AYRSHIRE HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Dissapointment as Ayr Dalmilling withdraw from the 2022 competition, whilst first three results are posted

Sadly Ayr Dalmilling have intimated their withdrawal from the 2022 Ayrshire handicap League Championship competition.

The inaugural winners of the event in 2017, Dalmilling were due to contest qualifying section F, alongside Caprington, Redburn and Ballochmyle. The three remaining clubs will now play off for the automatic qualifying place from the section.

Three results have already been recorded in the 2022 competition.

In Qualifying Section A, Kilmarnock barassie won their opening fixture at home to Portmann by 3.5 - 2.5 whilst in Section B the opening 3 - 3 draw between Prestwick St Nicholas and Auchenharvie 88 was followed by a 4.5 - 1.5 home win by Auchenharvie 88 over Alton.

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - Round one almost complete, whilst two teams are through to round three

Just two round one results are still outstanding in the 2022 Ayrshire Fourball Championship, whilst two clubs have already booked their places in round three of the event.

The result of the ties between Glacier & Stewarton and Prestwick Centre & Abbotsford are the ones needed to complete the series of first round ties.

James Anderson & Stewart Shaw (Irvine Ravenspark) were 3&2 winners at home over James McIntyre & Alan Gaffney (Redburn) in the first of the second round matches played, and the Ravenspark duo now face a trip to play either West Kilbride or Malletsheugh in round three, whilst the withdrawal of the Largs representatives puts the duo of Andrew & Reid Brown (Annanhill) through to round three, where they will be at home to either Ayr Belleisle or Kilbirnie Place.

The full list of first round results received to date, and the list of second round ties, are:-

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - Troon Welbeck & Turnberry triumph in season opener

Troon Welbeck and Turnberry took the team honours at the opening strokeplay event of the 2022 Ayrshire golf season, The Ayrshire Junior Team Championships, which were held on Sunday the 17th of April at The West Kilbride Golf Club.

Matt Lygate Trophy Winners - Troon Welbeck

The competitors enjoyed fine, sunny weather throughout the competition, with a light breeze adding to the test of the West Kilbride links, which were presented in excellent condition.

In the scratch team event for the Matt Lygate Trophy it was the Troon Welbeck team of Harvey Broadfoot (71) Jack Broadfoot (80) Harris Fleming (85) and Noah O'Brien (76) who took the title with a three score total of 227, three shots clear of the runners up from Ayr Belleisle Max Barclay, Connor McMillan, Jamie Hay, and Euan Walker, on 230.

Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy Winners - Turnberry GC

The Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy, for the best nett team score, was won by the Turnberry team of Gregor Hay (65), Quintin Dunlop (74), Harry Dixon (n/r) and Hugh Dunlop (68) with a team score of 207, which left them six shots clear of their nearest challengers from Prestwick St Nicholas.

Max Barclay

The best individual scratch score of the day, winning him the Prestwick Circuits Trophy, was recorded by Max Barclay (Ayr Belleisle), with a three under par score of 68, whilst the best individual nett return of the competition, winning the Carrick trophy, was posted by Gregor Hay (Turnberry), with a score of 94-29 = 65.

Gregor Hay

In the 10-36 handicap category, Hugh Dunlop (Turnberry) was first with 88-20=68 whilst the 0-9 handicap category was won, by virtue of the better inward half, by Liam Moran (Irvine) with 78-9=69.

At the conclusion of the days events, Ayrshire Golf Association President Scott Gilchrist (Loudoun) thanked the host club and all the competitors for their contribution to the success of the competition, and handed the trophies and prize vouchers over the the successful teams and competitors.

TEAM TOTALS - scratch (nett)

227 - TROON WELBECK (219)

230 - AYR BELLEISLE (219)

238 - IRVINE (215)

251 - PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS (213)

251 - ROYAL TROON (223)

252 - WEST KLBRIDE (223)

264 - TURNBERRY (207)

297 - CAPRINGTON (252)

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY - Three more through to round two

Three more players have booked their place in the second round of the 2022 Ayrshire Champion of Champions Trophy competition.

Darren Mallinson (Irvine) was taken to the third extra hole in his home tie against Steven Corrigan (Ayr Dalmilling) before securing a home tie on round two against Tommy McInally (Loudoun), who won his away tie in round one against Cameron Aitken (Largs) by 2 & 1 to progress.

Adam Sweeney (Prestwick St Cuthbert) received a walkover from George Paton (Troon Merchants) and will now travel to Arran to face Tom Mitchell (Shiskine) in round two.

