AYRSHIRE JUNIOR ORDER OF MERIT - Ross McDonald leads the way

Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) leads the way in the chase for the Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit title with just two or three counting events remaining in this years programme.

A win in the Belleisle Junior Open and his success in the Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Championship has given McDonald a clear lead over his nearest rivals on 427.5 points.

Good finished at Turnberry, Ayr Belleisle and in the Tom Lehman event at Troon Municipal, as well as a semi final place in the Ayrshire Boys Matchplay has moved Harvey Broadfoot (Troon Welbeck) into second place on 305 points whilst Ruben Lindsay (Ayr Belleisle) and Patrick Smiley (Prestwick St Nicholas) share third place on 250 points.

There are presently only two confirmed counting events remaining this season, the Prestwick St Nicholas Junior Open which has been rescheduled to Sunday 8th September and the Irvine GC Junior Open which takes place on Monday 23rd September. It is unconfirmed whether the postponed Prestwick St Cuthbert Junior Open will be rescheduled this season.

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

427.5		ROSS McDONALD	Kilmarnock Barassie
305		HARVEY BROADFOOT	Troon Welbeck
250		PATRICK SMILEY	Prestwick St Nicholas
250		RUBEN LINDSAY	Ayr Belleisle
227.5		FREYA RUSSELL	Royal Troon
227.5		KERR BROOKS	Irvine
190		DYLAN CAIRNS	Prestwick St Nicholas
175		BEN WATSON	Kilmarnock Barassie
160		CAMERON SHANKS	Caprington
155		FRASER RUSSELL	Royal Troon
147.5		JACK ALLAN	Ballochmyle
110		ALEX DEAN	Irvine
107.5		JAMIE McKINNON	Caprington
107.5		MAX BARCLAY	Ayr Belleisle
100		RACHEL FOSTER	Prestwick St Nicholas
100		ALEX DEAN	Kilmarnock Barassie
85		JOHN McCRACKEN	Kilmarnock Barassie
75		ALYX MURRAY	Prestwick St Nicholas
75		JOHN KELLY	Ayr Belleisle
62.5		LIAM KIRKHAM	Troon Welbeck
62.5		HARVEY McDONALD	Ayr Belleisle
57.5		RYAN KENNEDY	Loudoun
50		CALLUM BYERS	Ayr Belleisle
45		CAMERON JOHNSTONE	Kilmarnock Barassie
42.5		CONNOR WILLS	Prestwick St Nicholas
42.5		GLENN WILSON	Ayr Dalmilling
35		LUISA GIBSON	Irvine
35		QUINTIN DUNLOP	Troon Welbeck
20		ROB YORSTON	Loudoun
20		JAMIE ROBERTSON	Loudoun
17.5		ELLIOT O'BRIEN	Irvine
10		CHRISTOPHER HUNTER	Ballochmyle
7.5		BEN WATT	Prestwick St Nicholas
7.5		JACK BROADFOOT	Troon Welbeck
7.5		RYAN KENNEDY	Loudoun
5		CALLUM BLACK	Irvine
2.5		EUAN RAMSAY	Prestwick St Nicholas
2.5		CAMERON McGARVIE	Prestwick St Nicholas
2.5		JOSH DAVIES	Troon Welbeck
2.5		KYLE REID	Irvine

SCOTTISH SENIORS AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Players sought to represent Ayrshire in national seniors event

Ayrshire are seeking players to represent the county in the 2019 Scottish Seniors Inter Area Team Championship, which takes place at Stirling Golf Club on Thursday 26^th September.

The county team will comprise of six players, four of whom must be over the age of 55 and all must be over the age of 50.

The competition is played on a scratch basis and five scores from six count towards the team total, with the sixth score being used in the event of a tie.

Past President John Rushbury is co-ordinating the team and any players with a handicap of 2 or less who comply with the age requirements and are interested in being considered for the team should make contact with John Rushbury by email at 

rushbury.ayrshire@hotmail.co.uk

As the closing date for entries is in Mid September, all interested players are asked to contact John Rushbury by TUESDAY 3^rd SEPTEMBER at the latest.

This is a great opportunity for eligible players to represent their county in a national competition.

NORTH EAST DISTRICT OPEN - Jack Broun pipped for 72 hole title

Jack Broun (Turnberry) finished runner up in the recent 72 hole North East District Open at Portlethen GC, played over the weekend of 17^th and 18^th August.

Opening rounds of 69 & 66 saw Broun take a five stroke lead at the half-way stage of the event but closing rounds of 73 & 75 saw him slip into second place on 283, two shots adrift of Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse).

