitution, Nominees must be a member of a club affiliated to The Ayrshire Golf Association and be proposed and seconded by members of affiliated clubs also.

The work of The Association Executive is varied and encompasses, amongst other things, Competitions, Course rating, handicapping, team administration at all age groups, rules and working with the National body and local agencies in the promotion of golf in the county.

All matters for the AGM, any proposals from member clubs and nominations for above positions and Executive posts require to be in the hands of The Secretary, in writing, by Monday 2nd October 2017 at the latest.  

It would be desirable if all member clubs could be represented by one or two appointed representatives at the Annual General Meeting. One representative will be permitted to vote on behalf of the club.

The final Agenda of the meeting, various reports, 2016 AGM minutes, annual balance sheet and budget proposals will be forwarded to clubs in early October, and at this time clubs will be requested to advise if they will be represented at the AGM, and by whom if possible. All documentation will be forwarded to club secretaries by email in due course.

WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUES - Ayrshire start title defence at home to Stirlingshire

The Ayrshire A team begin their defence of the West Of Scotland Inter County League Championship, which they have won for the last two years, on Sunday 17th September with a home game against Stirlingshire at Prestwick St Cuthbert.



The first match in the five match series starts at 11.00 a.m.

The other A team fixtures in the five week programme, which all start at 11.00 a.m unless otherwise stated, are :-

Sunday 24th September - Away to Lanarkshire at Crow Wood (12 noon start)
Sunday 1st October - Away to Renfrewshire at Paisley
Sunday 8th October - Home to Dumbartonshire at Prestwick St Nicholas
Sunday 15th october - Away to Glasgow at Sandyhills






The Ayrshire youth team also begin their bid for the West Of Scotland Inter County Youths title, which they last won in 2013, on Sunday 17th September.

The opening match for the youths is away to Stirlingshire at Callander, starting at 11.00 a.m..

The other matches in the series, which also begin at 11.00 a.m. unless other wise stated, are:-

Sunday 24th September - Home to Lanarkshire at Troon Darley (10.30 a.m. start)
Sunday 1st October - Home to Renfrewshire at Kilbirnie Place
Sunday 8th October - Away to Dumbartonshire at Douglas park
Sunday 15th October - Home to Glasgow at Loudoun

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Kilmarnock Barassie and Troon Welbeck win first two finals

Kilmarnock (Barassie) and Troon Welbeck were the winners last Sunday 10th September, when the first two finals of the 2017 Ayrshire Junior Golf League competitions took place at Troon Darley.

Wallace Thornton Trophy winners
Kilmarnock Barassie

In the scratch team knockout competition for the Wallace Thornton Trophy, Kilmarnock (Barassie) were involved in an extremely close encounter against Turnberry in the final.

The Wallace Thornton Trophy finalists
From Kilmarnock |Barassie & Turnberry

With Rachel Foster and Jack Broun winning for Turnberry and Ben Watson, who holed a bunker shot at the final hole for a winning birdie, and Ross McDonald putting the points on the board for Kilmarnock (Barassie) the match finished tied 2 - 2.

Under the rules of the competition, the teams selected one player to contest a sudden death play off to decide the destination of the title, and it fell to Jack Broun of Turnberry to play Robbie Muir of Kilmarnock (Barassie) in the play off, with Muir having a winning birdie against Broun's par at the first play off hole.

Match details (Kilmarnock Barassie names first):-

Robbie Muir lost to Rachel Foster by 4&3

Euan Milligan lost to Jack Broun by 6&5

Ben Watson beat Max Barclay by 1 hole

Ross McDonald beat Keiran Beauchamp by 9 & 8

Kilmarnock Barassie   2   Turnberry   2

Kilmarnock (Barassie won the sudden death play off at the first play off hole.

In the final of the Under 16 Knockout Trophy tournament, Troon Welbeck faced Prestwick St Cuthbert. With the added advantage of playing over their home course, a very strong Troon Welbeck team took the title with a 4 - 0 win in the match.

