SCOTTISH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - Mid table finish for Largs at Fortrose & Rosemarkie

Largs finished eighth of the sixteen teams who contested the 2015 Scottish Club Championship competition over the Fortrose & Rosemarkie course on Sunday 20^th September, their 293 total leaving them 15 shots adrift of winner Haggs Castle.

Despite the mid table finish by the team of David Macdonald, Iain Macdonald & Gregor Dickson, there was an outstanding individual performance by David Macdonald, who was returned the second best overall individual score of the day.

Macdonald’s successive rounds of 70 for a two under par total of 140 was a single shot adrift of the best individual total of 139 ( 69 – 70) posted by Paul Gault of the winning Haggs Castle team.

The final team placings were :-

278 - Haggs Castle

283 - Hamilton

287 - Nairn

290 - Royal Montrose

291 - Dumfries and Co

292 – Stirling

            Bonnyton

293 - Largs

294 - Hazlehead

295 - Thornton

299 - Kelso

302 - Crieff

303 - Millport

324 - Braehead

The scores returned by the three Largs players were :-

140 (- 2) – David Macdonald (70 – 70)

154 (+12) – Iain Macdonald (77 – 77)

157 (+15) – Gregor Dickson (76 – 81)

SLGA INTER COUNTY FINALS - Ayrshire produce final day win to finish in third place

The Ayrshire Ladies County Golf Association finished in third place in the SLGA County Finals,  played at Stranraer Golf Club from 18 – 20 September, after defeating Dumfriesshire on the final day.

The Ayrshire Ladies County Golf Association team
who contested the 2015 County Finals
at Stranraer GC

Ayshire opened with a heavy defeat to Angus, winner of the title twice in the last three years, on Friday, losing all three morning foursomes and winning ony a single point in the afternoon singles, courtesy of Linzi Allan.

Match details from the first match on Friday (Ayrshire names first) were :-

Audrey Thompson and Liz Keohone lost to G Paton and A Ramsay by 2 & 1
Emma Hale and Jennifer Linklater lost to A Summers and C Robertson by 3 & 2
Catherine Malcolm and Linzi Allan lost to J Sneddon and J Brown by 6 & 5
Hazel MacGarvie lost to G Paton by 1 hole
Debbie Watt lost to A Summers by 4 & 2
Linzi Allan beat J Chalmers 1 hole 
Emma Hale lost to C Robertson by 5 & 4
Jenny Linklater lost to K Reid by 5 & 4
Catherine Malcolm lost to J Sneddon by 4 & 2

AYRSHIRE     1     ANGUS     8

Ayrshire had an equally difficult match on the second day, with two losses and a halved match in the morning foursomes again giving them an uphill struggle in the afternoon singles, where the team were unable to win any of the six ties, halving two en route to a 7.5 – 1.5 defeat overall.

Match details from the second match on Saturday (Ayrshire names first) were :-

Linzi Allan and Catherine Malcolm lost to K McIntosh and W Nicholson by 6 & 5
Hazel MacGarvie and Debbie Watt halved with K Marshall and H Scott
Audrey Thompson and Liz Keohone lost to G MacDonald and L Fraser  by 1 hole
Catherine Malcolm lost to K McIntosh by 5 & 3
Hazel MacGarvie lost to K Marshall by 1 hole
Emma Hale halved with A McBride
Debbie Watt halved with K Ferguson 
Audrey Thompson lost to W Nicholson by 4 & 2
Linzi Allan lost to H Scott by 3 & 2

AYRSHIRE    1 ½       MIDLOTHIAN     7 ½

Following heavy defeats in their opening two matches, both Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire went into the final day without a win and battling it out for third place, whilst Ayrshire were still looking for their first winning tie of the weekend..

Ayrshire performed considerably better in the morning foursomes, taking a 2 – 1 lead into the afternoon singles wher two wins and two halved matches saw them share the singles and take the match by 5 – 4.

