On Monday 30 July, the opening day of the 2007 Scottish Amateur Championship, being played at Prestwick, 11 of the 21 Ayrshire players in action survived their first test and booked a place in round 2.
In the first match of the morning, David Strachan (Turnberry) was unlucky to go out by one hole to Lindsay Miller (Cawder).
2006 Ayrshire Order Of Merit winner John Cairney (Irvine Ravenspark) was the first Ayrshire player through to round 2, winning through in what proved to be the longest match of the day when he beat George Findlay (Ballumbie Castle) at the 22nd. Cairney now plays former Amateur Champion Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) who beat Ayrshire Matchplay title holder Steven Murray (Troon Welbeck) by 5 & 4 in round 1.
James Bunch (Prestwick) joined Cairney in round 2 with a 2 & 1 win over Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton). Bunch now plays George Barrie (Callander) in the next round.
Scottish Internationalist Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) proved too strong for Alex Gourlay (Irvine), beating the Ayrshire county player by 4 & 2
Steven McEwan (Caprington) had a comfortable 5 & 4 win over Mark Dickson (Alwoodley) to set up a second round match against Steven Hume (Murrayshall).
Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) ended the hopes of Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) at the opening stage, with a 3 & 2 victory.
In the second quarter, Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Neil Cameron (King James VI) by 3 & 2 and now plays Kristian Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes) in the second round.
Local player Kevin Fergusson (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) brought a good following from his home club and repaid his supporters with a 5 & 3 win against Malcolm Davidson (Craigie Hill) to set up a second round clash with Nicky Gold (Bonnyton).
The Ayrshire players in the middle of the second quarter draw did not fare well, boys internationalist Cameron Gray (West KIlbride) going down by 3 & 2 to Anthony Bews (Murcar), Craig McLaughlin (Largs) being beated one hole by Graham Molloy (Wishaw) whilst Ayrshire Champion Of Champions trophy holder Brian Moore (Largs) also went out, beaten 5 & 4 by Andrew Weir (Montrose Merchantile).
The remaining four Ayrshire players in the second quarter all won a place in round 2.
Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) beat Richard Elrick (Kilmacolm) by 5 & 4 and now plays Craig Haugh (Cathkin Braes). Also through went Ross Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie) who beat Ross Kellett (Colville Park) by 3 & 2 to set up a second round match against Matthew Burt (Helensburgh).
Ayrshire Strokeplay Champion John Shanks (Irvine) needed extra holes to see off Ross Leeds (Muckhart), his win at the 19th giving him a second round tie against Allan Johnston (Bonnyton), the conqueror of the newly crowned Scottish Boys Strokeplay Champion and seed, James Byrne (Banchory).
The last Ayrshireman in the second quarter, David Currie (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost 3 & 2 to Jamie Farmer (St. Andrews).
Five further Ayrshire players featured in the late Monday afternoon matches in round one, and three were successful in reaching round two.
Out went Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle), beaten one hole by Steven Higgins (Gourock), and late substitute Jamie Murchie (Lamlash), beaten two holes by Greg Paterson (St. Andrews New).
Youth internationalist Robert McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie) crushed Kieth Spence (Newmacher) by 6 & 5 and now plays Murchie's conqueror, Greg Paterson in round 2.
Paul Moultrie (Troon Portland) beat Fraser Bone (Cardross) by 2 & 1 to secure a second round match against Steven Maxwell (Windyhill).
The final Ayrshire player featuring in the Monday matches was former Scottish Amateur Champion Allan Thomson (Ayr Belleisle), who won a bronze medal in the championship when it was last staged at Prestwick in 1998, and the former internationalist won through to round two with a 3 & 2 win over Michael Campbell (Renfrew) to set up a second round match against Lewis Kirkton (Newmacher).
A further 16 Ayrshire players contest first round matches on Tuesday before the second round ties begin on Tuesday afternoon.
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