Leading final totals

281 - Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse) 71/70/69/71

283 – Jack Broun (Turnberry) 69/66/73/75

285 - Adam Dunton (Ellon) 68/72/73/72

BRITISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - Ruben Lindsay qualifies but loses in first matchplay round

Scottish Boys Champion Ruben Lindsay (Ayr Belleisle) successfully qualified for the matchplay stages of the recent British Boys Championship, held at Saunton GC from 13^th to 18^th August.

In the two strokeplay qualifying rounds, Lindsay returned scores of 70 and 74 for a two over par total 0f 144, which saw him comfortably among the sixty four qualifiers for the matchplay stages in joint 32^nd place and with four shots to spare.

In his opening matchplay round, Lindsay faced George Holland (Southport & Ainsdale) but his championship hopes ended with a 4 & 3 defeat.

The championship was won by Tom Gueant of France who beat Wilmer Edero of Sweden at the first extra hole in the final, after the players were tied after 36 holes.

WALKER CUP - Euan Walker named in Great Britain & Ireland side for Hoylake

Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) has been recognised for his outstanding season by being named as one of two Scots in the Great Britain & Ireland team who will contest the Walker Cup against The USA at Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake) from 7th to 8th September.

The other Scot in the young G.B. & I. team this year is Sandy Scott |(Nairn) where the age range of the team members ranges from sixteen to twenty six.

The full team is :-

Alex Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire), 20
Conor Gough, Stoke Park, 16
Harry Hall, West Cornwall, 22
Thomas Plumb, Yeovil, 20
Conor Purcell, Portmarnock, 22
Caolan Rafferty, Dundalk, 26
Sandy Scott, Nairn, 21
Tom Sloman, Taunton & Pickeridge, 23
James Sugrue, Mallow, 22
Euan Walker, Kilmarnock (Barassie), 23

Euan Walker will be tenth Ayrshire player and the fourth Kilmarnock (Barassie) member to contest the Walker Cup, following Jim Milligan (1989 & 1991), Gordon Sherry (1995) and Jack McDonald (2015) , and will be hoping to continue the success enjoyed by his predecessors.

AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Ross McDonald wins 2019 title at Prestwick

2019 Ayrshire Boys Matrchplay Champion
Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie)

Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) is the 2019 Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champion after beating new Ayrshire Boys Champion Kerr Brooks (Irvine) in the final of the championship which was held at Prestwick Golf Club from 13^th to 15^th August.

McDonald opened with a 2 & 1 win over Christopher Hunter (Ballochmyle) in the first round which set up a semi final against Fraser Russell (Royal Troon) who had a 4 & 2 win over Jamie McKinnon (Caprington) in the first round.

In the other half of the draw, Kerr brooks beat Harvey McDonald (Ayr Belleisle) by 2 & 1 in the first round to set up a semi final with Harvey Broadfoot (Troon Welbeck) who had a single hole win over Jack Allan (Ballochmyle) in round one.

The semi finals were played on Wednesday 14^th August with brooks beating broadfoot by 3&1 and McDonald crushing Russell by 7 & 5.

The finalists
Kerr Brooks & Ross McDonald

The final on Thursday 15^th August was played in fine conditions with the Prestwick links in first class order.

McDonald took the early initiative in the final, a birdie three at the first giving him the lead, which he followed with three pars that resulted in him winning the fourth hole too, to go two up in the match.

Brooks struck back immediately and a birdie two at the blind par three Himalayas hole was followed by a fine up and down from heavy greenside rough at the sixth to take two successive holes and square the match.

The two players matched each other over the closing holes of the outward half to turn for home with the match all square.

Brooks went ahead in the match for the first time when he won the tenth with a fine par four and when McDonald bunkered his tee shot at the par three eleventh hole, Brooks took full advantage to go two up in the match.

McDonald showed his fighting spirit to reduce the deficit by winning the par five twelfth with a par and when brooks lost a ball two holes later, the match was again all square as the players moved into the famous closing loop of four holes on the historic Prestwick links.

A half in par fours at the fifteenth kept the match all square with three to play, with the sixteenth providing, as it has in many matches before, the pivotal point of the final.

At the sixteenth both players hit fine drives to within fifty yards of the green and both successfully found the putting surface in two, with long birdie putts remaining.

Slightly further from the hole, McDonald putted up close enough for a certain four whilst Brooks’ effort pulled up five feet short of the hole and his par putt missed the hole on the low side, giving McDonald a crucial one hole lead with two to play.

