AYRSHIRE SENIOR MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP - Gordon Mercer triumphs over record field at Loudoun

Host club member Gordon Mercer is the 2025 Ayrshire Senior Men's Champion after he triumphed over a record field of 114 players in the competition, played at Loudoun Gowf Club on Tuesday the 8th of July.

The players enjoyed excellent weather and a course in superb condition through the day, and it was mercer who came through late in the day to take the Sandy Provan Trophy, with a three under par nett score of 65 off his handicap of 16, by just a single shot from four other players.

The best scratch score of the day was returned by Stuart Miller of Kilmarnock Barassie who negotiated the course in 67 shots, one under par, without recording anything higher than a four at any hole during the round.

In the 50-59 age category Michael Malone of the Golf South Ayrshire club took the honours with a nett 66, one ahead of Colin Watson (Kilmarnock Barassie), with the 2021 champion Alistair Travers (Irvine Ravenspark) a shot further behind in third place.

In the 60 - 69 age category Matthew Quinn (Rowallan Castle) took first place with a nett 66, by virtue of the better inward half from Gordon Munro (Loudoun), with Bill Wardrope (Kilmarnock Barassie) in third place, a shot further back.

The 70 and above age category was also won with a 66 by Robbie Yule (irvine) who was two shots ahead of James Aitken (Loudoun) in second place, with Colin Halcrow (Largs) a shot further back in third place.

There were two nearest the pin prizes, at the 4th and 11th holes.

Jim Johnston (Moorpark) won the prize at the 4th hole when his ball somehow contrived to finish a mere one inch directly behind the hole from the tee, while the prize at the 11th was won by Ross hannah (Loudoun) who hit the best shot of the day at the hole to 7 foot and 8 inches.

At the conclusion of the championship Ayrshire Golf Association President Andrew Gilligan (Royal Troon) presented prize vouchers to the succesful competitors before handing the Sandy Provan Trophy over the the 2025 Ayrshire Senior men's Champion, Gordon Mercer.

The full list of prizewinners and championship scores are:-

During the event a pitching wedge was left on the left of the 18th fairway, and a clubbheadcover was also handed to championship officials. Both items have been left with club staff at Loudoun, should anyone be missing these items.

The Association would like to record sincere thanks to Loudoun Gowf Club for hosting the event this year and presenting the course in excellent condition for the competitors, who were also looked after superbly in the clubhouse throughout the day

The players returning the eight best scratch scores during the championship progressed to contest the Ayrshire Senior Men's Matchplay Championship over the coming weeks, with the final scheduled to take place at Royal Troon on Friday the 15th of August.

The cut for the matchplay championship fell at 72, with four of the five players on that score securing a place in the matchplay event.

The qualifiers were led by Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) while the defending champion Brian Fisher (Largs) qualified in eight place, keeping alive his hopes of winning the Senior men's matchplay title for the third successive year.

The full draw for the 2025 Ayrshire Senior Men's Matchplay Championship is:-