AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Mason Chisholm and Finlay Watt through to final

The 2026 Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Championship final at Prestwick Golf Club on Thursday the 13th of August will be contested by Mason Chisholm (Irvine) and Finlay Watt (West Kilbride), following completion of the two semi final matches on Wednesday evening, the 12th of August.

In the first semi final Mason Chisholm faced Connor Hunter (Prestwick St Nicholas). Connor won the first hole after Mason found the railway from the tee, but mason soon squared the match and edged into a two hole lead  by the middle of the round which he extended to three holes with five to play. Connor won the fourteenth to reduce the defecit to two holes as the players moved into the closing loop of four holes. Connor's hopes of further reducing the defecit at the fifteenth when mason holes a good six foot putt for his par four, to half the hole, and when the sixteenth was also halved in par fours, Mason moved onto the challenging seventeenth hole dormie two.

While Mason safely found the fairway from the tee, Connor pulled his tee shot slightly left and found a difficult lie in the rouugh, from where he played an outstanding recovery over the hill and the Sahara bunker onto the righte of the green, where his ball came to rest around 15 feet from the hole.

Mason however was his match, and another outstanding approach shot saw mason's ball finish a mere two feet from the hole in two. 

Despite a good birdie attempt, Connor's ball remained above ground, and mason holed his birdie putt for a 3&1 victory and a place in the final.

In the second semi final Archie Baker (Prestwick St Nicholas) was up against Finlay Watt and like the first semi final, the first hole was won by Finlay as a consequence of Archie's opening tee shot drifting onto the adjacent railway line. Finlay was very steady throughout the outward half, giving little opportunity to his opponent, while Archie found a couple of bunkers in the early stages, at the fourth and fifth which contributed to him going three behind after five holes.

There was a pivotal moment at the sixth when Finlay was short with his approach which ran down the slope to the left of the green, from where he chipped up ontl the edge of the putting surface leaving him a putt from around twenty feet for his par. Archie meanwhile found the back of the green in two, which looked like giving him a chance to reduce the match defecit to two behind. In the event it was not to be when Finlay holed his putt for a par four and Archie just missed his birdie attemt, leaving the match score still three holes in favour of Finlay.

A second shot which finished long and left by Archie saw him take three more to get down at the seventh for a bogey five, while Finlay, facing a difficult downhill putt for birdie, knockoed his first attempt some six feet past before bravely holing his next for a winning par four to go four ahead in the match. Finlay further extended his lead to five at the tenth then also took the eleventh when Archie was unable to get up and down from a difficult lie in the left rough, to go six up with seven holes to play.

Despite the defecit Archie battled on and when Finlay fluffed his chip to the green at the twelfth, Archie negotiated the hole with a good chip and two putts for a winning par five to go back to five behind with six to play.

At what proved to be the final hole of the match, Finlay found the top part of the green with a superb approach shot from a very testing lie in the right rough at the thirteenth, while Archiee pushed his second left and into a hollow in fornt of the next tee. Unfortunately Archie's chip was a little strong and ran down into the deep depression at the front of the green, from where he played a good fourth to within a few feet of the hole. With two putts to win the hole, Finlay laid his birdie putt close to take the hole and a place in the final with a 6&5 win.

The final on Thursday evening, the 13th of August,  at Prestwick Golf Club tees off at 4.30 p.m.

AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - First round ties completed at Prestwick

The first round ties in the 2026 Ayrshire Boy's Matchplay Championship were completed in glorious weather on Tuesday the 11th of August at Prestwick Golf Club, with the four successful players progressing to Wednesday's semi-finals.

The first tie of the evening featured Connor Hunter (Prestwick St Nicholas) and the new Ayrshire Boy's Strokeplay Champion james McNeillie (west Kilbride), and resulted in a win for Connor Hunter by 2 & 1.

