WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE - Final match abandoned whilst youths crash to defeat

Ayrshire's final match in the 2006 West Of Scotland Inter County League, against Glasgow at Irvine Bogside, fell victim to the weather on Saturday 11th November. With the result having no bearing on the outcome of the league, there are no plans to reschedule.

In the corrsponding youths match, Ayrshire travelled to Haggs Castle but in difficult and wet conditions the local side crashed to a 6.5 - 3.5 defeat.

Match results (Ayrshire names first) were :-

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) lost to Matthew Dargie by 3 & 2
John Shanks (Ardeer) lost to Chris Wedgeworth by 1 hole
Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Lewis Burnett by 6 & 4
Alastair Leggate (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Justin Coyne by 3 & 2
Lee Hughes (Ayr Belleisle) beat John Grant by 3 & 2
Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) halved with James Hendrick
Kyle Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Andrew Quinn by 5 & 3
Graem Gimson (St. Cuthbert) beat Joe McCrearty by 6 & 5
Michael Roos (West Kilbride) lost to Thomas Martin by 3 & 2
Gary Neil (Caprington) lost to Mark Bookless by 3 & 2

GLASGOW 6.5 AYRSHIRE 3.5

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Winners honoured at annual dinner

A capacity audience gathered at Irvine Ravenspark Golf Club on Monday 6th November to honour the winners of the county junior events at the 38th Annual Dinner & Presentation Of Trophies of The Ayrshire Junior Golf League.

Chairman Bill Taylor (Troon Welbeck) opened proceedings by introducing the guests for the evening, including Scottish Golf Union President Gordon McInnes, Ayrshire Golf Association Vice President Alasdair Malcolm, David Reynlds of the National Playing Fields Association, Captain of Prestwick Golf Club Johnnie Greenall, Captain of Irvine Ravensaprk Eddie Lawless, Captain of Prestwick St. Cuthbert Alastair McLean, coaching professional Graham Ross of West Kilbride, Andy Clift of Wilson Sports and honorary members Sam Coulter, Iain Harvey, Russell Cameron, Charlie McGregor & Bill Tinsley.

After an excellent meal and entertaining raffle & prize draw, the presentation of the seasons prizes opened in the traditional manner with David Reynolds presenting the Macrobert Thistle Junior Golfer Of The Year trophy on behalf of the National Playing Fields Association.

After a great deal of deliberation over an excellent list of candidates, the sub committee overseeing the final selection decided that the 2006 award would go to John Shanks of Ardeer Golf Club (pictured above, receiving the trophy from David Reynolds) who, as well as winning a number of events in the county including the Ayrshire Boys Championship and the Junior Order Of Merit, displayed many other attributes which set him apart from the other candidates.

The remaining prizes were presented by Scottish Golf Union President Gordon McInnes, who also took the opportunity to praise the performances of Scottish teams throughout the season, making particular mention of the performance of the junior teams, and the Ayrshire representatives, Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and Kyle Smith (Kilarnock Barassie), who contributed to national success at junior level.

The principal prizewinners for the season were :-

Macrobert Thistle Junior Golfer Of The Year - JOHN SHANKS (Ardeer)
Matt Lygate Trophy - KILMARNOCK (BARASSIE) G.C.
Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy - LOUDOUN GOWF CLUB
Prestwick Circuits Trophy - FRASER LAWRIE (West Kilbride)
Carrick Trophy - FRASER JARDINE (Loudoun)
Silver Jubilee Trophy - AJGL SECRETARY'S TEAM
Ayrshire Boys Championship - JOHN SHANKS (Ardeer)
Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Championship - KYLE SMITH (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Ayrshire Junior Order Of Merit
7th - FRASER LAWRIE (West Kilbride)
6th - CRAIG McLAUGHLIN (Largs)
5th - EUAN BROWN (Kilmarnock Barassie)
4th - JAMIE MACKAY (Kilmarnock Barassie)
3rd - ADAM FOLEY (Ayr Belleisle)
2nd - MALCOLM PENNYCOTT (Whiting Bay)
Winner - JOHN SHANKS (Ardeer)
Wallace Thornton Trophy runners up - LARGS ROUTENBURN G.C.
Wallace Thornton Trophy winners - KILMARNOCK (BARASSIE) G.C.
Under 16 Knockout Trophy runners up - LARGS ROUTENBURN G.C.
Under 16 Knockout Trophy winners - KILMARNOCK BARASSIE G.C.
Champion Of Champions Trophy runner up - ADAM SWEENEY (Largs Routenburn)
Champion Of Champions Trophy winner - STEVEN McEWAN (Caprington)
League Championship semi finalists - CAPRINGTON G.C.
League Championship semi finalists - LOUDOUN G.C.
League Championship runners up - AYR BELLEISLE G.C.
League Championship winners - BALLOCHMYLE G.C.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by AJGL Vice Chairman Mark Fitzpatrick (Kilmarnock (Barassie).

