Trailing 2 - 1 after the morning foursomes, the Ayrshire team needed to win four of the six afternoon singles matches to add to their three previous championship wins, the last being in 2015 at Blairgowrie.
Putting proved crucial in Lothians favour in the first two ties completed on the Sunday afternoon, Steven Stamper and Scott Brown both losing out by 6&4 to Craig Davidson & Connor Wilson Respectively to leave Lothians 4 - 1 ahead and needing just one more point from the remaining four ties on the course to secure the title.
The four remaining ties were all close and indeed the Ayrshire team had built some momentum to lead by a single hole in all four ties, with Blair Morton leading Stuart Blair after 17 holes, John Shanks leading Ross Noon after 15 holes, Craig Hamilton leading Allyn Dick after 13 holes and Steven McEwan leading Benn McLeod after 12 holes.
It was then that fate and the elements played a part, with localised thunder prompting an immediate suspension of play before the heavens opened and the course was subject to an extended period of heavy rain, before the decision was taken to recommence play at 5.15 p.m., following a delay of around one hour.
As play recommenced, John Shanks won the sixteenth and halved the seventeenth to secure his second point of the day and reduce the match deficit to 4 - 2, while Craig Hamilton extended his lead to two holes with four to play. At the same time Blair Morton was playing the final hole, needing a half to close out the match, but with both players short of the green in two, his opponent played an outstanding third shot from a tight angle over a bunker to within a few inches of the hole and when Blair Morton's chip ran ten feet past the hole and he was unable to salvage his par, the tie proceeded up the first extra hole.
Blair Morton found trouble on the right from the tee and was only able to play out to the fairway before finding the green, some 25 feet from the hole in three, while his opponent was short in two and played a good chip up to within three feet of the hole. Despite his best effort, Blair Morton's par attempt stayed above ground and Stuart Blair holed his par put for victory in the tie, to secure the championship for Lothians.
Though Craig Hamilton was two holes up with two to play and Steven McEwan was one ahead with three to play, the rules of the competition dictated that when the match result was secured, all remaining ties were declared halves, which gave a final match score of Lothians 6 Ayrshire 3.
Despite the disappointment of losing out in the final, the Ayrshire players were all a credit to the county throughout the weekend and were excellent throughout the finals weekend and indeed during the extended championship during the 2023 season.
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