The second tie was between Jenson Fergusson (Royal Troon) and Mason Chisholm (Irvine). In a tie that was close throughout, it was no surprise when the players went to the eighteenth tee all square. In a tense finish, both players were caught out by the tricky final green at Prestwick, and eventually Mason Chisholm holed a tricky two foot put for a winning par four and victory by a single hole.

Third tie on the course saw Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit leader Finlay Watt (West Kilbride) against Harris Vennard (Ayr Belleisle), and it was Finlay watt who took control of the tie, eventually running out the winner by 5&4.

The final game on the course matched Archie Baker (Prestwick St Nicholas) and Oliver Kane (Royal Troon). As the players approached the closing loop of four holes, Archie was dormie four up, and although Oliver reduced the defecit by winning the fifteenth, Archie baker won the sixteenth to close out the match by 4&2.

In Wednesday evening's semi-finals, Connor Hunter plays Mason Chisholm and Finlay Watt faces Archie Baker.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Division 3 update

With just three fixtures remaining to be played in Ayrshire Scratch League Division 3, promotion and relegation positions have still to be decided.

In the latest fixture played, Ballochmyle boosted their promotion chances with a 3.5-2.5 home win over Troon Portland.

With 24 points from 7 ties, Troon St Meddans have won the Division 3 title and promotion to Division 2 next season and Rowallan Castle are destined to drop into Division four in 2027 having completed all their fixtures, while the remaining promotion and relegation spots will be decided between the other three clubs in the league.

Prestwick St Nicholas host Troon Portland in their final fixture, while Ballochmyle have a home match against Troon St Medddans and an away match to Troon Portland still to play.

Present positions in Division 3 are:-

AYRSHIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE - Semi final first legs completed

The two semi final first leg ties in the 2026 Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship have been played recently.

In the first semi final, Beith travelled to play Tam O Shanter and recorded a 3.5-2.5 away win to take back to the second leg at their home course. 

In the other semi final Drongan recorded a 5-1 win over Ayr Seafield in their home fixture.

The return legs of both semi fials are due to be completed by the 23rd of August.

PRESIDENTS PUTTER - Troon Portland book final place

Troon Portland have booked their place in the 2026 final of the handicap club team knockout competition, for The President's Putter. 

In their home semi final fixture against Auchenharvie 88, the Troon Portland team emerged winners of the match by 2-1 to book their place in the final at Ardeer on Finals Day, Sunday the 6th of September.

The Troon Portland team now await the win ners of the other semi final between Tam O Shanter and Prestwick St Cuthbert.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Championships enter final few weeks

As the Ayrshire Scratch Leagues enter their final few weeks of league fixtures, the destination of championship trophies and relegation places are still to be decided.

In DIVISION 1, Ayr Belleisle had a crucial 3.5-2.5 home win over defendig champions Prestwick St Cuthbert in their latest fixture, which ended St Cuthbert hopes of a third successive Division 1 title.

Ayr Belleisle still lead the title chase with just four fixtures remaining to be completed.

Belleisle still have a home fixture against irvine and an away match at Prestwick St Cuthbert to play, while the only other club that can overtake Belleisle at the top of the table, caprington, have two home matches against largs and irvine remaining.

Present positions in Division 1 are:- 

In DIVISION 2, Kilmarnock Barassie won their final home fixture of the campaign against Turnberry 4-2 but still face relegation from Division 2 at the end of the season. The division 2 championship trophy looks destined to go to either Loudoun or Royal Troon, with just four fixtures still to be played.

Louodun have a home fixture against West Kilbride to play while Royal Troon have a home tie against Turnberry outstanding, and both the title challengers have still to visit Turnberry before the end of August.

Present positions in Division 2 are:- 

In DIVISION 3, Troon St Meddans lead the title chase with just three fixtures to be played and one further result to be confirmed.

The outstanding result is between Ballochmyle and Troon Portland while the reverse fixture has also still to be played. Ballochmyle also still have a ho,me match against Troon St Meddans to complete and Troon Portland have an outstanding away match against Prestwick St Nicholas.

