AYRSHIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Seven of eight quarter finalists confirmed

With just a week to go until all qualifying section fixtures are due to be completed, seven of the eight qualifying section winners, who will progress to the knockout stages, have been confirmed.

In LEAGUE 1, Portmann secured top spot with a 3-3 draw away to Caprington and two home wins recently, by 4.5-1.5 and 4-2 against Largs and Tam O Shanter respectively. Largs finished in second place, closing their campaign with a 6-0 away win at Royal Troon while in the other match played recently Royal Troon had a 3.5 – 2.5 home win over Tam O Shanter.

With just Tam O Shanter’s fixtures at home to Royal Troon and away to Caprington still to be recorded, present positions on League 1 are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
PORTMANN	8	6	1	1	29.0	19.0	10.0	26
LARGS	8	5	0	3	29.0	19.0	10.0	20
CAPRINGTON	7	2	2	3	19.5	22.5	-3.0	12
TAM O SHANTER	6	2	0	4	17.5	18.5	-1.0	8
ROYAL TROON	7	1	1	5	13.0	29.0	-16.0	6

 

With all fixtures now completed in LEAGUE 2, Rowallan Castle finished top after a 3.5 – 2.5 away win over Annanhill and a 5-1 home win over Kilbirnie Place in their last two fixtures. While Alton finished in second spot with a 5-1 home win over Annanhill in their final fixture. Final positions in League 2 were:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ROWALLAN CASTLE	6	4	1	1	22.0	14.0	8.0	18
ALTON	6	3	2	1	19.5	16.5	3.0	16
KILBIRNIE PLACE	6	3	1	2	18.5	17.5	1.0	14
ANNANHILL	6	0	0	6	12.0	24.0	-12.0	0

 

In LEAGUE 3, where beith had already qualified for the knockout stages, a 3-3 draw between West Kilbride and Troon Portland kept the two clubs locked together on 10 points, with Troon Portland able to secure second place on their own if they get a draw or better in the final fixture of the campaign away to Routenburn. Present positions in League 3 are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
BEITH	6	4	1	1	24.0	12.0	12.0	18
TROON PORTLAND	5	2	1	2	14.0	16.0	-2.0	10
WEST KILBRIDE	6	2	1	3	16.0	20.0	-4.0	10
ROUTENBURN	5	1	1	3	12.0	18.0	-6.0	6

 

In LEAGUE 4, 3-3 draws in their final two home matches for Irvine against Ayr Belleisle and Kilmarnock Barassie, and a 5.5 – 0.5 home win for Kilmarnock Barassie over Prestwick St Nicholas, leaves the destination of the knockout qualification spot in the hands of Ayr Belleisle and Kilmarnock Barassie in the final qualifying section match at Ayr Belleisle, with the Ayr Belleisle team just needing to avoid defeat to progress to the knockout stages. Present positions in League 4, with just the one fixture remaining, are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
AYR BELLEISLE	5	2	2	1	17.5	12.5	5.0	12
KILMARNOCK BARASSIE	5	2	2	1	17.0	13.0	4.0	12
IRVINE	6	2	2	2	15.5	20.5	-5.0	12
PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS	6	2	0	4	16.0	20.0	-4.0	8

 

In LEAGUE 5, Ballochmyle have one fixture away to Troon St Meddans to complete, but a 4.5-1.5 victory in their penultimate fixture at home to Golf South Ayrshire ensured that Ballochmyle would progress to the knockout stages. Present positions in League 5 are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
BALLOCHMYLE	5	4	0	1	20.5	9.5	11.0	16
TROON WELBECK	6	4	0	2	18.5	17.5	1.0	16
GOLF SOUTH AYRSHIRE	6	2	0	4	15.0	21.0	-6.0	8
TROON ST MEDDANS	5	1	0	4	12.0	18.0	-6.0	4

 

With all fixtures completed in LEAGUE 6, Ayr Seafield finished off their campaign with a 3-3 away draw against Wallacetown and an away defeat by 4.5-1.5 against Stewarton, but still qualified comfortably for the knockout stages. Final positions in league 6 were:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
AYR SEAFIELD	6	4	1	1	23.5	12.5	11.0	18
CROSSHOUSE	6	3	0	3	15.5	20.5	-5.0	12
WALLACETOWN	6	2	1	3	19.5	16.5	3.0	10
STEWARTON	6	2	0	4	13.5	22.5	-9.0	8

 

In LEAGUE 7, a 5.5-0.5 home win over Redburn in their penultimate fixture saw Ardeer through to the knockout stages as league winners. With just Ardeer’s home fixture against North beach still to be completed, present positions in League 7 are:-

ARDEER	5	4	0	1	19.0	11.0	8.0	16
AUCHENHARVIE 88	6	3	1	2	19.5	16.5	3.0	14
NORTH BEACH	5	2	0	3	16.0	14.0	2.0	8
REDBURN	6	1	1	4	11.5	24.5	-13.0	6

 

All fixtures have been completed in LEAGUE 8, and despite a 3.5-2.5 away defeat at Loudoun, Moorpark took top spot with wins in their final two home matches, by 4-2 against Loudoun and 5.5-0.5 against Prestwick St Cuthbert.

