AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Prestwick matchplay double for Brown

Scott Brown (Turnberry) - puictured right - held off a great fight back by Tommy McInally (Loudoun Gowf) to win the 2009 Ayrshire Matchplay Championship in gale force conditions at Prestwick Golf Club on Thursday 7th May.

In winning the senior title, Scott Brown became the first player to hold both the senior and junior Ayrshire Matchplay titles at the same time, having won the junior event over the same course in August last year.

In a match which produced drama right to the last green, both players deserve great credit for producing an absorbing final in conditions which made quality golf almost impossible.

Brown started the match brightly and forged a two hole lead by the third after McInally found sand with tee shots at the 2nd and 3rd.

Further bunker trouble for McInally at the 5th and 6th saw Brown’s lead extend to 4 holes before McInally began to hit back with a solid par to win the 7th.

Brown missed a short putt on the 10th green to see his lead cut to two before producing a superb up and down at the short 11th to gain a crucial half after McInally had hit a glorious tee shot through the wind to the heart of the green.

Brown then re-established his three hole advantage at the difficult 13th before McInally battled back, taking three of the next four holes to square the match going into the final hole.

Sadly, a terrific encounter was settled by a mistake, when McInally three putted from the edge of the green leaving Brown to claim the title with a text book par 4.

Ayrshire Golf Association President Alasdair Malcolm (Prestwick St. Nicholas) presented prizes to both players at the conclusion of the match.