AYRSHIRE JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Turnberry and Loudoun triumph at sunny Girvan

Turnberry and Loudoun were the team winners when the Ayrshire Junior Team Championship, the traditional opening fixture in the Ayrshire Golf Association competition calendar, was played at a sunny Girvan golf course on Sunday the 20th of April.

Teams from 12 member clubs took part in the championship this year and it was Turnberry, playing in the first four games, that set the target in the team scratch event that no other team could ultimately better. 

Their team total of the best three scores from four scores added up to 205 which left them at the end of the day two shots clear of their nearest rivals West Kilbride and secured the team of Quintin Dunlop, Euan Forrest, Findlay Andrew & Gregor Hay the Matt Lygate trophy and Ayrshire Junior team Champions title, the club's second success in the event following their last win in 2017.

The early pace in the handicap team competition was set by Prestwick St Nicholas and Kilmarnock Barassie with a three score return of 197 but in the event two other teams bettered that score, and the Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy and handicap team Champions title was won by the team of Kris Downie, Aran Cowan, Ian Kerr and Ryan Steel from Loudoun with 193, to take the trophy back to Loudoun for the seventh time in total, and the second time in three years.   

The best individual nett score was returned by nineteen handicapper Robert Meney from Prestwick St Nicholas with a superb nett total of 56 and a five shot winning margin to take the carrick Trophy.

The best individual scratch score of the day was recorded by Finlay Watt of West Kilbride with a one under par score of 63 to win the Prestwick Circuits Trophy by three shorts from his nearest challenger.

At the conclusion of the competition the Ayrshire Golf Association President Andrew Gilligan presented prizes and the troiphies to the winning teams and individuals, and thanked the clubhouse staff for looking after the competitors and spectators throughout the day, and Golf South Ayrshire for their continued support of The Association and allowing the use of the course to stage the championship this year.