Match details on the final day on Sunday (Ayrshire names first) were :-

Linzi Allan and Catherine Malcolm beat J Graham and K Malcolm by 3 & 2
Debbie Watt and Hazel MacGarvie beat E Greenlees and L Jack by 3 & 1
Audrey Thompson and Liz Keohone lost to D MacDonald and M Fraser by 2 & 1
Linzi Allan halved with J Graham
Emma Hale lost to D MacDonald by 1 hole
Jenny Linklater beat L Jack by 6 & 4
Catherine Malcolm halved with E Greenlees
Hazel MacGarvie beat M Fraser by 4 & 3
Debbie Watt lost to K Malcolm by 3 & 2

AYRSHIRE     5     DUMFRIESSHIRE     4

Angus defeated Midlothian in the other match on Sunday to take the title.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - A team get winning start against Dumbartonshire but youths fall to narrow defeat

The Ayrshire A team got off to a winning start in their quest for the West Of Scotland Inter County league Championship on Sunday 20^th September against Dumbartonshire at Turnberry Kintyre but the Youth team suffered a narrow defeat in the corresponding match at Dumbarton.

The A team played host to their visitors from Dumbartonshire at the Turnberry Kintyre course and their first county match at Turnberry for a number of years proved to be a successful one with the home side recording a 6 ½ - 1 ½ victory.

Stuart Robin led the way for Ayrshire but some wayward drives on some of the tight Kintyre holes contributed to the Prestwick St Cuthbert player losing out by 3 & 1.

The early setback was tempered throughout the rest of the team however, with all the remaining Ayrshire players recording wins with the exception of Michael Smyth who secured a half match in his tie.

Match details (Ayrshire names first) :-

Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Steven Stewart (Dullatur) by 3 & 1

Tommy McInally (Loudoun) beat Richard Bridges (Dumbarton) by 5 & 3

Scott Brown (Turnberry) beat Scott Moore (Clydebank & District) by 3 & 2

Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat James Mcewan (Clydebank & District) by 2 & 1

Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) beat Simon Barras (Helensburgh) by 5 & 4

Gordon Boyle (Turnberry) beat Sam Fitzsimmons (Windyhill) by 3 & 2

Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) halved with Ali Parlane (Carrick)

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) beat Chris Prior (Bearsden) by 4 & 3

AYRSHIRE  A  6 ½      DUMBARTONSHIRE A   1 ½

In the corresponding youths match at Dumbarton Golf Club, Ayrshire were up against it when they lost the opening three ties heavily. Robbie Fitzpatrick and Craig Telfer recorded good wins to reduce the deficit and with three ties still on the course Ayrshire still had a chance to take something from the match but a single hole win for sandy Buchanan was tempered by a single hole defeat for Sandy walker, with Ally Berry’s half match leaving Ayrshire an agonising half point away from a drawn match.

Match details (Dumbartonshire names first) :-

Reece Thompson (Palacerigg) beat Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 4 & 3
Craig Bissett (Dumbarton) beat Murray McCrone (Troon Welbeck) by 7 & 5
Gavin Rodger (Clobber) beat Greg Vernon (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 4 & 3
Callum Burns lost to Robbie Fitzpatrick (Irvine) by 5 & 4
Daniel Finnegan (Dumbarton) halved with Ally Berry (Irvine Ravenspark)
Stewart Boyd (Hayston) beat Sandy Walker (Ardeer) by 1 hole
Stuart Goodfellow (Hayston) lost to Sandy Buchanan (Prestwick St Nicholas) by 1 hole
Euan McBride (Lenzie) lost to Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 6 & 4

DUMBARTONSHIRE  Y  4 ½     AYRSHIRE  Y    3 ½

Next Sunday, 27^th September, Ayrshire face Glasgow with the A team traveling to Cawder whilst the youths  play at home at Kilbirnie Place. 

GLASGOW YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP - Shaun Hedger second individual at Ralston

Ayrshire were represented by a three man team at the Glasgow Youths Championship at Ralston on Saturday 19th September, with Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) finishing in second place in the individual event.

Scores of 68 & 67 gave Hedger a five under par total of 135 over the two rounds.

In the team event, the Ayrshire team of Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride), Murray McCrone (Troon Welbeck) and Luke Murdoch (Loudoun) finished in sixth place overall, on 290.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY - Fraser takes 2015 title with final green victory

2015 Ayrshire Junior Champion Of Champions
Jordan Fraser
Ayr Belleisle GC

Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) won the 2015 Ayrshire Junior Champion Of Champions title on Sunday 20th September at Ballochmyle, fighting back from three down to take the title on the final green.


In the final, Fraser faced Graeme Greer (Prestwick St Nicholas).

After a half in pars at the opening hole, Fraser took the early lead with a par four at the second but a par three at the third was good enough for Greer to level the match.

Greer then raced to a three hole lead, taking three successive holes from the fourth with two birdies and a par.

