THE AYRSHIRE JUG - Four semi finalists confirmed in mixed greensomes knockout competition

The four semi finalists in the inaugural Ayrshire mixed greensomes knockout competition for The Ayrshire Jug are now confirmed, with all four quarter final ties now completed. 

In the last quarter final tie, Patricia Harris & Neil Wilson (Ballochmyle) beat Neil & Sheila Kennedy (Loudoun) by 9&7 at Ballochmyle

The semi final line up is now confirmed as:-

Gillian & Billy Pollock (Skelmorlie) Vs. Pauline & Bob Cameron (Ayr Belleisle/Belleisle Ladies) 

Patricia Harris & Neil Wilson (Ballochmyle) Vs. Jean & Ken Capes (Largs)

PRESIDENT'S PUTTER - Semi-final line up confirmed

The semi final line up in the 2023 handicap club team knockout competition for The President's Putter has been confirmed after the remaining quarter final matches were completed recently.

Troon Portland had a 3-0 win over their visitors from West Kilbride and will now play host in the semi final to Caprington, who won 2-1 on their visit to local rivals Annanhill in the quarter finals.

The other semi final sees Auchenharvie 88 play host to Drongan.

GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER - Rowallan Castle through to semi finals

Rowallan Castle claimed the final place in the semi finals of the scratch club team knockout competition for The Gary Bryden memorial salver recently with a notable 2 - 1 win over Prestwick St Cuthbert.

Glen Wilson took an early lead over Graeme Gimson but the St Cuthbert player, who has had an outstanding record in scratch matchplay ties in Ayrshire this season, fought back to win by 2&1.

In the other singles tie, Robbie Macinnes had a crushing 7&5 win over Calum Nairn to level the match, leaving the overall result resting with the foursomes tie involving John Rushbury & Neil Black against Adam Sweeney and Steven Gillies.

In increasingly wet and dull conditions, the two teams gathered to follow the conclusion of the foursomes tie.

Despite being a couple of holes behind late in the game, the Rowallan Castle pair fought back and a 25 foot putt at the final green by John Rushbury was enough to give the home side a single hole victory.

In the semi finals the Rowallan Castle team visit Loudoun, whilst Ardeer will play host to Kilmarnock Barassie in the other semi final tie.

SKELMORLIE GOLF CLUB - Entries invited for two open events

Skelmorlie Golf Club are now inviting entries for two open events, to be held at the club in August and September.

The Skelmorlie Open will take place on Sunday the 27th of August while the Seniors Open will be held on Thursday the 14th of September.

The entry fee for each competition is £10 with optional sweeps available at each event for an additional £2.

Entries can be submitted via the Scottish Golf app or by visiting the club website at www.skelmorliegolf.co.uk

MUIRKIRK OPEN - Entries invited for 2023 competition

Muirkirk Golf Club are now inviting entries for the 2023 Muirkirk Open, to be held  at the Southside course on Saturday the 26th of August.

prizes will be available in three handicap classes and the George Rowe Memorial Trophy will be presented to the player returning the best scratch score of the day. The player returning the best nett score will take custody of the James Millar Trophy.

There are also prizes at every hole, and all for an entry fee of £10.

Details of how to enter are included on the poster below.

DALMILLING OPEN - entries now invited

Entries are now being invited for the 2023 Ayr Dalmilling Open which will be held over the Dalmilling course on Sunday the 20th of August.

There will be prizes in two handicap classes and the Mainholm Cup will be presented to the player returning the best scratch score of the day.

Those wishing to enter the competition should contact the club direct.

SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL TEAMS - Four Ayrshire players selected for European and Home International championships

Four Ayrshire golfers feature in the recent selections for the European team Championships and the Home Internationals.

Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) and Robert Jenkins (Royal Troon) have both been selected in the Senior men's European team Championship team to contest the 2023 event from the 5th to the 9th of September in the Czech Republic.

In the Boys' and Girls' Home Internationals, to be played at Lindrick from the 8th to the 10th of August. Freya Russell (Royal Troon) and Dylan Cairns (Royal Troon) have been selected.

In addition, Ayrshire Golf Association past president John Rushbury (Royal Troon) will captain the men's team at the Home Internationals.