Under 16 Knockout Trophy winners
Troon Welbeck

Match details (Troon Welbeck names first):-

Liam Kirkham beat Katy Hill by 6&5

Josh Davies beat Alison Malcolm by 6&5

Rory Inglis beat Blair Rankin by 5&3

Ethan McIntyre beat Euan Jackson by 3&1

Troon Welbeck   4   Prestwick St Cuthbert   0

Under 16 Knockout Trophy finalists from
Prestwick St Cuthbert & Troon Welbeck

This Sunday, 17th September, sees the finals of the Champion Of Champions Trophy and the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship being contested, again at Troon Darley.

In the League Championship final, Kilmarnock (Barassie) will play Ballochmyle, whilst the Champion Of Champions final Ruben Lindsay (Ayr Belleisle) will play Blair Fleming (Troon Welbeck)

SCOTLAND Vs ENGLAND SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL - Boys & Girls both lose at Troon

The Scotland Schoolboy' and Scotland Schoolgirls' teams both lost out to England in the international matches, played at the Troon Links courses on Monday 11th September.

(Report courtesy of the Scottishgolfview.com website)

Scotland were well beaten 14-4 by England in the schoolboys' golf international at Troon Darley today, Monday 11th September.

The Scots trailed by only 1point after the six morning foursomes (3.5-2.5) but were hammered 10.5-1.5 in the 12 afternoon singles.

Seven of the singles went to the 18th green but only local Ayrshire lad, Cameron Johnstone (Marr College) won an afternoon tie for Scotland.

Cameron Adam (Merchiston Castle School) halved his singles.

In fairness to the Scots, it was one of the youngest Scotland boys' teams to be fielded in this annual international.

SCOTLAND SCHOOLBOYS   4  ENGLAND SCHOOLBOYS   14

At Troon Darley municipal course

FOURSOMES (2.5-3.5)

Scotland names first

Logan Gillies (Culloden Acad) and Ewan Wheat (Mearns Acad) lost to Matthew Green and Daniel Pierce 3 and 2.

Aidan O'Hagan (Johnstone High) and Cameron Johnstone (Marr College) lost to Joe Allen and Charlie Daughtrey 5 and 3.

Connor Wilson (Knox Acad) and Sebastian Sandin (Dunblane High) bt George Fricker and James McLaughlin 2 and 1



Gregor Graham (Blairgowrie High) and Christian Barbour (Bell Baxter High) bt Michael Baines and Will Skipp 5 and 4.

Jamie Roberts (Kinross High) and Alex Simpson (Perth High) lost to Cameron Lombard and Ben Partridge 5 and 3.

Cameron Adam (Merchiston Castle School) and Aidan Smith (Mearns Acad) halved with Harry Bowness and James Reed.

SINGLES (1.5-10.5)

O'Hagan lost to Green 1 hole

Sandin lost to Pearce  2 holes

Wheat lost to Daughtrey  1 hole

Gillies lost to Allenby  3 and 2

Wilson lost to Fricker  1 hole

Smith lost to  McLaughlin 2 and 1

Graham lost to Baines  1 hole

Simpson lost to Skipp  3 and 2

Johnstone bt Partridge  4 and 3

Roberts lost to Lombard  1 hole.

Barbour lost to Reed  2 and 1

Adam halved with Bowness

Scotland schoolboys team. Left to right: Alex Simpson, Aidan Smith., Wheat, Cameron Adam, Logan Gillies, Jamie Roberts, Aidan O'Hagan, Christian Barbour, Sebastian Sandin, Connor Wilson, Gregor Graham, Cameron Johnstone.

In the girls' match over the Lochgreen course, Scotland were, after a good start, were eventuually defeated 7 - 2

Leading by 2-1 after the morning foursomes, the girls' team lost all six afternoon singles to nosedive to a 7-2 defeat.