Present positions in Division 3 are:- 

In DIVISION 4, Ardeer had an importand 3.5-2.5 home win over nearest challengers Annanhill in their latest fixture, while Redburn had an away win by 5-1 against Golf South Ayrshire.

With just three fixtures remaining to be completed, Ardeer have home and away fixtures to play against Golf South Ayrshire and Redburn are at home to Annanhill.

Present positions in Division 4 are:-

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - first two 2026 finals completed

The first two Ayrshire Junior Golf League finals of 2026 were completed in testing conditions n Sunday the 9th of August with Turnberry emerging victorious in both. 

Constant rain in the morning made conditions particualrly difficult, with AJGL officials doing a sterling job in keeping the greens clear of surface water throughout both matches.

In the scratch knockout competition for THE WALLACE THORNTON TROPHY, Turnberry faced West Kilbride in the final and emerged winners with a 4-0 match result.

Match details (Turnberry names first)

Gregor Hay beat Lyle Vogwell by 6&4

Archie Baker beat James McNeillie by 4&3

Thomas Carlyle beat Liam Booth by5&3

Findlay Andrew beat Ethan Grove by 8&7

TURNBERRY 4  WEST KILBRIDE  0

The UNDER 16 KNOCKOUT TROPHY final, where Turnberry faced Ayr Belleisle, was a much closer affair, with the match finishing as a 2-2 draw, and Turnberry taking the trophy by the narrowest of margins, 7-6 on the countbacl over the individual ties.

Match details (Ayr Belleisle names first)

Harris Vennard halved with Patrick Booth

Ryan Steven halved with Robbie McFadzean

Harry Moran lost to Javier Dessaix by 4&3

Rory Reynolds beat Sarah Melvin by 4&2

AYR BELLEISLE 2  TURNBERRY 2

(Turnberry won 7-6 on the countback)

The remaining two Ayrshire Junior Golf League finals will be held at Loudoun Gowf Club on Sunday the 23rd of August.

Following his two hole home win over Harris Vennard (Ayr Belleisle) in their semi final played recently, Findlay Andrew, the 2025 Ayrshire Boys Strokeplay Champion, will play clubmate Gregor Hay (Turnberry) in the Ayrshire Junior Champion of Champions Trophy final, while the Ayrshire Junior Golf League final itself will be contested by Turnberry and Kilmarnock Barassie.

AYRSHIRE MEN'S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - David Currie and James McIntyre to contest 2026 final

The 2026 Ayrshire Men's Champion of Champions Trophy competition final will be between David Currie (Royal Troon) and James Mcintyre (Redburn) following completion of the semi finals ties on Friday the 7th of August.

In the first of the two semi finals, held over the old course at Royal Troon, James Mcintyre was up against Lewis Higgins (Ardeer).

James took the early lead and was three holes ahead after six, with lewis struggling off the tee in the early stages.

As the match progressed into the inward half James took the tenth hole to establish a four hole advantage, but Lewis took the thirteenth and fourteenth holes to reduce the defecit to two holes, with four to play.

The fifteenth hole ultimately proved to be cruicial. With James safely on the green in two, Lewis pulled his approach left and finished in a greenside bunker and took three more shots to get down, leaving James with two putts to go dormie in the match, which he duly did.

At the par five sixteenth, which proved to be the last hole of the tie, james found the left side of the fairway from the tee while Lewis pulled his tee shot into the left rough. After hitting a provisional lewis was unsuccesful in finding his first ball, and despite lewis getting close in a further two shots with his second ball, James succesfully negotiated his second and approach shots to get to the green in three against Lewis' five. A fine approach putt which just slipped past the hole for a birdie four for James prompted a concession from lewis, and James McIntyre progressed to the final with a 4&2 victory.

The second semi final paired host club member David Currie (Royal Troon) and Gary Jordan (Annanhill) who had lost at the same stage of the competition twelve months earlier.

