WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY UNDER 18 BOYS LEAGUE - Ayrshire move to top of the table with win over Stirlingshire

Ayrshire have moved to the top of the West of Scotland Inter County Under 18 Boys League table after a win away to Stirlingshire in their penultimate fixture of the 2025 campaign at Falkirk Tryst GC on Sunday the 17^th of August.

Ayrshire’s win kept their unbeaten record for the season intact, as they bid to retain the Wishart Trophy and West of Scotland league title for a third successive season.

In the four Under 16 ties, Mason Chisholm (Irvine) put the first point of the board for Ayrshire with a 7&6 win and was followed soon after by Harris Vennard (Ayr Belleisle) who won by 6&5 to put Ayrshire two ahead.

A 4 & 3 win for Ollie Kane (Royal Troon) put Ayrshire 3 – 0 up before Stirlingshire got their first point when James McNeillie (West Kilbride), making his team debut, lost his tie by 5&4.

Ayrshire needed at least two wins from the four Under 18 ties for a match win.

Lyle Vogwell (West Kilbride) ensured at least a draw in the match with a 6&5 win and the overall win was assured with 3&2 wins by both Finlay Watt (West Kilbride) and Euan Forrest (Turnberry).

The remaining tie went to Stirlingshire, when Findlay Andrew (Turnberry) lost his tie by a single hole, leaving the final match score as Stirlingshire 2 Ayrshire 6.

Match details (Stirlingshire names first) :-

Kai Dickson (Stirling) lost to Harris Vennard (Ayr Belleisle) by 6&5

Jack Murphy (Bonnybridge) lost to Mason Chisholm (Irvine) by 7&6

Ben Wilson (Stirling) lost to Ollie Kane (Royal Troon) by 4&3

Josh McIlwaine (Stirling) beat James McNeillie (West Kilbride) by 5&4

Kyle Hamilton (Bonnybridge) lost to Finlay Watt (West Kilbride) by 372

Isaac King (Dunblane new) lost to Lyle Vogwell (West Kilbride) by 6&5

Thomas Kelly (Stirling) lost to Euan Forrest (Turnberry) by 372

Liam Graham (Falkirk) beat Findlay Andrew (Turnberry) by 1 hole.

STIRLINGSHIRE   2   AYRSHIRE  6

As a result of Ayrshire’s win, present positions in the West of Scotland Under 18 Boys Inter County league are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
AYRSHIRE	4	3	1	0	22.0	10.0	12.0	14
LANARKSHIRE	3	3	0	0	16.0	8.0	8.0	12
RENFREWSHIRE	3	1	2	0	15.5	8.5	7.0	8
STIRLINGSHIRE	4	1	0	3	12.5	19.5	-7.0	4
GLASGOW	3	0	1	2	9.0	15.0	-6.0	2
DUMBARTONSHIRE	3	0	0	3	5.0	19.0	-14.0	0

The other two matches in the fourth round of the series of fixtures are scheduled to take place later in the month, when Dumbartonshire host Glasgow at Lenzie on Sunday the 24^th, and Lanarkshire host Renfrewshire at Kirkhill on the 31^st.

Ayrshire’s final fixture of the 2025 campaign is against Lanarkshire at Ayr Seafield on Sunday the 7^th of September, where they will be in a position that a match win will ensure the retention of the championship trophy.