(The League Championship winning team from Ballochmyle are pictured receiving the Championship Trophy from Scottish Golf Union President Gordon McInnes)

(A selection of other winners are pictured below)

Ayrshire Boys Team Champions
Kilmarnock (Barassie)
with the Matt Lygate Trophy 

Fraser Jardine (above) with the
Carrick Trophy and the Loudoun Gowf Club
team (below) who won the
Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy

 

League Secretary Barry Somerville
receives the Silver Jubilee Trophy 

Ayrshire Boys Champion
John Shanks (Ardeer)

Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champion

Kyle Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie)

League Championship Runners Up

Ayr Belleisle

Champion Of Champions Trophy winner

Steven McEwan (Caprington)

Under 16 Knockout Trophy winners

Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Wallace Thornton Trophy winners

Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Order Of Merit - 4th
Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie)




















Order Of Merit 3rd
Adam Foley (Ayr Belleisle)




















Order Of Merit Runner Up
Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay)




















Order Of Merit Winner
John Shanks (Ardeer) 

PRESTWICK DRIVING RANGE TO CLOSE ?

Golfers in the Ayr & Prestwick area look set to lose one of the most popular practice facilities in the area, with strong rumours circulating that the Prestwick Golf Driving Range may be destined for closure, perhaps as early as the turn of the year.

If the information is true, the loss of the facility will be a major blow to local players, and will be a particular loss to junior development, with a number of schemes, including the national Clubgolf programme presently being delivered at the Prestwick range.

The facility, which was opened in the 1980's, occupies land adjacent to the car parks and freight centre of Prestwick Airport. The area of land itself has a long history of golf association, being part of the area on which was laid out the original 9 hole course of the Prestwick St. Cuthbert club in 1899. Indeed the driving range land formed the 5th, 6th & 7th holes of the last St. Cuthbert course to occupy the site, before the course was compulsory purchased in the early 1960's to allow the extension of the runway & building of the new terminal building at the airport, with the St. Cuthbert club moving to their present site around the same time (The picture shows the old St. Cuthbert course with the area of the driving range lying beyond and to the right fo the two bridges).

The Driving range are advertising restricted times during the next couple of weeks, with the range only being open from 6 - 9 p.m., due to site exploratory woirk.

As to the future of the site, one strong suggestion is a move by Prestwick Airport to develop the land to form additional car parking and a hotel complex.

Should the stories be true, the loss of the Prestwick Driving Range facility will be a sad day for golfers, both young and old, in Prestwick and surrounding area.

WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUES - Ayrshire crash to Dumbartonshire whilst youth team draw

Ayrhsire stumbled to their second successive 7.5 - 2.5 defeat in the 2006 West Of Scotland inter county league on Saturday, losing out to their hosts Dumbartonshire, at Kirkintilloch.

Match results (Ayrshire names first) were :-

Steven McEwan (Barassie) lost to Kevin Smith by 3 & 2
Robert McKnight (Barassie) halved with Gordon Yates
George Robertson (Ravenspark) lost to Craig Checkley by 1 hole
Brian Moore (Largs) lost to Paul Dickie by 2 & 1
Darren Mallinson (Ravenspark) beat Colin Peddie by 2 holes
John Cairney (Ravenspark) lost to David Elder by 4 & 3
David Glass (St. Cuthbert) lost to Craig Harper by 5 & 4
Gary Bryden (Girvan) lost to Willie Campbell by 2 & 1
Stuart Pennington (St. Meddans) beat James Paterson by 3 & 2
Steven Murray (Welbeck) lost to Jim Devaney by 3 & 2

DUMBARTONSHIRE 7.5 AYRSHIRE 2.5


In the corresponding youths match, played at Brunston Castle, Ayrshire earned their third draw from four outings, whilst also ending Dumbartonshire's 100% record in this seasons competition, where they have opened with three successive wins.

Match results (Ayrshire names first) were :-

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) beat Fraser Bone (Cardross) by 2 & 1
John Shanks (Ardeer) beat Paul Borland (Windyhill) by 2 & 1
Euan Brown (Barassie) beat James McEwan (Clydebank & Dist.) by 2 holes
Alastair Leggate (Barassie) lost to Colin Colraine (Windyhill) by 2 & 1
Lee Hughes (Belleisle) lost to Jock Meechan (Dullatur) by 5 & 4
Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) lost to Grant Minnes (Hayston) by 7 & 6
Kyle Smith (Barassie) beat Simon Barras (Helensburgh) by 2 & 1
Graeme Gimson (St. Cuthbert) lost to Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) by 4 & 2
Michael Roos (W. Kilbride) lost to Scott Moore (Clydebank & Dist.) by 2 holes
Gary Neil (Caprington) beat David parlane (Helensburgh) by 2 & 1

AYRSHIRE 5 DUMBARTONSHIRE 5

In the final series of matches next week, Ayrshire play Glasgow, with the senior team playing at Irvine (Bogside) whilst the youths travel to Haggs castle.