AYRSHIRE MEN'S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY - second title win for Craig Hamilton at Royal Troon

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) won the Ayrshire Men's Champion of Champions Trophy for the second time at Royal Troon on Friday evening, the 11th of August, with victory over Cameron Aitken (Largs) at the third extra hole of an intriguing match which saw him fight back over the latter stages to square the match and then secure the title in extra holes.

Hamilton last won the title in 2019, and was beaten finalist in 2013, while Cameron Aitken was making his first appearance in the final of a county championship.

Despite the gulf in experience, it was Aitken who took the early initiative, in breezy and testing conditions, over the old course at Royal Troon, a birdie three at the first giving him the lead.

A four at the 2nd was enough for Hamilton to square the tie, only to go one behind at the third after conceding the hole to Aitken.

Aitken retained his advantage through a four hole run of pars from both players, before extending his lead to two holes with a birdie two at the 8th, the famous Postage Stamp. Aitken then consolidated his control of the tie with a winning par four at the 9th to turn for home with a three hope advantage.

A birdie three from Hamilton at the 11th reduced the margin to two holes but a bogey from the Ballochmyle champion at the 12th let Aitken restore his three hole advantage, which was maintained through fifteen holes with another run of halved holes in pars, leaving Aitken dormie three in the match.

Hamilton then showed his real matchplay fighting qualities, finishing the round with three successive threes to take all three remaining regulation holes and square the match with Aitken after eighteen holes.

To his credit and despite the late fightback from Hamilton, Cameron Aitken did not lose focus and at the first extra hole, the 1st on the course, he secured his par to half the hole and take the match to the 20th hole, the 18th on the course.

Again the players could not be separated, halving the hole in par fours and proceeding back to the 1st tee for the 21st hole of the match. It was here that the title was decided, Craig Hamilton taking the hole with a par four to secure the 2023 Champion of Champions title.

At the conclusion of the three finals held at Royal Troon on Friday evening, Ayrshire Golf Association President Scott Gilchrist presented vouchers to both finalists and handed over the Kilmarnock Standard Trophy to the 2023 Ayrshire Men's Champion of Champions title winner Craig Hamilton.