David Currie took the early initiative, establishing a two hole lead after three. 

Throughout the match Gary had little or no good fortune with his putter on the greens, several of his efforts throughout the contest hitting the hole and spinning out.

David had a chance to go three up at the sixth, but he too saw his putt for a win clip the edge of the hole and stay above ground, and at the seventh, after David drove into long grass on the left from the tee and had to take a penalty drop, gary siezed the opportunity to win the hole with a par and reduce the defecit to a single hole.

Despite the setback david re-established his advantage and by the twelfth he was three holes up, a lead he extended to four holes at the thirteenth before the players halved the fourteenth and fifteenth to leave David Currie the winner of the tie with a 4&3 victory.

The championship final is scheduled to take place back at Royal Troon next Friday, the 14th of August, teeing off at 5.00 p.m.

AYRSHIRE BOY'S MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Line up for 2026 event at Prestwick confirmed

The line up for the 2026 Ayrshire Boy's Matchplay Champlionship, to be held at Prestwick Golf Club from Tuesday the 11th to Thursday the 13th of August, has been confirmed following conclusion of the Ayrshire Boy's Strokeplay Championship.

The eight players returning the best two round scratch totals in the Strokeplay Championship, heldt at Routenburn GC on Thursday the 6th of August, qualified to take part in the matchplay event. 

The cut for the matchplay championship fell at 145, with two players from three on that mark qualifying to take part.

The draw for the 2026 Ayrshire Boy's Matchplay Championship is:-

AYRSHIRE BOY'S STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Play off victory for James McNeillie at Routenburn

James McNeillie (West Kilbride) is the 2026 Ayrshire Boy's Strokeplay Champion following a play off victory over clubmate Finlay Watt at Routenburn golf course on Thursday the 6th of August. 

Forty three of the best young golfers in Ayrshire lined up to contest the 36 hole competition at the Routenburn course in Largs, with the championship being blessed with fine weather and some excellent scoring.

Mason Chisholm (Irvine) posted the best scratch score of the morning round with a one under par round of 67, five ahead of the eventual winner and two better than his nearest challenger Oliver Kane (Royal Troon) who posted a 69 in the morning.

In the afternoon Mason was unable to maintain the momentum, eventually posting a 76 to finish on 143, three adrift of the mark set by Finlay watt (West Kilbride) who, out in the first game of the day, posted rounds of 71 and 69 to set the target score of 140.

The eventual winner James McNeillie followed his opening round of 72 with a 68 in the afternoon to equal the leading total of 140, with his playing partner Oliver Kane being desperately unlucky not to match the total, his final putt hitting the hole and failing to drop, giving him a second round of 72 and a two round total of 141, just one off the leading score.

none of the remaining players in the field seriously challenged the score of 140, meaning the destination of the title would be decided by a three hole strokepl play play off over holes one, two, and seventeen.

In the competition for the handicap championship and the Hilmarton Trophy, totals of 132 by Miller Mackay (West Kilbride) and Jamie Robb (Royal Troon) were overtaken by Rory Reynolds (Ayr Belleisle) who posted rounds of 63 and 68 off his seven handicap for a 131 total, which was only overtaken late in the day when his clubmate daniel Ramsay (Ayr Belleisle), playing off a handicap of seventeen, posted rounds of 67 and 62 for a two round total of 129 and a two shot victory.

Following conclusion of the strokeplay rounds, James McNeillie, who won the handicap trophy in the same championship twelve months ago, and Finlay Watt proceeded to the first hole again to commence the three hole play off for the title.

Playing first, James hit his tee shot at the 189 yard par three to just short of the green rom where he chipped up to within two feet of the hole and holed his putt for a par three. Finlay meanwhile had hit his tee shot to the back right fringe of the green where his downhill chip ran just past the hole but ran on five feet past, from where he just failed to hole for his par, leaving him a shot behind as the players moved to the 409 yar par four second.

