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Sunday, March 08, 2020

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER - 2019 winners honoured

The Ayrshire Golf Association Annual Dinner & Presentation of Trophies was held at Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club on Friday 21st February, where the successful Ayrshire players in 2019 were honoured for their achievements.

Hosted by AGA President John Watt, attendees included the President of Scottish Golf Malcolm Mitchell as well as Presidents and officials of the other West of Scotland Area Associations and captains from many of the clubs who hosted Ayrshire Golf Association events in 2019.

Following the meal, President Watt gave a review of the 2019 season before the company were very well entertained by the speaker for the evening, former football manager Jim Leishman MBE.

Before the presentation of prizes there was a lucky programme draw and a raffle towards Area coaching funds, for some Ayrshire Golf Association equipment including a Wilson golf bag kindly donated by Amer Sports.

The kind donation of a framed signed photograph of Lee Westwood by Caprington member George Morton, saw the photograph auctioned by guest speaker Jim Leishman with the sum of £130 being raised. The proceeds will be donated to the Chris Mitchell Foundation, a sporting charity which offers mental health support in football.

The presentation of prizes opened with special presentations to four Ayrshire golfers who were selected to represent Scotland in 2019.

Ruben Lindsay with his special award
Ruben Lindsay (Ayr Belleisle) was selected for the Under 16 Boys Quadrangular Tournament played at Troon in April 2019, making a major contribution to Scotland’s win in the event. He was also selected to represent Scotland in the European Boys Team Championship in Poland and the Boys Home Internationals in Wales.

Stuart Easton (Irvine) played in the Home Internationals at Lahinch in Ireland in 2019 whilst Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) represented Scotland at the European Team Championships in Austria and had an outstanding season which culminated in selection for the Great Britain & Ireland team who contested the Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool in September 2019.

Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) represented Scotland in the Senior European Mens’ Team Championships in Denmark and the Seniors Home Internationals at Alnmouth GC in 2019

Ruben was present to accept his award personally but due to other commitments, Stuart, Euan & Paul were unable to attend the annual dinner and their awards were accepted on their behalf by representatives of their respective clubs.

As well as the Ayrshire Golf Association trophies for annual competition, there were three other trophies on display on the night.

After waiting 22 years to win the West of Scotland Boys League for only the second time in 2018, the Ayrshire boys team retained the title and the Wishart Trophy in 2019. In recognition of the achievement, a number of the successful 2019 team were present at the annual dinner and received their commemorative medals from AGA President John Watt.

The West Of Scotland Under 18 Inter County League winners

Players presented with medals on the night were Ruben Lindsay, Harvey McDonald, Harvey Broadfoot, John McCracken, Fraser Russell, Dylan Cairns, Kyle McCaig, Rob Yorston, Jack Allan, Max Barclay, Jamie McKinnon and Ross McDonald whilst for various reasons Sean Addie, Kerr Brooks, Josh Davies and Christopher Hunter could not attend the dinner and will receive their medals at a later date.

Robert Wilson
With The President's Trophy
Team officials Scott Gilchrist, Martin Cairns, Robert Wilson & Andrew Gilligan were also presented with commemorative medals before the Wishart Trophy was presented for the second successive year to team manager Scott Gilchrist.

Also on display was the President's Trophy which Ayrshire won in their annual youths/boys fixture against The South of Scotland, and the trophy was accepted by team manager Robert Wilson.







The third external trophy on display on the night was the Scottish Boys Championship trophy which was won by Ruben Lindsay at Blairgowrie GC in July 2019, the ninth Ayrshire player to win the title, in what proved to be an excellent season for Ruben which saw him also win the Stephen Gallacher Foundation trophy in June and the Italian Under 16 International Championship in September.

Ruben Lindsay with the Scottish Boys Trophy
and commemorative framed print


To mark Ruben's achievement in winning the Scottish Boys title, President Watt presented him with a framed photograph of Blairgowrie GC on behalf of The Association.







The event culminated in the presentation of the annual county awards for 2019 which included a first county title for Alton GC and an outstanding season from Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) who won three of the four major county titles in 2019, the Strokeplay, Matchplay and order of merit awards.

The full list of 2019 winners were:-

Ayrshire Boys Champion - Kerr Brooks (Irvine GC)
Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champion (Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit - Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie)
The Ayrshire Fourball Championship - N.B. Parkstone GC (Stuart Wilson & James Mason)
The Ayrshire Club Championship - Irvine GC (Darren Mallinson, Andrew Gibson & Daniel Forbes)
The Gary Bryden Memorial Salver - Royal Troon GC
The President's Putter - Alton GC
Handicap League Championship - Kilbirnie Place GC
Scratch league Division 4 - Prestwick St Nicholas GC
Scratch league Division 3 - Royal Troon GC
Scratch League Division 2 - Ballochmyle GC
Scratch league Division 1 - Loudoun GC
Ayrshire Seniors Champion - Stephen Lucas (Ayr Belleisle GC)
Ayrshire Matchplay Champion - Michael Smyth (Royal Troon GC)
Ayrshire Strokeplay Champion - Michael Smyth (Royal Troon GC)
Ayrshire Champion Of Champions - Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle GC) 
Doc Thom Ayrshire Order of Merit - Michael Smyth (Royal Troon GC)


Fourball winners Stuart Wilson & James Mason
of NB Parkstone GC

Club Champions Daniel Forbes & Andrew Gibson
of Irvine GC

Royal Troon GC Captain Des Bancewicz
with the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver

President's Putter winners Alton GC

Scratch league Winners
Div 4 - Prestwick St Nicholas (Captain Stuart Miller)
Div 3 - Royal Troon (Captain Des Bancewicz)
Div 2 - Ballochmyle (William Fleming)
Dive 1 - Louodun (Captain John Goodwin)









Champion of Champions
Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle GC)



















Michael Smyth (Royal Troon GC)
Matchplay Champion
Strokeplay Champion
Doc Thom Salver - Ayrshire Order of Merit




The evening concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by AGA Vice President Scott Gilchrist.








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