All the teams announced recently are:-

Senior Men's European Team Championship

Royal Golf Club Mariánské Lázně Czech Republic

September 5th - 9th, 2023

Captain – Ronnie Clark

Coach – Pete Whiteford

Team

Ronnie Clark (Erskine)

Derek Paton (Dunnikier Park)

Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon)

Robert Jenkins (Royal Troon)

Bryan Innes (Murcar Links)

Stewart Henderson (Hamilton)

 

Senior Women's European Team Championship

Parador El Saler Golf , Valencia, Spain

5-9 September, 2023

Captain – Fiona De Vries

Team

Karen Ferguson Snedden (Mortonhall)

Elaine Moffat (St Regulus Ladies)

Ruth Hunter (Lanark)

Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire)

Karen Marshall (Baberton)

Hilary Laughland (Mortonhall)

 

Men's Home Internationals

Machynys, Wales

9th – 11th August

Coach – Spencer Henderson

Captain – John Rushbury

Team

Connor Graham (Blairgowrie)

Gregor Tait (Aldeburgh)

Gregor Graham (Blairgowrie)

Matthew Wilson (Forres)

Oliver Mukherjee (Lorretto School)

Angus Carrick (Craigielaw)

Andrew Davidson (Crail Golfing Society)

Jack McDonald (Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course)

Niall Sheils Donegan (Mill Valley)

 

Women's Home Internationals

Machynys Golf Club, Wales

9th – 11th August

Coach – Kathryn Imrie

Captain – Gillian Paton

Team

Lorna McClymont (Milngavie)

Jasmine Mackintosh (Murcar Links)

Penelope Brown (Auchterarder)

Jennifer Saxton (Dunfermline)

Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne)

Megan Ashley (Blairgowrie)

Ailsa Brannock (Castle Douglas)

 

Boys' Home Internationals

Lindrick, England

8th – 10th August

Coach – George Boswell

Captain – Stuart Johnston

Team

Dylan Cairns (Royal Troon)

Aidan Lawson (Bruntsfield Links)

Brodie Cunningham (Bothwell Castle)

Alexander Farmer (Kilmacolm)

Fergus Brown (Gullane)

Jake Johnston (Royal Burgess)

Harry Bent (Gullane)

Koby Buchan (Cruden Bay)

Billy Devine (Elgin)

Girls' Home Internationals

Lindrick, England

8th – 10th August

Coach – Katy McNicoll

Captain – Susan Jackson

Team

Grace Crawford (North Berwick)

Freya Russell (Royal Troon)

Summer Elliott (Inverness Golf Club)

Evie McCallum (Dunfermline)

Sofia McGhie (Lancaster)

Asitha Ashok (Wike Ridge)

Sheridan Clancy (Melrose)

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR ORDER OF MERIT - Liam Moran leads after Loudoun victory

Liam Moran (Irvine) is clear at the top of the Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit after completion of the latest four counting events.

A scratch 71 in the Loudoun Junior Open was enough to give Moran full points which added to the joint top spot in the Troon Welbeck Open to take him clear at the top of the table after 12 events, with 11 remaining.

Ollie Long (Kilmarnock Barassie) took maximum points at the West Kilbride Junior Open and shared the top points with Liam Moran at Troon Welbeck, which moved Long into third place in the table.

Dylan Cairns (Royal Troon) and Freya Russell (Royal Troon) both gained their first points of the season with their quarter final and semi final places at the Scottish Boys' and Scottish Girls' Championships respectively.

The next counting events are the Ayrshire Boys Championships and the Turnberry Junior Open.

Present positions in the Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit are:-

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Section A completed as race for final in Section B hots up

The fixtures in Section A of the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship were completed recently, whilst the chase for the place in the final from Section B is still being closely fought.

With three fixtures remaining in the section, Irvine had already qualified for the championship final. In the remaining fixtures, Prestwick St Nicholas beat West Kilbride by 3.5-2.5 at home but conceded the return fixture at West Kilbride to their opponents.

Kilmarnock Barassie completed their fixtures with a 4.5-1.5 home win over Prestwick St Nicholas.

Final positions in Section A were:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Irvine	6	5	0	1	28.5	7.5	21.0	20
West Kilbride	6	3	1	2	18.5	17.5	1.0	14
Prestwick St Nicholas	6	2	0	4	12.0	24.0	-12.0	8
Kilmarnock Barassie	6	1	1	4	13.0	23.0	-10.0	6

In SECTION B, moved clear at the top of the table with a 3-3 draw away to Prestwick St Cuthbert, whilst East Ayrshire maintained their hopes with a 6-0 home win over Prestwick St Cuthbert recently. 

 The place in the final still lies in Troon Welbeck's own hands with just two fixtures remaining to be completed in the section, which are both home matches for Troon Welbeck, against East Ayrshire and Prestwick St Cuthbert.

