AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION FINALS DAY - Six county title decided at Ballochmyle

The 2024 Ayrshire Golf Association Finals Day took place at Ballochmyle Golf Club on Sunday the 1st of September, with the destination of six county title decided, in fine conditions on a course presented in excellent order by the club greenkeeping staff.

The first final to take place was the scratch club team knockout championship for the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver which featured the teams from Ballochmyle and Ayr Belleisle.

Tom Loy put Ballochmyle's first point on the board with a 4&2 victory over jamie hay and Club Captain William Fleming ensured the trophy and title for the first time for Ballochmyle, at their fourth final appearance, with victory over Aidan Long at the first extra hole of the lead singles tie. 

Elliot Masterson and Steven McCreadie Jr. took the point in the foursomes tie for Ayr Belleisle against Neil Clapperton and Alan Watson with a 4&2 victory to make the final match score 2 - 1 in favour of Ballochmyle.

Match details (Ballochmyle names first)

William Fleming beat Aidan Long at the 19th

Tom Loy beat Jmaie hay by 4&2

Neil Clapperton & Alan Watson lost to Elliot Masterson & Steven McCreadie Jr. by 4&2

BALLOCHMYLE   2   AYR BELLEISLE   1

The second final on the course was the Ayrshire Fourball Championship final, between Steven Murray & Andrew Watt (Caprington) and Kieron Gallagher & Bruce Harris (Golf South Ayrshire).

In a tight match the golf south Ayrshire pair held a single hole lead after ten holes, but the caprington pairing fought back in the inward nine, and held a single hole lead with just the eighteenth to play, before ensuring the title win by taking the final hole for a two hole victory in the match.

Final details:-

Steven Murray (8) & Andrew Watt (11) (Caprington) beat Kieron Gallagher (13) and Bruce Harris (9) (Golf South Ayrshire) by two holes.

Third final on the course was the Ayrshire Women's Handicap League Championship final featuring the defending champions Caprington and Largs. Jean Capes and Jane Ashdown of Largs both recorded 4&3 wins and single hole victories from Jenny Linklater and Irene Hodge in the lead and anchor ties ensured the title and trophy for Largs with a 4-0 match score.

Match details (Caprington names first):-

Pamela McGuire (10) lost to Jenny Linklater (2) by 1 hole.

Carol Moffat (12) lost to Jean capes (18) by 4&3

Mary White (13) lost to Jane Ashdown (25) by 4&3

Elaine McCreadie (32) lost to irene Hodge (27) by 1 hole

CAPRINGTON   0   LARGS   4

The Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship final followed, which involved the teams from Moorpark and Ardeer. Comfortable victories by Andrew Andrerson and Norrie Clancy in the final two ties on the course gave Moorpark a 2 - 0 lead, however the four remaining ties were not concluded until the final green of regulation play, with Moorpark securing 2.5 of the four available points to ensure victory and the championship trophy with a 4.5 - 1.5 match score overall.

Match details (Moorpark names first)

Jamie Ralston (11) beat Matthew Duff (6) by 1 hole

Alan Burns (12) halved with Billy Goodwin (7)

Graeme Armstrong (13) beat kevin carey (10) by 1 hole

Bob Paterson (13) lost to William Ryland (11) by 2 holes

Andrew Armstrong (14) beat Frank Grant (11) by 5&3

Norrie Clancy (24) beat Morris McKinlay (11) by 6&5

MOORPARK     4.5    ARDEER    1.5

The penultimate final was the mixed greensomes knockout competition for The Ayrshire Jug, featuring Iain & Shirley Campbell (Prestwick St Cuthbert) and Neil & Sheila Kennedy (Loudoun). The Campbell's took the early initiative and heald a comfortable lead mid way through the match before the Kennedy's fought back to square the match after fifteen holes. The campbell's restored a lead in the match by winning the sixteenth hole and followed on with winning their second successive hole at the seventeenth to secure a 2&1 win in the match. 

Match details:-

Iain & Shirley Campbell (Prestwick St Cuthbert) (17) beat Neil & Sheila Kennedy (Loudoun) (16) by 2&1

The last final to take to the course was the handicap club team knockot competition fnal for The President's Putter, which again featured teams from Moorpark andn Ardeer.

Comfortable victories in the two singles ties by Robert Cruickshank ands David Munn gave Moorpark the necessary points for the trophy, with Bill Bell and david Marwick also securing a point in the foursomes on the final green for a 3-0 victory in the match for Moorpark.

Match details (Moorpark names first):-

Robert Cruickshank (10) beat James lewis (14) by 6&5

David Munn (15) beat Scott brown (19) by 5&4

Bill Bell & David Marwick (18) beat Scott Gibson & Alan Hodge (11) by 2 holes

MOORPARK   3   ARDEER   0

At the conclusion of the finals Ayrshire Golf Association president Andrew Gilligan handed the trophies over the the succesful teams and pairings in each of the 2024 events.