Sunday, June 10, 2007

SCOTTISH BOYS AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire storm to victory with outstanding singles performance and Gray wins Niagra Cup

The Ayrshire Boys Team of Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), David Currie (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) won the Scottish Golf Union Boys’ Area Team Championship at Forres Golf Club on Sunday 10th June with a two stroke victory over seven times winners Lothians.


The victory is only the second time in the 30 year history of the event that Ayrshire has won the title, the previous win being in 1998 when the team of Gordon Fraser (Troon St. Meddans), Steven Wallace (Prestwick St. Cuthbert), Neil Lockie (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Gary Holland (Ballochmyle) triumphed at Cowglen.



(above - Euan Brown : top right - Michael Stewart : right - David Currie)

Lothians led the tournament after the morning foursomes, with Ayrshire in fourth place, trailing by 5 shots. In the afternoon singles however, the Ayrshire team produced some spectacular scoring, with three of the team going round in under par for best three scores from four team total of 198, 12 under par. This gave Ayrshire a 7 shot swing against Lothians, a total of 339, and a two shot victory. North took third place on 353.

Cameron Gray (pictured right) took pride of place in the afternoon, his brilliant five under par 65 securing him the Niagra Cup for the best individual score of the day, with his teammate Michael Stewart being only one shot adrift on 66 and Euan Brown one shot further back on 67.

FINAL TOTALS

339 AYRSHIRE (C Gray & E Brown 67, M Stewart & D Currie 75). Gray 65, Stewart 66, Brown 67, Currie 75).
341 LOTHIANS (P Ferrier & M Cunningham 65, N Henderson& O Huish 71; Ferrier 66, Henderson 67, Huish 72, Cunningham 80).
353 NORTH (F Fotheringham & K Godsman 69, C Gaittens & R Elder 71; Fotheringham 69, Elder 71, Godsman 73, Gaittens 74).
354 GLASGOW (M Bookless & J Hendrick 68, T Martin & G McDougall 72; Bookless 68, McDougall 71, Hendrick 75, Martin 75).
355 DUMBARTONSHIRE (A Campbell & S Barras 71, F McKenna & D Parlane 73; Barras 69, Campbell 67, McKenna 75, Parlane 77).
356 FIFE (M Main & B Jamieson 75, J Anderson & N Beattie 75; Main 67, Anderson 68, Jamieson 71, Beattie 76).
357 NORTH-EAST (T Spencer & S Fraser 68, A Dunton & D Law 75; Law 68, Dunton 72, Fraser 74, Spencer 79).
358 RENFREWSHIRE (M Daily & C Thompson 73, J Caldwell & D Grant 74; Daily 69, Thompson 71, Grant 71, Caldwell 73).
362 PERTH & KINROSS (S McLaren & P McPhee 74, M Bell & R Forgie 75; McLaren 68, Forgie 69, Bell 76, McPhee 80).
364 ANGUS (K Harper & A Sweeney 73, W Bremner & M. Reid 75 ; Reid 69, Harper 73, Bremner 74, Sweeney 75).
364 LANARKSHIRE (P Shields & C Baird 71, A Graham & B Sloan 81; Shields 69, Sloan 71, Baird 72, Graham retired);
368 STIRLINGSHIRE (A Wallace & F Moore 76, H Nelson & C Cox 77; Cox 70, Moore 71, Wallace 74, Nelson 85).
370 SOUTH (E McLaren & K McClung 73, A Murdoch & C Hill 80; Hill 71, McLaren 73, McClung 73, Murdoch 74).
374 ARGYLL & BUTE (C Robinson & M Fraser 75, I McNab & S Turnbull 80; Fraser 71, Robinson 73, McNab 75, Turnbull 77).
388 CLACKMANNANSHIRE (G Dowie & A Scotland 76, A Borek & J McPherson 82; Borek 73, Scotland 78, Dowie 79, McPherson 82).
392 BORDERS (R Gordon & B Herriot 81, S Fairbairn & B Walker 82; Walker 76, Herriot 76, Gordon 77, Fairbairn 79).

On the Ayrshire victory and his performance in particular, Cameron Gray said "It feels absolutely great, I have been coming back to form recently and this is a sign of a lot of hard work paying off. It has been a very satisfying and enjoyable day.”

The team was captained by AGA Executive member Ian Walker (Turnberry), assisted by David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie). Walker has been involved with the team since 2000, and during this time he has seen the team finishing runners up in the event three times. On the 2007 victory Walker said, “It’s a very proud day for Ayrshire golf and it has been nice to put our Area back on the map. It was a privilege to captain this team and a great achievement for them to secure this title after coming so close on many occasions before. Hopefully this is a sign of more wins to come for Ayrshire.”

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