At the seventeenth, both players hit good drives but whilst Brooks’ approach dropped short of the green and into the vast bunker, McDonald’s effort found the back of the green before rolling down to within nine feet of the hole.

A good bunker shot from Brooks left him with an eleven foot putt for par but his brave effort pulled up just short, leaving McDonald with two putts for the hole and the championship.

In a fitting finale, McDonald rolled his birdie putt into the hole for a 2 & 1 victory.

AYRSHIRE GRAND GOLF BALL - Bid invited for silent auction

The Ayrshire Grand Golf Ball is being held on 31st of August 2019 at Trump Turnberry  and there is a silent auction being held in conjunction with the event, which is open to all to bid on.

The Ayrshire Grand Golf Ball is being held in aid of the Scottish Junior Health & Sports Trust which provides healthy sporting activities for young people, irrespective of their circumstances and sporting ability/disability and all the proceeds will go to Junior Golf in Ayrshire.

The silent auction has some fantastic items on offer - golf, tennis, shooting, short breaks, holidays, art, jewellery, food & drink, unique experiences and much more. 

Many of the items have a starting bid as low as 30% of the value and the list is well worth a look.

Anyone interested in bidding and supporting the fundraising event can find further details of all the items on the auction website which can be accessed via the event website at

www.ayrshiregrandgolfball.com

PRESIDENT'S PUTTER - Alton through to final of handicap competition

Alton are the first club to book their place in the handicap club team knockout competition for The President's Putter.

In their semi final match at home to Kilbirnie Place, the Alton team won the two singles ties and lost the foursomes for a 2 - 1 victory overall.

Alton now await either Caprington or Ayr Dalmilling in the final, which is scheduled to take place at Skelmorlie during Finals day on Sunday 1st September.

AYRSHIRE HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Quarter final ties completed and semi final line up confirmed.

The quarter final ties in the 2019 Ayrshire handicap league Championship have all been completed and the line up for the semi finals has been confirmed.

In the first Semi Final, Annanhill will face Kilbirnie Place.

Annanhill overcame Rowallan Castle in the quarter finals, overturning a 4 - defeat away from home by winning 5 - 1 at home for a 7 - 5 win overall, whilst Kilbirnie Place eased through by 8.5 - 3.5 against Redburn winning both ties by 4 - 2 at home and 4.5 - 1.5 away.

The second semi final will feature Ayr Dalmilling and Beith.

A 4.5 - 1.5 win at home for Beith over Royal Troon in the quarter finals was offset by a 4 - 2 defeat at Troon, but the Beith team edged into the final with a 6.5 - 5.5 victory over the two legs. Ayr Dalmilling lost 4.5 - 1.5 at Kilmarnock Barassie in their quarter final but a 6 - 0 win at home gave them a place in the semi final by 7.5 - 4.5 on aggregate.

The two leg semi final matches are scheduled to be completed by the end of August with the final due to take place aty Skelmorlie on Sunday 1st September during Finals Day. 

WEST OF SCOTLAND UNDER 18 LEAGUE - Ayrshire back to winning ways at Caldwell

The Ayrshire Under 18 team got back to winning ways in their defence of the Wishart Trophy and West of Scotland Inter County Under 18 league title on Sunday 11th August with victory over Renfrewshire by 5 - 3 at Caldwell GC.

The winning Ayrshire team at Caldwell

In the lead tie Max Barclay (Ayr Belleisle) lost out by 3 & 2 but wins by Harvey Broadfoot (Troon Welbeck), new Ayrshire Boys Champion Kerr Brooks (Irvine) and a half match for Fraser Russell (Royal Troon) in the remaining under 16 ties put Ayrshire 2.5 - 1.5 ahead in the match.

Chris Hunter (Ballochmyle) and Harvey McDonald (Ayr Belleisle) who along with clubmate Max Barclay was making his team debut, secured wins in the first two of the under 18 ties, to ensure that Ayrshire would win the overall match.