2015 finalists
Jordan Fraser & Graeme Greer

Fraser stemmed the tide at the close of the outward half, taking the ninth with a  par to turn for home with a two hole deficit.

Greer restored his three hole lead with a birdie three at the tenth but again a par at the fourteenth was good enough for Fraser to reduce the lead to two holes once more.

A halved hole at the fifteenth left Fraser two behind with three to play but par figures at the sixteenth and seventeenth were good enough for Fraser to take both holes and level the match for the first time since the third hole and set up a grandstand finish at the par five finishing hole.

At the final hole, Fraser completed an outstanding comeback, holing out for a birdie four to take the hole and the 2015 Ayrshire Junior Champion Of Champions title.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayr Belleisle beat defending champions in the final to take 2015 title

Ayr Belleisle are the 2015 Ayrshire Junior Golf League champions, winning the title comprehensively at Ballochmyle on Sunday 20^th September, beating defending champions Kilmarnock (Barassie) by 5 – 1 in the final.

2015 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Champions
Ayr Belleisle GC

  

Jordan Sweeney led the way for the Belleisle side with a 4 & 3 win in the lead tie and 5 & 3 wins by both Andrew Gordon and Ross Meikle ensured the title for Ayr Belleisle.

Charlie Cameron and Aidan Long gained Ayr Belleisle’s other points whilst Shaun Cook had a final hole win in his tie to secure barassie’s only point.

Match details (Ayr Belleisle names first) :-

Jordan Sweeney beat Robbie Muir by 4&3

Callum Irving lost to Shaun Cook by 1 hole

Charlie Cameron beat Fraser Rigby by 2&1

Andrew Gordon beat Euan Milligan by 5&3

Aidan Long beat Andrew Bogle by 1 hole

Ross Meikle beat Lewis McLay by 5&3

AYR BELLEISLE     5    KILMARNOCK (BARASSIE)    1

2015 AJGL Championship finalists
Kilmarnock (Barassie) & Ayr Belleisle

GEORGE BROWN - Turnberry greenkeeping stalwart passes away

Ayrshire golf was saddened to learn that Turnberry greenkeeping stalwart George Brown passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning, 17th September, at the age of 77.

A former chairman of BIGGA, the national greenkeepers association, George was appointed course manager at Turnberry in 1985 and saw the course host many championships during his stewardship, including three Open Championships in 1986, 1994 and 2009.

The thoughts of all at the Ayrshire Gofl association ar with George's family at this sad time.

(The following information, along with the photograph of George, are reproduced from the BIGGA website at www.bigga.org.uk).

Everyone at BIGGA and the greenkeeping industry is saddened to hear of the death of George Brown, who was National Chairman of the Association in 2003.

George, who was 77, was former Course Manager at Turnberry, the legendary links facility in South Ayrshire, Scotland.

Hailing from Kent, George was immersed in golf from an early age as a caddie, greenkeeper and also extremely talented golfer who played to County standard.

He was appointed Course Manager at Turnberry in 1985 and worked on three Open Championships – 1986, 1994 and 2009, as well as countless other tournaments and events. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association in 2009.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - 'A' and Youths league bids begin next week

Ayrshire begin their bid for the West Of Scotland Inter County 'A' and Youth leagues next Sunday, 20th September, with the matches in the competition scheduled to be completed over five successive weeks.

The 'A' team will be bidding to end Renfrewshire's unprescidented run of thirteen successive titles in the competition, opening their 2015 campaign against Dumbartonshire at Turnberry Kintyre next week.

All matches begin at 11.00 a.m., unless otherwise stated.

The schedule for the 'A' team matches is :-

Sunday 20th September - Dumbartonshire (Turnberry Kintyre)
Sunday 27th September - Glasgow (Cawder)
Sunday 4th October - Stirlingshire (Prestwick St Nicholas)
Sunday 11th October - Lanarkshire (Lanark) (1130)
Sunday 18th October - Renfrewshire (Bonnyton)

The Youths team, who narrowly lost out last year in their bid to retain the title won in 2013, open this years campaign with an away match against Dumbartonshire next Sunday, 20th September, at Dumbarton.

All matches also begin at 11.00 a.m..

