WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUES - Youth team gain draw away to Renfrewshire

The Ayrshire youth team grabbed a last gasp draw in their latest match in this seasons West Of Scotland Inter County League, against joint league leaders Renfrewshire, at Caldwell on Saturday 23rd October.

With both teams having won their opening matches, the game was always likely to be close.

Ayrshire took the early lead, with John Sloan (Doon Valley) and Ian Guthrie (Ballochmyle) winning the opening two ties by 3 & 2 and 1 hole respectively, but Renfrewshire took the following two games to square the match at 2 - 2.

In the 5th tie Graeme Gebbie (Loudoun) was unfortunate to lose the head of, and the use of, his driver early in the match, which no doubt contributed to his 5 & 4 defeat, but Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) squared the match at 3 - 3 with a 2 hole win in match 6.

Defeats for Lee Hughes (Belleisle) and Jamie Mackay (St. Meddans) in the 7th and 10th ties left Renfrewshire 5 - 3 ahead and only requiring a half in one of the remaining two games on the course.

Alastair Leggate (Barassie) reduced the defecit to 5 - 4 with a 2 & 1 win in his tie, leaving Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) to shoulder Ayrshire's hopes. All square on the 18th tee, the former Ayrshire Boys Champion and under 16 internationalist showed his mettle, gaining a fine birdie on the last hole to give him a 1 hole win and Ayrshire a very worthwile draw in the match.

MATCH RESULTS (Ayrshire names first)

JOHN SLOAN (Doon Valley) beat S. Higgins (Gourock) 3 & 2
IAN GUTHRIE (Ballochmyle) beat G. Shepherd (Erskine) 1 hole
JAMIE WILSON (Ballochmyle) lost to A. Brown (East Renfrew.) 2 & 1
GARRY NEIL (Caprington) lost to C. Cook (Renfrew) 3 & 2
GRAEME GEBBIE (Loudoun) lost to C. Michael (Old Ranfurly) 5 & 4
CRAIG HAMILTON (Ballochmyle) beat R. Connolly (Fereneze) 2 holes
LEE HUGHES (Belleisle) lost to M. Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 6 & 5
ALASTAIR LEGGATE (Barassie) beat P. Hubner (Caldwell) 2 & 1
CAMERON GRAY (West Kilbride) beat L. McDonald (Lochwinnoch) 1 hole
JAMIE MACKAY (St. Meddans) lost to D. Sloan (Greenock) 3 & 2

RENFREWSHIRE 5 AYRSHIRE 5


Next Saturday (30th) the Ayrshire Youths team play host to Stirlingshire Youths at Ayr Seafield with a first tee of time of 11.00 a.m.