Present positions in Section B are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Troon Welbeck	4	3	1	0	16.0	8.0	8.0	14
East Ayrshire	5	3	0	2	18.0	12.0	6.0	12
Ayr Belleisle	6	2	0	4	15.5	20.5	-5.0	8
Prestwick St Cuthbert	5	1	1	3	10.5	19.5	-9.0	6

The Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship final is scheduled to be held at Ayr Belleisle on Sunday the 27th of August. 

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Royal Troon push on with title bid

Royal Troon are pushing on with their Division 1 title bid, as the chase for the trophies in all three Ayrshire Scratch leagues are closely contested, going into the last few weeks of fixtures.

In DIVISION 1, Royal Troon increased their lead at the top of the table with a 5-1 home win over Largs in their latest fixture, whilst Ballochmyle's survival hopes at the opposite end of the table with 5-1 defeats at both Irvine and Largs in their latest two ties. 

In the other recent fixture, between Irvine and Loudoun, the course became unplayable due to weather conditions, resulting in both team captains agreeing to a drawn match. This fixture has been recorded as an abandoned match.and ,The other fixture recently

Royal Troon have one remaining home fixture against Loudoun, and two away ties at Largs and Ballochmyle to complete, as they bid for their first Division 1 title in the Scratch leagues.

present positions in Division 1 are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ROYAL TROON	7	6	0	1	29.0	13.0	16.0	24
IRVINE	8	3	2	3	27.0	21.0	6.0	15
KILMARNOCK BARASSIE	6	3	0	3	18.0	18.0	0.0	12
LARGS	6	3	0	3	15.0	21.0	-6.0	12
BALLOCHMYLE	6	2	0	4	11.0	25.0	-14.0	8
LOUDOUN	7	1	2	4	20.0	22.0	-2.0	7

In DIVISION 2, Prestwick St Cuthbert remain on top, whilst Caprington's bid for the title suffered a setback with a 4-2 defeat at Troon Portland and a 3-3 draw at Ayr Belleisle in their latest fixtures.

Ayr Belleisle and Turnberry kept their outside hopes of the title alive with 4.5 - 1.5 wins recently, away to West Kilbride and at home to Troon Portland respectively.

With just 6 fixtures remaining to play in the league, Prestwick St Cuthbert know that a draw or better in their final fixture at home to Troon Portland will be enough to secure them the Division 2 title, and promotion back to Division 1, at the first time of asking.

Present postions in Division 2 are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
PR. ST CUTHBERT	9	6	1	2	32.5	21.5	11.0	26
CAPRINGTON	8	4	1	3	30.0	18.0	12.0	18
AYR BELLEISLE	8	4	1	3	28.5	19.5	9.0	18
TURNBERRY	8	4	1	3	24.0	24.0	0.0	18
TROON PORTLAND	8	1	4	3	18.0	30.0	-12.0	12
WEST KILBRIDE	7	0	2	5	11.0	31.0	-20.0	4

In DIVISION 3a, Troon St Meddans have secured their place in the title play off following recent fixtures.

Prestwick St Nicholas had a 5-1 win away to Rowallan Castle but a 3-3 draw away to Irvine Ravenspark and a 6-0 home win over Prestwick St Nicholas for Troon St Meddans moved them clear at the top of the table with just a home match against Irvine Ravenspark remaining to be played.

Present positions in Division 3a are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
TROON ST MEDDANS	5	3	2	0	20.0	10.0	10.0	16
PR. ST NICHOLAS	6	3	1	2	17.5	18.5	-1.0	14
IRVINE RAVENSPARK	5	1	2	2	15.0	15.0	0.0	8
ROWALLAN CASTLE	6	1	1	4	13.5	22.5	-9.0	6

In DIVISION 3b, Ardeer's hopes were dented with a 4-2 defeat at Girvan, though this was tempered a bit by a 4 - 2 away win at Troon Welbeck. In the other fixture played recently, Redburn secured their first win of the campaign with a 4-2 home win over Troon Welbeck.

With just two fixtures remaining, the play off challengers Ardeer and Girvan both have home fixtures, against Troon Welbeck and Redburn respectively.

presewnt positions in Division 3b are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ARDEER	5	3	1	1	17.0	13.0	4.0	14
GIRVAN	5	3	1	1	16.5	13.5	3.0	14
TROON WELBECK	5	1	1	3	15.0	15.0	0.0	6
REDBURN	5	1	1	3	11.5	18.5	-7.0	6