SGU SCOTTISH AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - Ayrshire open with victory

Ayrshire opened their challenge for the 2008 SGU Scottish Area Team Championship on Sunday 18th May with a 5 - 4 victory away from home, over Clackmannanshire at Braehead

(The Ayrshire team at Braehead - Michael Stewart, Barry Crawford, John Cairney, Tommy McInally, Euan Brown & George Robertson, with team manager Ronnie Potts).

The morning foursomes was won 2 - 1 by Ayrshire, and this ultimately proved decisive to the overall result.

John Cairney and Tommy McInally set Ayrshire off on the road to victory with a fine 2 & 1 win over Clackmannanshire's to pairing of internationalists Steven Horne and Scott Borrowman, and with the other two foursomes resulting in one win and one defeat, Ayrshire took a one point lead into the afternoon singles.


Ayrshire looked to be struggling a little in the early stages of the singles, with the last three matches being down.

Michael Stewart increased Ayrshire's lead to 3-1 before the lead was reduced again when John cairney lost on the last green to current Scottish cap Scott Borrowman. With Euan Brown being beaten by 5 & 3 the match was tied, before Tommy McInally restored Ayrshire's lead once again with a 2 & 1 victory.

Although behind early on, the last two Ayrshire players rallied and it was George robertson who ensured at least a draw for Ayrshire when he halved with former internationalist Horne, before Barry Crawfored sealed a narrow win for Ayrshire with a half in his tie.


In the other Group C match played on Sunday, the North East beat Argyll and Bute by 8 - 1.


The next round of matches take place on 3rd of August when Ayrshire play host to the North East.



Match details

FOURSOMES

Scott Borrowman & Steven Horne lost to John Cairney (Irvine Ravenspark)& Tommy McInally (Loudoun) by 2 and 1
Ross Benvie & Jamie Aitken beat Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) & Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) by 4 and 3
Scott Moffat & Mike Rust lost to George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) & Barry Crawford (West Kilbride) by 2 and 1

SINGLES

Benvie lost to Stewart by 4 and 2
Borrowman beat Cairney by 1 hole
Aitken lost to McInally by 2 and 1
Moffat beat Brown by 5 and 3
Horne halved with Robertson
Ross halved with Crawford

CLACKMANNANSHIRE 4 AYRSHIRE 5