The Irvine Ravenspark team of Joe Hobson and Brian Gibson - pictured right - are the 2007 Ayrshire Fourball Champions, after they won a nailbiting final against the Maybole pairing of Scott McCahill and David Wallace, in perfect conditions at Prestwick St. Nicholas on Sunday 30th September.With McCahill the lowest handicapped player in the match, off one, Hobson and Gibson received two shots whilst McCahill's team mate Wallace had eight shots over the 18 holes.
The Ravenspark team got off to the perfect start, Hobson holing from 20' for par at the first to win the hole. A superb chip by Gibson, coupled with a three putt from McCahill gave Ravenspark the second hole as well, and a wonderful recovery pitch at the third to 3' set Gibson up for a winning birdie three to extend the lead to three holes after three.
The match threatened to run away from Maybole at this early stage but Wallace rose to the challenge at the fourth, using his shot to full advantage for a winning nett three to reduce the defecit to two holes.
The fifth was halved in par fours but ravenspark restored their three hole advantage at the 6th, McCahill narrowly missing his birdie putt from 20 feet before Gibson holed his from 15fee for a winning birdie three.
The seventh was halved in net pars and at the 8th Gibson, with a fine approach shot to 8 feet, set up a very holable birdie chance. The Maybole team were struggling a little at this stage but McCahill played a good recovery chip to give him a par, which was sufficient to half the hole after Gibson missed his birdie chance.
McCahill and Gibson both had good birdie opportunities again at the ninth, but both missed narrowly and the match turned for home with Ravenspark three ahead.
A solid tee shot at the par three tenth by McCahill, which came to rest 12 feet from the hole, set up a winning par and when Wallace scored a nett birdie three at the 12th, the defecit was quicly reduced to only one hole.
The Ravenspark pair looked favourites at the 12th after all four players missed the green, but after chipping up and being conceded a par three, the ravenspark team could only wastch whilst Wallace bravely holed from 18 feet to half the hole and remain only one behind.
The 13th and 14th were halved in par before McCahill had a chance to level the match at the 15th with a 4 foot birdie opportunity. Do the dismay of McCahill, his putt hit the left side of the hole and spun out, leaving his team still trailing.
Wallace received his final stroke at the 16th hole and, with both ravenspark players in trouble, and Wallace safely on the green in three, the hole was conceded and the match was squared for the first time since the first tee.
At the 16th, all four players missed the fairway to the left from the tee. Hobson and Wallace safely made the green in two whilst McCahill was just off the putting surface, leaving Gibson to play last. The ravenspark player, whose chipping was excellent all day, produced another fine approach to 4' from the hole. With the other three safely holed in four, Gibson had the opportunity to restore his sides lead, but his birdie effort slipped past and the players moved to the final hole all square.
At the 203 yard, par three 18th, McCahill and Wallace were short and right, whilst Gibson also missed the green to the right. Hobson pulled his tee shot to the left, finishing in the gully short of the green. Despite facing a blind chip, Hobson played a wonderful chip to within 3 feet of the hole.
McCahill and Wallace both saw their efforts for par fail and the destiny of the trophy was passed into the hands, and putters, of the Ravenspark pair. Gibson was first to go, but his effort from 7 feet slipped agonisingly past, leaving Hobson with the task of holing from 3 feet to clain the title by one hole. Despite the pressure, Hobson confidently holed out for a winning par three and a one hole victory for Ravenspark
2007 Ayrshire Fourball finalists Joe Hobson (Irvine Ravenspark), Brian Gibson (Irvine Ravenspark), Scott McCahill (Maybole) & David Wallace (Maybole)