The  four remaining first round ties are due to be completed by Sunday the 17th of April.

BELLEISLE CUP - Entries now being taken for Doc Thom Ayrshire Order of Merit event

Entries are now being taken for the 2022 Belleisle Cup, a Doc Thom Ayrshire Order of Merit counting event, which will be held at Ayr Belleisle on Sunday the 5th of June.

The 36 hole scratch event has a handicap limit of 6 and the entry fee is £15.  

A link to the entry form is available on the left of this page, under the 'Entry Forms' heading.

The field is limited to 60 competitors  and entries close on the 27th of May, with a ballot taking place if necessary.

Further information can  be obtained from the Ayr Belleisle match Secretary Robert Morrison at rbrtmorrison@aol.com or by phone on 07708 861569

SCOTTISH MEN'S AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire team named for opening match at Royal Troon

The Ayrshire six man team has been named for the opening fixture in the revamped Scottish Men's Area Team Championship competition, where the county side take on The South of Scotland at Royal Troon on Sunday the 1st of May.

Ayrshire Matchplay Champion Craig Telfer (Turnberry), will be joined in the team by Scott Brown (Turnberry), John Shanks (Irvine), John Haggarty (Loudoun), Blair Morton (Royal Troon) and Keith Hamilton (Royal Troon).

Three morning foursomes will be followed by six afternoon singles in this, the first of three qualifying section matches, with the sectional winners progressing to the finals weekend at Powfoot from the 2nd to the 4th of September.

Ayrshire's second qualifying section match will be away to Angus, at Downfield GC, Dundee, on the 5th of June, with the final qualifying section tie scheduled to be played on the 10th of July against Dumbartonshire at Kilmarnock Barassie. 

EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP - Jack Broun in Scotland side at Sotogrande

Jack Broun (Turnberry) was in the Scotland side that contested the European Nations Cup recently, when the event was held at Sotogrande in Spain from the 30th of March to the 2nd of April.

Alongside George Burns (Williamwood), Lewis Irvine (Kirkhill) and Rory Frannsen (Auchterarder) Jack contributed towards a 65 over par team total, comprising the best three scores from four each day, of 929 to finish in 13th place, 52 shots adrift of the winners from Spain.

In the woman's event, won by Germany with a 17 over par team total of 593, which comprised the best two scores from three each day, the Scotland team of Lorna McClymont (Milngavie), Penelope Brown (Auchterarder) and Jasmine Mackintosh (Murcar Links) recorded a 43 over par total of 619 for an eventual seventh place in the event. 

UNDER 16 QUADRANGULAR TOURNAMENT - Scotland joint second in Wales

Scotland shared second place with the host nation, behind winners Ireland, when the postponed Under 16 Quadrangular Tournament was held at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club in Wales from the 12th to the 14th of April.

Ayrshire hat two players from Royal Troon in the team, Freya Russell & Dylan Cairns.

On the opening day Scotland overwhelmed The Netherlands, dropping only one half in the foursomes en route to a 14.5 - 0.5 match win.

In the foursomes, Dylan Cairns teamed up with Harry Bent (Gullane), as he did on all three days, and secured a half match in their tie.

Freya Russell teamed up with Ruby Watt (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), as she did on all three days in the foursomes, for a 4 & 3 win on the opening morning.

In the singles, Cairns had a 4 & 3 win whilst Russell won her tie 2 & 1.

In the other match on day one, Ireland defeated wales 9.5 - 5.5

Scotland took on Wales on day 2 and took a 3 - 2 lead after the morning foursomes, Cairns & Bent winning by 6 & 5 and Russell & Watt winning by 2 holes.

In the afternoon the singles were affected by fog which eventually resulted in the singles ties being abandoned and the scores in each tie were determined by the score when they were abandoned. At that time, Dylan Cairns was 1 up and Freya Russell was 1 down. 

As a consequence of the abandonment, the match score was determined as a 7.5 - 7.5 draw overall.

In the other match on day 2, Ireland defeated The Netherlands by 9.5 - 5.5

Scotland faced Ireland on day 3 and remarkably all five foursomes matches in the morning were halved, leaving the overall first place still up for grabs in the afternoon singles.

In the event, both Dylan Cairns and Freya Russell lost their singles ties by a single hole, as Ireland took the singles 6 - 4 for an overall match win by 8.5 - 6.5 to maintain their 100% record and win the tournament.

Wales defeated The Netherlands 8 - 7 on the final day, to share second place overall with Scotland.

AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Capacity field for County championship at Prestwick St. Nicholas

A Capacity field will contest the 2022 Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship over the Prestwick St Nicholas GC links on Sunday the 24th of April.