James hit a fine drive to the middle of the fairway but found himself playing his second shot from some fifty yards behind Finlay's drive. While finlay found the middle of the green with his second, which came to rest some twenty five feet from the hole, james saw his approach drift to the left of the green which left him a testing chip over a steep bank on the greenside, which he did well to play to within fifteen feet of the hole. Putting first, Finlay's birdie effort missed the hole and ran three feet past, while james bravely holed his fifteen foot putt for a fine par. Finlasy succesfully holed his par put also, leaving him one shot behind James as they moved to the final play off hole, the 477 yard par five seventeenth on the course.

At the closing hole of the play off James hit an excellent drive to the centre of the fairway, again finding himself playing first as Finlay hit his tee shot into the left rough, but some forty yards further than James' ball.

A fine second from James found the left edge of the green, leaving him an eagle putt of around fifty five feet. Playing second, Findlay hit an aggresive approach to the pin on the back left of the green, and was unlucky to see his ball run just off the green onto the surrounds, albeit only some twenty feet from the hole.

James' first putt downhill across the green, ran past the hole by some fifteen feet, while Finlay's chip just missweed the hole  and ran four feet past the hole, leaving him a downhill, left to right, putt for his birdie four. James' birdie attempt from fifteen feet ran past the hole by two and a half feet, giving Finlay the chance to claw back the one shot defecit i n the play off, but in the event Finlay's birdie effort slipped agonisingly past the right edge of the hole, which left james with a two and a half foot putt for the title which he bravely holed to become the 2026 Ayrshire Boys Strokeplay Champion.

At the conclusion of the play off Ayrhsire Golf Association Vice President William Fleming (Ballochmyle) handed over the trophy, commemorative medal, and winners voucher to the 2026 champion James MCNeillie.

The Association would like to express thanks to North Ayrshire Leisure, Routenburn Golf Club, and club professional Greig McQueen, for all their assistance in hosting and presenting a succesful championship in 2026.

The championship prizewinners and final scores were:-

 

AYRSHIRE GIRL'S STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Success for Orla and Sandi at Routenburn

Orla Moran (Irvine) and Sandi Rogerson (Kilmarnock Barassie) retained the Ayrshire Girl's Strokeplay Championship and Ayrshire Girl's handicap Championship trophies respectively when the 2026 competition took place at Routenburn golf course in Largs on Thursday the 6th of August.

A four over par scratch score of 72 gave Orla the championship trophy for the third year in succession, while Sandi retained the handicap trophy with a nett score of 73.

At the conclusion of the championship the trophies and prize vouchers were handed over the the successful competitors by Ayrshire Golf Association joint coaching convenor and Under 18 team manager Paul Kennedy.

DOC THOM AYRSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT - Matt Allen moves into second spot after Viking Krus victory

Matt Allen (Western Gailes) has moved into second spot in the Ayrshire Order of Merit for the Doc Thom Salver after the latest two counting events, following his victory in the 36 hole Viking Krus competition at Largs GC.

A two round total of 135 gave Matt a four stroke victory over Alan McLean (Largs), who remainst in the lead for the order of Merit title, and fellow Ayrshire county pllayer Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert).

The previous day in the Troon St Meddans open it was host club member Louis Alberts who took top points with a scratch score of 71 over the Troon Lochgreen course, the best scratch score of the day by two shots.

With six counting events remaining to be played, present positions in the Doc Thom Ayrshire order of Merit are:-

The remaining counting fixtures are:-

9th August - Rowallan Castle Open

22nd August - Ballochmyle Rosebowl

28th-30th August - Troon Weekender

12th September - Golf South Ayrshire Golf Club Open

19th September - Arrol Cup

25th-27th September - Girvan Classic

AYRSHIRE WOMEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Semi-final line up confirmed

The semi-final line up in the 2026 Ayrshire Women's Hnadicap League Championship has been confirmed with the remaining qualifying section fixtures being completed recently.