Final positions in League 8 were:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
MOORPARK	6	4	0	2	23.0	13.0	10.0	16
IRVINE RAVENSPARK	6	3	1	2	19.5	16.5	3.0	14
LOUDOUN	6	2	2	2	16.5	19.5	-3.0	12
PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT	6	1	1	4	13.0	23.0	-10.0	6

 

With the competition soon progressing to the knockout stages, the line up for the quarter final matches is:-

AYR BELLEISLE or KILMARNOCK BARASSIE Vs. PORTMANN

BALLOCHMYLE Vs. MOORPARK

AYR SEAFIELD Vs. ROWALLAN CASTLE

BEITH Vs. ARDEER

The home and away quarter final matches are due to be completed by the 3^rd of August.

 

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:-

ROBERT H. MORRISON - An appreciation

As the 2025 playing of the Belleisle Open approaches it is appropriate to mark the passing earlier this year of Robert Morrison, the man behind the success of the event over many years, whose name will continue to be linked with the event in the future with competitors playing for the Robert H Morrison Rozelle Cup.

It was back in April that Ayr Belleisle club members and the wider golfing community in Ayrshire were saddened to hear of  Robert's passing.

A real stalwart of the belleisle club, Robert served on the club committee for over 20 years, holding several roles including treasurer, match secretary, and also serving as captain of the club in 2007.

However, Robert's lasting legacy will be the Belleisle Open which he organised and ran for many years, developing the event into one of the most eagerly awaited and succesful open competitions in Ayrshire.

An enthusiastic left handed player, Robert enjoyed success in several of Ayr belleisle's main competitions over the years.

While assisting in local golf professional shops at Prestwick St Nicholas and Ayr Belleisle, Robert was able to develop his skills in repairing and altering golf clubs to try to hone his game and take his golf to the next level, which he did with enthusiasm.

Though his heart was at his home club of Ayr Belleisle Robert was also a member of Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club for a time, and made many friends throughout Ayrshire through his love for, and involvement in the game of golf.

Robert will be missed and remembered fondly by many golfers throughout Ayrshire, and sincere sympathy is extended by all at The Ayrshire Golf Association to Robert's wife, daughters, extended family, and friends on his recent passing.

Perhaps those taking part in the Belleisle Open this year will take a moment after their round to raise a glass to Robert Morrison, and remember the man who laid the foundation of the event, just one aspect of his long and faithful service to his home club and the wider game of golf.

CAMERON CORBETT VASE - Harvey Broadfoot wins major 72 hole event at Haggs Castle

Harvey Broadfoot (Royal Troon) secured possibly the biggest win of his golf career to date on Sunday the 6th of July with a two stroke victory in the 72 hole Cameron Corbett Vase competition at Haggs Castle Golf Club, a major  Scottish Golf Order of Merit event.

Two opening rounds of 67, 4 under par, on Saturday put Harvey in the lead at the half way stage and two one over par rounds of 72 on Sunday, in very wet conditions, was enough for Harvey to record a four round total of 278, 6 under par, for 72 holes and take the trophy by two shots from Callum Waugh and Ethan Lang. 

Harvey Broadfoot being presented with the Cameron Corbett Vase
By Hags Castle Club Captain
Craig Morrison
(Photo courtesy of Neal Stewart)

Irvine's John Shanks finished in fourteenth place on 286, while Harvey Macdonald of Loudoun was in twenty first place on 292.

Leading final totals were:-

 

AYRSHIRE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - Royal Troon triumph at Ayr Belleisle

Royal Troon are the 2025 Ayrshire Club Champions after they won the R.L.Crawford Trophy over the Ayr Belleisle Golf Course on Sunday the 6th of July.

Thirteen clubs took part in the scratch event, with the best two scores from three counting towards the team score.

The early pace was set by Kilmarnock Barassie who eventually finished in the runner up spot , Sandy Walker and Calum Cameron returning scores of 70 with Greg Nichol a shot further back with a 71, to record a team score of 140, two under par.

