The match got of to a good start with the first 4 holes being halved in par, with both players making good recoveries from greenside during the run of holes.
Cairney made the first move, taking holes 5 & 6 with birdies, the latter being courtesy of a spectacular long iron to 8ft with the resultant putt being holes.
After hole 7 was halved, with two excellent par threes from off the green, Hamilton reduced the defecit at the 8th with a birdie three.
A half at the 9th sw the players turn for home with Cairney holding a one hole advantage.
Hole 10 was halved but after Cairney found heavy rough on the right from the tee at the 11th, hamilton took the hole to square the match.
Cairney restored his lead at the 12th when Hamilton failed to get up and down from just short of the green.
After the 13th was halved in par threes, Cairney found trouble on the right again from the 14th tee which resuted in a lost ball in the gorse and the match treturned to all square.
As the match drew to a close, the 15th, 16th and 17th were all squared with regulation pars.
Both players hit excellent drives at the 18th, both coming to rest just short of the green. Hamilton played first and his effort came to rest 4ft from the pin.
Cairney's approach shot hit Hamilton's ball and both balls came to rest 3ft from the hole.
Hamiton replaced his ball in its original position and slotted home the putt for a birdie three, leaving Cairney needing to hole his putt to take the match into extra holes.
Despite putting well earlier in the round, Cairney could not convert his putt and the miss from 3 feet gave Hamiton the lead for the first time in the match and, more importantly, the 2008 Ayrshire Matchplay title.
At the conclusion of the final, prizes, and the trophy, were presented by Ayrshire Golf Association President Ricky magee.
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