Kyle Smith won the 2006 Ayrshire Boys Matchplay title at a breezy Prestwick links on Saturday night, 12th August. The scottish boys under 16 internationalist edged home by two holes against his Kilmarnock (Barassie) clubmate, David Currie.
In a match where he was never behind, Smith took the first hole after Currie had driven out of bounds. A good recovery from a greenside bunker for a par 3 at the second maintained his lead and Smith extended his advantage to 2 holes after Currie found a bunker from the tee at the third.
A bogey five at the 6th hole was sufficient for Smith to extend his lead to 3 holes but Currie hit back immediately, going par birdie at the 7th and 8th to reduce the defecit to one hole. Two good pars at the ninth saw the players turn for home with Smith holding a narrow lead.
Currie levelled the match for the first time since the opening hole at the 11th with a fine par 3, but Smith immediately restored his advantage with a birdie at the par 5 12th hole.
With both players playing some fine golf in the testing conditions, Currie again levelled the match with a birdie 3 at the 14th, a position which was maintained over the next two holes, with the 16th being halved in excellent birdie threes.
The defining hole of the match came at the 17th where Smith was short and left in two, whilst Currie had hit the tee shot of the day to the foot of " The Alps". Currie however overhit his approach to the green which led to a double bogey and the loss of the hole.
With a one hole advantage on the final tee, Smith almost ensured the title with his tee shot, which he struck to the middle of the par 4 18th green.
Currie could only make a par at the last, giving Smith the two putts he needed to take the title by two holes.
The Captain of Prestwick Golf Club, John Greenall, made presentations to both finalists at the conclusion of the match.
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