In GROUP 1 defending champions Largs finished top of the table just ahead of Rowallan Castle.

Final placings in Group 1 are:-

In GROUP 2, Loudoun secured the top spot with a 3.5-0.5 home win over caprington in their final qualifying section fixture, while a 2-2 draw away to ballochmyle in their own final fixture was enough for Caprington to take the other semi-final qualifying spot.

Final placings in Group 2 are:-

In the semi finals Largs will host Caprington and Loudoun will host Rowallan Castle, with the semi finals due to be completed by the 30th of August.

The final is scheduled to take place during Finals day at Ardeer on Sunday the 6th of September.

AYRSHIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Quarter-final ties completed and semi-finalists confirmed

The four quarter final ties in the 2026 Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship were completed last week, with the semi-finals line up now confirmed.

Tam O Shanter overturned a 4-2 defecit from their first leg away to Ardeer, winning the return fixture on Friday the 31st of July at Ayr Belleisle by 4.5-1.5 to progress to the semi finals with a 6.5-5.5 victory overall.

In the semi finals Tam O Shanter will face Beith who also overturned a first leg defecit to win their tie 6.5-5.5 against Alton, when they lost the first leg away from home by 3.5-2.5 but won the return fixture by 4-2 to progress.

Leading 6-0 over Ayr Belleisle after their home leg, Drongan drew 3-3 in the return fixture to progres to the semi-finals by 9-3 overall.

The closest quarter final tie proved to be between Ayr Seafield and Caprington, after both sides won their home fixtures by 4-2 for a 6-6 tie aggregate, with Ayr Seafield progressing to meet Drongan in the semi-finals by virtue of a 26-20 counback over the individual ties in the two legs of their quarter-final.

The semi-final ties are due to be completed by the 23rd of August, with the final scheduled to take place during Finals Day at Ardeer on the 6th of September.

 

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Division 2 and Division 4 updates

Results of fixtures in Divisions 2 and 4 of the Ayrshire Scratch Leagues have been reported recently.

In DIVISION 2 West Kilbride boosted their hopes with a 4-2 home win over Turnberry in their latest fixture. West Kilbride now need a win in their final fixture at Louodun to give themselves an opportunity for promotion.

Loudoun still lead the title chase, with a home fixture against West Kilbride and an away fixture at Turnberry remaining, while Royal Troon still have two fixtures against Turnberry to play, which will be crucial to their own title aspirations.

Present positions in Division 2 are:- 

In DIVISION 4, Annanhill moved to the top of the table following a 3-3 home draw with Troon Welbeck and a 6-0 away win over Golf South Ayrshire in their latest two fixtures.

Annanhill have away fixtures remaining against Redburn and Ardeer, with the latter fixture looking to be crucial to the title hopes of both clubs. In addition Ardeer also have home and away fixtures against Golf South Ayrshire still to play, while Redburn are also still not out of the promotion race, with a home fixture against Annanhill and an away match against Golf South Ayrshire still to complete.

Present positions in Division 4 are:-

AYRSHIRE JUG - Semi-finalists confirmed in mixed greensomes

The four semi finalists in the mixed greensomes knockout competition for The Ayrshire Jug have been confirmed with the remaining quarter-final ties completed recently.

The first semi final will see Graham & Alyson Hutton (Skelmorlie) host Patricia Harris & Neil Wilson (Ballochmyle) who progressed to the last four with a walkover from Elizabeth McConnell & Derek MacPherson (Rowallan Castle) who withdrew due to injury.

The other semi final sees Alistair McKinnon & Carol Moffat (Caprington) host Catherine & Alasdair Malcolm (Ayr Belleisle Ladies/Golf South Ayrshire) who booked their semi final place with a single hole victory in their home quarter final tie against Kevin Hamilton & Karen Millar (Rowallan Castle).

The semi finals are due to be completed by the 30th of August, wuth the final scheduled to take place during Finas day at Ardeer on Sunday the 6th of September.