The schedule for the youths matches is :-

Sunday 20th September - Dumbartonshire (Dumbarton)
Sunday 27th September - Glasgow (Kilbirnie Place)
Sunday 4th October - Stirlingshire (Callandar)
Sunday 11th October - Lanarkshire (Brunston Castle)
Sunday 18th October - Renfrewshire (Ayr Belleisle)

WALKER CUP - Ayrshire's Jack McDonald helps Great Britain & Ireland to record win at Royal Lytham & St Annes

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) made a major contribution as Great Britain & Ireland stormed to a record Walker Cup win over the USA at Royal Lytham & St Annes over the weekend of 12th & 13th September.

The winning 2015 Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team
with Jack McDonald on the extreme right
(Photo courtesy of the R & A) 

One of three Scots in the team and the tenth player from Ayrshire to be selected since the matches began in 1922, McDonald contributed 2 1/2 from a possible three points over the two days.

In the opening days foursomes, McDonald paired up with fellow Stirling University student Cormac Sharvin from Northern Ireland to record a comprehensive 5 & 4 win over 2015 Open Championship silver medallist as top amateur, Jordan Niebrugge, and Robby Shelton.

Having sat out the Saturday afternoon singles, McDonald again combined with Sharvin on Sunday morning to defeat Lee McCoy & Stewart Hunter by 2 holes, before facing McCoy in the afternoon singles and sharing the spoils with him in a halved match.

Jack McDonald with his grandfather Gordon Cosh
who played in the 1965 Walker Cup match
(Photo courtesy of the R & A)

McDonald's inclusion in the side marked a notable family double as his grandfather, Gordon Cosh, played in the Walker Cup match in 1965 at Five farms, Maryland, USA, which was the only time in the 45 Walker Cup matches that the series was drawn.

For the record, Jack's grandfather's contribution in the match was equally as impressive as his grandsons, securing three points from four with two singles and one foursomes wins, and a defeat in the other foursomes match.

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - McCulloch brothers retain the Fourball title for Brunston Castle

Brunston Castle brothers David & George McCulloch became the first pair to retain the Ayrshire Fourball Championship on Sunday, 13th September, when they won the 2015 competition at Ballochmyle, beating Andy MacLeod & John Cook of Rowallan Castle in the final.

2015 Ayrshire Foiurball Champions
David & George McCulloch
(Brunston Castle)

George McCulloch (6) was giving shots to his brother David (10), Andy Macleod (12) and John Cook (13) in the better ball matchplay format and it was the defending champions who stormed to an early lead,, which they never relinquished.

An par four was good enough to give the Brunston Castle pair the opening hole and a nett birdie three from David McCulloch also gave them the second hole.

A par three at the third was sufficient to extend the brunston castle team's lead to three holes after three, which remained the score all the way to the turn, with the remaining holes in the outward half being halved in pars.

A birdie three at the tenth hole extended the Brunston Castle lead to four holes and a nett birdie three at the eleventh from David McCulloch put his team five in front with seven remaining.

2015 runners up
Andrew Macleod & John Cook
(Rowallan Castle) 

The challengers from Rowallan Castle needed to make a quick impression to avoid a heavy defeat and did so at the next hole, an eagle two from John Cook reducing the deficit to four. The fightback continued when the Rowallan Castle pair birdied the thirteenth hole to reduce the defisit to three holes, but the title holders rallied over the closing holes, with successive pars from the fourteenth being good enough to halve the next three holes and give Brunston castle victory by 3 & 2.

Ayrshire Golf association Vice President John Rushbury, who refereed the final, presentd vouchers to both teams at ther end of the match before handing over the trophy, for the second successive year, to David & George McCulloch of Brunston Castle.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Turnberry snatch Division 2 title with last gasp win do deny Ayr Belleisle

Turnberry made it three successive league title on Sunday, 13th September, when they defeated West Kilbride at Turnberry by 5 - 1 to snatch the title from Ayr Belleisle by the narrowest of margins of tie difference, after both teams finished on 28 points.

Having won the Division 4 title in 2013 and the third division crown last year, the Turnberry team went into the match knowing that only a win by a large margin would give them the title, and comfortable wins in five of the six ties gave them a 5 - 1 victory to match Ayr belleisle at the top of the table on 28 points but crucially giving them a +13 tie difference against Belleisle's +12.

