SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - Thre more Ayrshire players in second round

Of the 16 remaining Ayrshire players who completed their first round matches in the Scottish Amateur Championship at Prestwick on Tuesday, only three survived to the second round.



In the third quarter, Stephen McBlain (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) won by 2 & 1 againstJohn Miller (Gullane) and now plays Barry Scott (Dumfries & Galloway) in round 2 on Wednesday.



Also through went Warren Blair (Troon Portland) who ousted Derek Paton (Dunnikier Park) at the 20th. Blair now plays Staurt Roberts (Gullane) in the second round.



The other three Ayrshire players in the third quarter all went out the championship in the opening round. Stephen Spence (Irvine) lost by one hole to Angus Cappi (Loretto School), Bert Ferguson (Royal Troon) went down 4 & 3 to Stephen Simants (Dunbar) and David Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie) was defeated 3 & 2 by the defending champion, Kevin McAlapine (Alyth).



In the fourth quarter, only boys internationalist Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) remained standing from the 11 Ayrshire players in round 1.



Stewart had a 1 hole win over Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) and now meets Paul Betty (Hayston) in round 2.



Steven Wallace (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) gave Scottish internationalist Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) a fright in their match, when Macaulay was two up with four to play before Wallace finished with three birdies in the last four holes to take the tie into extra holes, before Macaulay won through at the 20th.



Kevin Brock (Prestwick St. Nicholas) was crushed 7 & 6 by John Greer (Gourock) whilst Alan McLean (Kilbirnie) also lost heavily, by 6 & 5 to Derek Anderson (Cochrane Castle).



Late replacement Euan McKinnon (Corrie) went down by 5 & 3 against Mark Lamb (Haddington and George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) went out after losing 2 & 1 to SCottish Internationalist John Gallagher (Swanston).



The later matches fared no better, Iain Brown (West Kilbride) and Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie) both losing by 6 & 5 to Mark Kerr (Craigielaw) and Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) respectively.



The other three losers in round 1 were Kyle Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie) who lost 5 & 3 to Mark Hillson (Craigielaw), John Sloan (Doon Valley) who lost by 2 holes to Kevin Reid (Moray) and Michael Smyth (Royal Troon), who went down by 3 & 2 to Richard Gill (Craigmillar Park).