Although jamie McKinnon (Caprington) lost out in the penultimate tie, Jack Allan (Ballochmyle) secured a half in the anchor tie to give Ayrshire a clear victory.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Max Barclay (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Drew Glover (East Renfrewshire) by 3&2
Fraser Russell (Royal Troon) halved with Alexander Fraser (Kilmacolm)
Harvey Broadfoot (Troon Welbeck) beat Rhys McIlroy (Elderslie) by 2&1
Kerr Brooks (Irvine) beat Mackenzie Holmes (Kilmacolm) by 2 holes
Chris Hunter (Ballochmyle) beat John Jack (Gourock) by 3&1
Harvey McDonald (Ayr Belleisle) beat Harry Kellock (Kilmacolm) by 1 hole
Jamie McKinnon (Caprington) lost to Gordon Percy (Caldwell) by 4&3
Jack Allan (Ballochmyle) halved with Roddy McAuley (Fereneze)

AYRSHIRE    5   RENFREWSHIRE   3

Ayrshire's final match in the series is on Sunday 1st September when they take on Stirlingshire at Falkirk

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Loudoun take Division 1 title at Troon Portland

Loudoun Gowf Club are the 2019 Ayrshire Scratch league Division 1 winners following the recent run of results posted.

The winning Loudoun team at Troon Portland

Irvine won their penultimate game at home to Turnberry by 4 – 2 but in their final game away to bottom club Troon Portland the Irvine side lost out by 3.5 – 2.5 which left Loudoun in a position to claim the title with wins in their final two matches.

On Friday 16^th August Loudoun played their last home match against Kilmarnock (Barassie) and crushed their visitors 5 – 1 to confirm that Kilmarnock (Barassie) would finish second bottom and in the play off place.

In their final match on Sunday 18^th August Loudoun travelled to Troon Portland and made no mistake, recording a second successive 5 – 1 win to take the 2019 Division 1 title ahead of Irvine GC.

There is one outstanding match, a postponed fixture between Turnberry and Prestwick St Cuthbert, but the result will not affect the final league one placings this year.

The present positions in Division 1 are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Loudoun	10	8	0	2	38.5	21.5	17	32
Irvine	10	7	0	3	39	21	18	28
Pr. St. Cuthbert	9	4	3	2	26.5	27.5	-1	22
Turnberry	9	3	1	5	22	32	-10	14
Kilmarnock Barassie	10	2	2	6	24.5	35.5	-11	12
Troon Portland	10	1	2	7	23.5	36.5	-13	8

In DIVISION 2, There are two results still to be posted, with Largs hosting Irvine Ravenspark and Caprington at home to Ay Belleisle.

The results of both fixtures will have a bearing on the destination of the League Championship and the play off place, with Caprington requiring a 6 – 0 win in their final fixture to pip Ballochmyle for the title whilst Largs need a positive result to avoid the relegation play off place and perhaps snatch a promotion play off spot from Caprington  depending on results.

Present positions in Division 2 are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Ballochmyle	8	5	0	3	26.5	21.5	5	20
Caprington	7	4	0	3	21	21	0	16
Largs	7	3	1	3	24	18	6	14
Ayr Belleisle	7	3	0	4	18	24	-6	12
Irvine Ravenspark	7	2	1	4	18.5	23.5	-5	10

In DIVISION 3, Troon St Meddans need a win at West Kilbride in their final fixture, scheduled for Friday 16^th August, to beat Royal Troon to the title.

Present positions in Division 3 are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Royal Troon	8	6	1	1	33.5	14.5	19	26
Troon St. Meddans	7	6	0	1	29.5	12.5	17	24
West Kilbride	7	3	1	3	19	23	-4	14
Girvan	8	1	1	6	17.5	30.5	-13	6
Rowallan Castle	8	1	1	6	14.5	33.5	-19	6

In DIVISION 4, Moorpark conceded their final match at Prestwick St Nicholas due to late call offs resulting in the club being unable to field a team. The result of the concession was that Prestwick St Nicholas overtook Kilbirnie Place for the Division 4 title, with Kilbirnie going into the play off place against Girvan from Division 3.

Final positions in Division 4 are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Pr. St. Nicholas	4	3	0	1	14	10	4	12
Kilbirnie Place	4	2	1	1	15	9	6	10
Moorpark	4	0	1	3	7	17	-10	2

With all the leagues almost completed the relegation and play off positions are:-

DIVISION 1

Champions – Loudoun GC

Relegated – Troon Portland

DIVISION 1/2 PLAY OFFS – Kilmarnock (Barassie) Vs Ballochyle or Caprington or Largs

DIVISION 2

Champions – Ballochmyle or Caprington

Relegated – Irvine Ravenspark

DIVISION 2/3 PLAY OFFS – Caprington, Largs or Ayr Belleisle Vs Troon St Meddans or Royal Troon

DIVISION 3

Champions – Royal Troon or Troon St Meddans

Relegated – Rowallan Castle

DIVISION 3/4 PLAY OFFS - Girvan Vs Kilbirnie Place

DIVISION 4

Champions - Prestwick St Nicholas