In the later groups however it was Royal Troon who came through to take the title by two shots, Keith Hamilton returning a score of 70 , with David Currie a shot further back on 71, both being surpassed by Blair Morton whose score of 68 ensured victory for the Royal Troon team with a team total of 138, four under par.

Blair Morton's three under par score of 68 took the award for the best individual score of the day, just one ahead of West Kilbride junior golfer Lyle Vogwell who, despite being one of the higher handicappers in the field, returned an excellent scratch score of 69, two under par.

At the conclusion of the championship Ayrshire Golf Association President Andrew Gilligan of Royal Troon presented prize vouchers to the succesful participants before handing over the trophy to his clubmates from Royal Troon as the 2025 Club Champions.

The full list of prizewinners and team scores are:- 

PRESIDENT'S PUTTER - Quarter final ties now confirmed

The four ties in the quarter finals of the 2025 handicap club team knockout competition for The President's Putter have been confirmed after all the remaining third round ties were completed recently.

In the outstanding three third round ties, Kilbirnie Place and The Chase had 2-1 home wins over Tam O Shanter and Kilmarnock Barassie respectively while Irvine Ravenspark beat their visitors from Troon Welbeck by 3-0.

The quarter final ties are due to be completed by the 27th of July.

The full list of second round results and the quarter final line up is:-

SCOTTISH GOLF - Three Ayrshire players named in Scotland teams

Three players from Ayrshire have been named in Scotland teams taking part in European amateur events taking place from the 8th to the 12th of July.

Freya Russell (Royal Troon) has been named in the six strong women's team that will contrst the European Ladies' Team Championship in Chantilly, France. 

In addition, Hannah Ounap (Loudoun) and Jodie Graham (Royal Troon) are in the girls' team who will contest the European Girls' Team Championship at Slaley Hall near Hexam, England.

AYR BELLEISLE OPEN - entries now invited for 2025 event

Entries are now invited for the 2025 Ayr Belleisle Open, which will be held on Sunday the 27th of July over the Ayr Belleisle Golf Course.

Entry can be made via the Ayr Belleisle Golf Club website at www.ayrbelleislegolfclub.co.uk.

All the competition details are on the poster below.

AYRSHIRE SENIOR MENS CHAMPIONSHIP - Two spots remain available for Loudoun

Due to late withdrawals and additions, there are two places remaining in the fiald for the 2025 Ayrshire Senior Men's Championship which takes place at Loudoun Gowf Club onTuesday the 8th of July.

The remaining two slots, at 11.40 and 14.10, will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Entry fee is £10 and is open to any male member of an Ayrshire Golf Association affiliated club. Anyone interested in taking part should email ,the Area Secretary at

 ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com 

to secure one of the two places.

The updated draw for order of play is:-

SCOTTISH MEN'S AREA TREAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire team for final qualifying group match against Glasgow announced.

The Ayrshire team to face Glasgow at Cathkin Braes GC on Sunday the 13th of July in the final fixture of the qualifying section for the 2025 Scottish Men's Area Team Championship has been announced.

John Shanks (Irvine) and John Haggarty (Loudoun) will join Royal Troon duo Blair Morton and Harvey Broadfoot along with Prestwick St Cuthbert members Scott Brown and Calum Nairn to represent Ayrshire in a must win fixture for the county side to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the finals weekend in September at Elgin.

The teams will play three foursomes ties in the morning and six singles in the afternoon.

The other fixture in the section sees Perth & Kinross visit Lothians.

AYRSHIRE WOMENS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Semi final line up completed

The line up for the semi finals of the 2025Ayrshire Women's Champion of Champions Trophy competition has been confirmed with the last outstanding quarter final match being completed recently.

Ava Graham (West Kilbride) secured the fourth and final place in the penultimate round of the competition with a single hole victory in her home quarter final fixture against Louise Thrippleton (Troon Welbeck).

In the semi finals Ava will be at home to Kelly McNee (Loudoun) while the other semi final sees Orla Moran (Irvine) play host to the current title holder Audrey Thompson (Loudoun)

The semi final matches are due to be completed by the 1st of August with the final scheduled to take place at Royal Troon on Friday the 15th of August.

AYRSHIRE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - Revised draw after Troon Welbeck withdrawal

As a result of Troon Welbeck's withdrawal from the Ayrshire Club Championship competition at Ayr Belleisle on Sunday the 6th of July, a slight revision of the draw for order of play has had to be made.

Players and club officials should note the groups and timings as per the revised draw below.