FINALS DAY - Wins for Auchenharvie 88, Caprington, and Loudoun, at Prestwick St Cuthbert

Auchenharvie 88, Caprington, and Loudoun, were the winners at the Ayrshire Golf Association Finals day, held at Prestwick St Cuthbert on Sunday the 3rd of September.

The first of five competition finals to tee off was the AYRSHIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL between Auchenharvie 88 and Ayr Seafield.

With Auchenharvie 88 leading by 3-2, and any possible countback in the event of a draw looking to be very close, the crucial tie was the second one out where ultimately Auchenharvie 88's Ross Howie edged out David Hughes of Ayr Seafield by a single hole on the last green to secure a 4-2 win overall for his team.

Match details (Auchenharvie 88 names first):-

Brian Robertson (16) beat Callum McPike (6) by 3&2

Ross Howie (18) beat David Hughes (7) by 1 hole

Stevie Hay (18) lost to David Wilson (7) by 5&4

Andy McNaught (22) lost to William Hughes (9) by 4&3

Brian McCandless (23) beat David McAlpine (10) by 3&2

Willie Bark (26) beat Andy Kilday (15) by 4&3

AUCHENHARVIE 88     4   AYR SEAFIELD   2

The second of the finals on course was the inaugural final of the AYRSHIRE WOMEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP between Kilmarnock Barassie and Caprington, who won their respective qualifying sections to secure their places in the final.

In a very close match it was Kilmarnock Barassie who took the early initiative, winning the first two of the four ties, but Caprington fought back and took the other two ties to level the final score at 2 - 2, leaving the destination of the trophy down to a countback over the individual ties. 

The countback proved to be equally as close, with Caprington winning the trophy in it's inaugural year by virtue of a 6 - 5 countback score.

Match details (Kilmarnock Barassie names first):-

Clair McGinty (17) beat Alison Jarvie (13) by 3&1

Sheena Hope (17) beat Anne Young (24) by 1 hole

Lisa Neilson (21) lost to Linda Pearson (27) by 1 hole

Fran Hadden (26) lost to Maggi Johnston (33) by 3&2

KILMARNOCK BARASSIE   2   CAPRINGTON  2

(Caprington win 6-5 on countback)

The scratch club team knockout competition for THE GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER, was the third final to tee off on the day, with Loudoun facing Ardeer in the final.

The two singles ties were shared but Loudoun had a convincing win in the foursomes tie to win the trophy with a 2-1 match score.

Match details (Loudoun names first):-

Steven Smith lost to Scott Ainsworth by 6&4

John Haggarty beat Lewis Higgins by 7&6

Tommy McInally & Chris Bone beat Callum Ainsworth & Craig Stewart by 7&6

LOUDOUN     2    ARDEER   1

The final of the handicap club team knockout for THE PRESIDENT'S PUTTER was the second last final on the programme, and featured Auchenharvie 88 against Troon Portland.

Again, the singles ties were shared but a comprehensive win in the foursomes tie saw Auchenharvie 88 take the trophy with a 2 - 1 match score.

Match details (Auchenharvie 88 names first):-

Andy McDonald (9) beat John Paul Flannigan (4) by 3&2

David Johnstone (14) lost to Darren Murdoch (14) b y 3&2

John Hargreaves & Brian King (11.5) beat Pete Clark & Vincent Gilligan (10.5) by 6&5

AUCHENHARVIE 88    2        TROON PORTLAND   1

The last of the finals to tee off was the AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP final betweenLes Knox (23) & Wullie Young (19) of Auchenharvie 88 GC and Paul Giffney (5) & Tom Gilbey (19) of Ardeer GC. 

The Auchenharvie pairing forged a lead at the turn and maintained their advantage in the inward half. 

They held a two hole advantage with two to play, before closing out the tie on the 17th green for a 2&1 victory.

Les Knox & Wullie Young (Auchenharvie 88) beat Paul Giffney & Tom Gilbey (Ardeer) by 2&1

At the conclusion of the five finals Ayrshire Golf Association president Scott Gilchrist presented the trophies to the winning teams in the 2023 Ayrshire Golf Association Finals Day.