RESULTS
FOURSOMES (2-1)

Scotland names first

Kirsty Brodie (Webster's High) and Anna McKay (Waid Academy) lost to Amy Taylor and Amelia Williamson 3 and 1.

Evanna Hynd (Glenrothes High) and Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne Acad) bt Holly Haslam and Thalia Kirby 4 and 3.

Lorna McClymont (Dumbarton Acad) and Megan Ashley (Blairgowrie High) bt Megan Giles and Sophie Johnson 2 and 1.

SINGLES (0-6)

McKay lost to Williamson 7 and 6

McClymont lost to Taylor 4 and 2

Griffiths lost to Kirby 2 and 1

Brodie lost to Haslam  6 and 4

Ashley lost to Johnstone  5 and 4

Hynd lost to Giles 2 and 1

  SCOTLAND SCHOOLGIRLS TEAM (left to right): Megan Sahley, Anna McKay, Kirsty Brodie, Evanna Hynd and Carmen Griffiths.

+ Pictures by Hugh Hunter who also provided the results from both venues.

SCOTTISH AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire lose to Lanarkshire in quarter finals at Newmachar

Ayrshire lost out to defending champions Lanarkshire in the quarter finals of the 2017 Scottish Men's Area team Championship, at Newmachar Golf Club on the morning of Saturday 9th September.

The Ayrshire team looked to have the upper hand and by the middle of the round in the five ties they led the title holders 3.5 - 1.5.

Lanarkshire however fought back in the inward half of the ties, running out victors by 3.5 - 1.5 by the end of the match.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) & Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Graham Rankin (Drumpellier) & Gordon Yates (Colville Park) by 2&1

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) lost to Ed Wood (Crow Wood) by 2&1

Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) beat Lewis Irvine (Kirkhill) by 2&1

Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) halved with Steven Rennie (Drumpellier)

John Shanks (irvine) lost to Dominic Dougan (Drumpellier) by 1 hole

AYRSHIRE 1.5   LANARKSHIRE   3.5

In the semi final Lanarkshire lost out to North East by 4.5 - 0.5.

North east will play leading qualifiers Lothians in the final on Sunday 10th September.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Finals set for Troon Darley

The first two finals of the major Ayrshire Junior Golf League competitions take place on Sunday 10th September, when the Wallace Thornton Trophy and the Under 16 Knockout Trophy finals are played at Troon Darley, teeing off from 10.30 a.m.

In the Wallace Thornton Trophy final, Kilmarnock (Barassie) will play Turnberry.

Kilmanrock (Barassie) reached the final after a closely fought semi final against Troon Welbeck, where both the home and away legs finished 2 - 2 and Kilmarnock (Barassie) won through on a sudden death play off.

Turnberry defeated irvine 4 - 0 in the first leg of their semi final match and a 3 - 1 win in the second leg saw them comfortably into the final.

In the Under 16 Knockout Trophy Final, Troon Welbeck will play Prestwick St Cuthbert.

In the semi finals, both Welbeck and St. Cuthbert had home draws, with both running out winners by 3 - 1 against West Kilbride and Kilmarnock (Barassie) respectively.

The following sunday, 17th September, the finals of the Champion Of Champions Trophy and the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship will be played, again over the Troon Darley course.

WEST OF SCOTLAND UNDER 18 INTER COUNTY LEAGUE - Ayrshire finish the campaign with victory over Glasgow

The Ayrshire Under 18 team played their final match in the 2017 West Of Scotland Under 18 Inter County League on Sunday 3rd September, when they played host to Glasgow at Irvine Ravenspark, and ended the season in style with a 7 - 1 win.

The Glasgow team arrived with two players short for the under 16 ties, which gave Ben Watson (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) walkovers in their respective ties, and gave Ayrshire an immediate 2 - 0 lead.