The 36 hole competition has attracted a quality field of the majority of the best golfers in the county.

The players returning the best 16 scratch aggregate scores will go forward to contest the Ayrshire Matchplay Championship at Ayr Belleisle between the 2nd and 5th of May.

The draw for order of play for the Strokeplay Championship, on Sunday the 24th of April, is:-  

Game No	Tee Time	Players Name	Club	Handicap
1	8:00	Scott Brown	Turnberry	+2
	&	Craig Telfer	Turnberry	+2
	13:00	Steven Wallace	Prestwick St Cuthbert	+3
2	8:08	John Haggarty	Loudoun	+3
	&	Blair Morton	Royal Troon	+3
	13:08	John Rushbury	Royal Troon	0
3	8:15	William Fleming	Ballochmyle	1
	&	Keith Hamilton	Royal Troon	+3
	13:15	Barry O'Rourke	Loudoun	+2
4	8:23	Craig Hamilton	Ballochmyle	+1
	&	Alan McLean	Largs	+1
	13:23	Joe McSorely	Prestwick St Cuthbert	+3
5	8:30	Shaun Hedger	West Kilbride	+3
	&	Gavin Chesney	Kilbirnie Place	1
	13:30	Sandy Walker	Kilmarnock Barassie	0
6	8:38	Scott Gilchrist	Loudoun	1
	&	Stephen Murray	Troon Portland	0
	13:38	Steven Stamper	Turnberry	+2
7	8:45	Tom Loy	Ballochmyle	+2
	&	Michael Smyth	Royal Troon	+3
	13:45	Adrian Orton	Kilmarnock Barassie	0
8	8:53	Greg Vernon	Kilmarnock Barassie	0
	&	Barrie McDonnell	Caprington	0
	13:53	Scott Chesney	Kilbirnie Place	3
9	9:00	Graeme Gimson	Prestwick St Cuthbert	0
	&	Sandy Buchanan	Prestwick St Nicholas	+3
	14:00	Cameron Aitken	Largs	0
10	9:08	Mark Watt	Prestwick St Cuthbert	0
	&	Stephen Spence	Prestwick Golf Club	+2
	14:08	Stuart Miller	Kilmarnock Barassie	0
11	9:15	Gregor Mackintosh	Girvan	+1
	&	Scott Ainsworth	Ardeer	1
	14:15	Jonny Andrews	Largs	1
12	9:23	Bruce Travers	Loudoun	3
	&	Andrew Campbell	Kilmarnock Barassie	0
	14:23	Jay Houston	Prestwick St Nicholas	+1
13	9:30	Jim McCullagh	Kilmarnock Barassie	0
	&	Kevin Thomas	Prestwick St Cuthbert	0
	14:30	Harvey McDonald	Turnberry	+1
14	9:38	Jack Ramsay	Kilmarnock Barassie	2
	&	David Currie	Royal Troon	0
	14:38	Kris Kirk	Troon Portland	0
15	9:45	Andrew Craig	Kilmarnock Barassie	3
	&	Aidan Long	Ayr Belleise	+1
	14:45	Jason Butler	Ardeer	+1
16	9:53	Steven Gillies	Prestwick St Cuthbert	0
	&	Daniel Forbes	Irvine	+1
	14:53	Adam Sweeney	Prestwick St Cuthbert	+3
17	10:00	Stewart Russell	Royal Troon	0
	&	Greg Watson	West Kilbride	+1
	15:00	Scott Crawford	Kilmarnock Barassie	4
18	10:08	Lewis Higgins	Ardeer	+1
	&	Harvey Broadfoot	Troon Welbeck	+2
	15:08	Iain Brown	West Kilbride	+1
19	10:15	Calum Cameron	Kilmarnock Barassie	3
	&	Colin Hume	Ayr Belleisle	2
	15:15	Andrew Brown	West Kilbride	1
20	10:23	Paul Giffney	Ardeer	2
	&	Ben Gibson	Kilmarnock Barassie	0
	15:23	Jamie McKinnon	Caprington	0
21	10:30	Alyx Murray	Ballochmyle	+3
	&	Jack Purdie	Largs	+1
	15:30	Cameron McGarvie	Prestwick	+1
22	10:38	Stuart White	Girvan	+1
	&	Maximilian Barclay	Turnberry	+1
	15:38	Jack Allan	Ballochmyle	2
23	10:45	Brian Banks	West Kilbride	3
	&	Connor Wills	Royal Troon	0
	15:45	Graeme Miller	Ayr Belleisle	2