Match details (Turnberry names first):-

P Ferguson beat J Shearer by 4 & 2
W McCulloch beat G Higgins by 4 & 2
I Walker beat G Vogwell by 5 & 3
G Boyle beat G McKay by 7 & 6
S Brown beat C McLean by 5 & 3
A Connor lost to S bell by 5 & 4

TURNBERRY   5    WEST KILBRIDE   1

The current positions in Division 2 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Turnberry	10	36.5	23.5	28
Ayr Belleisle	10	36	24	28
Troon Welbeck	10	28	32	14
West Kilbride	9	26	28	20
Girvan	9	26.5	27.5	18
Ardeer	10	21	39	8

SCHOOLS GOLF - Two Ayrshire girls in Scotland team to face England at Troon

Emma Hale

The Scotland Schools team will play England in the annual schools golf international at Troon Darley golf course on Monday 14 September, with two Ayrshire girls in the Scotland team.

Emma Hale who attends Marr College in Troon, adjacent to the Darley course, will captain the girls team, which also features fellow Marr College pupil Hazel MacGarvie

The full Scotland teams are :-

BOYS

Lewis Breslin (St Luke's HS)

Joe Bryce (Bathgate Acad)

Glen Burrett (Williamwood HS)

Hazel MacGarvie

Rory Franssen (Culloden Acad)

Darren Howie (Peebles HS), capt.

Michael Lawrie (Gordon's College)

Matthew McCulloch (Stranraer Acad)

Will Porter (Glenalmond Coll)

John Paul Ralph (Loretto School)

Kyle Reid (Bearsden Acad)

Sandy Scott (Nairn Acad)

Jamie Stewart Gryffe HS) 

GIRLS

Joanne Free (Ross HS, Tranent)

Emma Hale (Marr Coll, Troon) capt.

Hazel MacGarvie (Marr Coll, Troon)

Emma Morrison (Boroughmuir HS)

Molly Richmond (Strathaven Acad)

Claire Robertson (Carnoustie HS). 

(Cal Carson Golf Agency)

DAILY MAIL FOURSOMES - Troon St Meddans pair reach national finals

Chris Young and Scott Thomson of Troon St meddans are celebrating this week after booking their place in the grand finals of the 2015 Daily Mail Foursomes competition, which will be played at the Forest Of Arden from Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th October.

5 handicapper Young and Thomson, who plays off 3, won through six rounds of matchplay to secure a place in the last 16 of the competition, which will be concluded at the grand final.

Early round wins over Prestwick St Nicholas (1 hole), Caprington (5 & 3), Brunston castle (2 & 1), Strathaven (4 & 2) and West Kilbride (2 holes) took the St Meddans pair into the last 32 of the competition where they faced the representatives from  Canmore golf club from Fife.

In a nail biting finish at Troon Darley ther St meddans pair won through at the 20th hole to secure their place in the last 16.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Fraser ousts title holder to book place in Champion Of Champions final

Jordan Fraser
Beat title holder in the semi final

Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) beat defending champion Jack Thomas (Irvine) in the semi finals of the 2015 Ayrshire Junior Champion Of Champions to secure his first appearance in the final of the event.

 Fraser played the title holder at Irvine in the semi finals in a marathon tie which went to the 23rd hole before Fraser won through.

Graeme Greer
First time finalist

In the final, to be played at Ballochmyle on Sunday 20th September, Jordan Fraser will play Graeme Greer (Prestwick St Nicholas), who is also appearing in the final for the first time.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Prestwick St Nicholas move to top of Division 3

Prestwick St Nicholas moved to the top of DIVISION 3 of the Ayrshire scratch leagues with wins in their final two fixtures of the campaign, both at home. 

The Prestwick side ended Caprington’s title hopes with a 4.5 – 1.5 win and dented the aspirations of Troon St Meddans by beating them 4 – 2.

With four fixtures / results outstanding, there are still four of the six teams in the league able to take the title and win promotion, depending on the results of the four matches.

A win by Troon St Meddans in their final match at Largs would see them crowned champions but any slip by a defeat for the Troon side would leave St Nicholas on top and allow Kilbirnie and largs the opportunity to overtake them.

A win in their final home match against New Cumnock would also see Kilbirnie Place leapfrog Prestwick St Nicholas.

The outstanding results / matches in the division are :-

New Cumnock Vs Largs

Kilbirnie Place vs New Cumnock

Largs vs Troon St Meddans

Largs vs New Cumnock

Present positions in Division 3 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Pr. St Nicholas	10	32	28	24
Troon St Meddans	9	33	21	22
Kilbirnie Place	9	29	25	22
Caprington	10	30.5	29.5	18
Largs	7	16.5	25.5	12
New Cumnock	7	15	27	6