In the other two under 16 ties, Sean Addie (Ayr Belleisle) and John McCracken (Irvine) both won, Addie beating Dean Farmer (Cathkin Braes) by 3 & 2 and McCracken winning by 4 & 3 against Lewis Kelso (Ralston)

Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) beat Jack Williams (Sandyhills) by a single hole in the lead under 18 tie, whilst Robbie Muir (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost out by 3 & 2 to Nick Branney (Cathcart Castle).

The final two under 18 ties both went Ayrshire's way, by a large margin, Ewan Milligan (Kilmarnock Barassie) beating Greg Murphy (Ralston) by 8 & 7 and Kieran Beauchamp (Turnberry) beating Alan Murphy (Ralston) by 7 & 6.

SCOTTISH MEN'S AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire qualify in third place for quarter finals

Ayrshire qualified in third place for the quarter finals of the 2017 Scottish men's Area team Championship, following completion of the strokeplay qualifying rounds over the Hawkshead and Swailend course at Newmachar, near Aberdeen, on Friday 8th September.

The Ayrshire team total of 715 matched that of Renfrewshire, in fourth place, behind Glasgow (709) and leading qualifiers Lothians (692)

Cawder’s Calum Fyfe set a Newmachar Hawkshill course record on his way to a superb 18 under par total of 126. Fyfe had only 23 putts in halves of 34 (-2) and 30 (-6), concluding his round with an eagle at the 16th, where he holed a 30ft putt, and birdies at the 17th and 18th. In the afternoon Fyfe added a 62 on the Swailend course, one short of the course record, to top the individual standings by eight strokes from Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse).

John Shanks (Irvine) was Ayrshire's best individual peformer with his rounds of 74 over the Hawkshill course and 64 over the Swailend course giving him asix under par total of 138 and fourth place overall in the individual standings.

The other Ayrshire scores (Hawkshill course first) were :-

Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) 74 / 69 = 143 (-1)
Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) 73 / 71 = 144 (level)
Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) 71 / 73 = 144 (level)
Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) - 71 / 76 = 149 (+3)
Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) - 76 / 75 = 151 (+7)

In the quarter finals on Saturday morning, Ayrshire play the defending champions, Lanarkshire, with four singles ties and one foursomes deciding who will progress to the semi finals in the afternoon.

The order  of play for the quarter finals is :-

Lothians v North

Renfrewshire v Perth & Kinross

Glasgow v North-East

Ayrshire v Lanarkshire

GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER - Prestwick St Cuthbert win at Loudoun

Prestwick St Cuthbert won the Ayrshire scratch club team knockout competition for the Gary Bryden Memorial salver when the final took place at Loudoun Gowf Club on Sunday 3rd September.

The winning Prestwick St Cuthbert team with The Gary Bryden Memorial Salver

The St Cuthbert team, who were beaten in the inaugural final last year by Loudoun, faced Ballochmyle in this year's final.

Steven Wallace put Prestwick St Cuthbert into the lead in the opening singles tie with a 6&5 win over Gary Holland but Craig Hamilton squared the match for Ballochmyle with a 2 hole victory over Scott Brown in the second singles tie.

The destination of the trophy, as happened last year, was destined to be decided on the result of the foursomes tie, between Callum McKirdy and William Fleming of Ballochmyle and the Prestwick St Cuthbert duo of Graeme Gimson and Steven Gillies.

As in 2016, the foursomes tie proved to be a close run affair, going all the way to the final green before Gimson and Gillies edged a single hole victory to win their tie and the match for Prestwick St Cuthbert.

The 2017 Runners Up from Ballochmyle

Match details (Ballochmyle names first):-

Gary Holland lost to Steven Wallace by 6&5 

Craig Hamilton beat Scott Brown by 2 holes

Callum McCurdy & William Fleming lost to Graeme Gimson & Steven Gilllies by 1 hole

BALLOCHMYLE    1   

PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT   2