AYRSHIRE BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - More of the same as Troon Welbeck and Ardeer retain trophies

It was a case of 'same again' on Sunday 18th April when Troon Welbeck and Ardeer retained the Matt Lygate and Andrew D. Nimmo Trophies at the 2010 Ayrshire Boys Team Championships, held over the Troon Portland course.

Troon Welbeck - pictured above - began the scratch event, for the Matt Lygate Trophy, as favourites. Fielding the lowest handicapped team of fourteen competing clubs, they did not disappoint on their way to retaining the title of Ayrshire Boys Team Champions which they won for the first time in the history of the event at Ardeer 12 months ago.

Marc Smith led his team by example, carding a superb two under par 69 to set the standard. David Wilson (75) and Charlie Macneal (77) provided the other two counting scores for the Welbeck team, with Calum Beveridge (80) posting a good fourth score, to be considered in the event of a tie.

A tie however looked far from likely as the other teams came in, and ultimatelythe Welbeck team retained the Lygate Trophy by a 13 shot margin from their closest challengers, Kilmarnock (Barassie) whose team of Euan Henderson (83), Euan Walker (70), Callum Gorrie (81) & Blair Garven (89) combined for a scratch total of 234.

In the handicap competition, for the Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy and the Handicap Champions title, Ardeer set the early target with Robbie Fitzpatrick (67), Daniel Forbes (81), Sandy Walker (70) and Nick Carr (70) posting a team total of 207.

This ultimately proved to be a winning score for Ardeer - pictured above - who retained the trophy won on their home course in 2009, with the only real challenge coming from the team from Irvine Golf Club as Chris Hobson (66), Greg Cathie (80), Stuart Easton (72) & Jack Thomas (70) came up only one stroke short of the winning score on 208.

In individual competition, Marc Smith - pictured right - took the Prestwick Circuits Trophy, for the best individual scratch score of the day, back to Troon Welbeck after his superb 69, following on from teammate David Wilson's win at Ardeer last year.

The Carrick Trophy, awarded to the player returning the best nett score of the competition, was won by 12 handicapper Robert Montgomery (West Kilbride) - pictured below - who returned a 6 under par score of 65 to take the trophy by one stroke.

The two handicap class vouchers were won by Chris Hobson (Irvine) with 75 - 9 = 66 and Matthew Smith (Loudoun) with 86 - 18 = 68.

At the conclusion of the competition, Ayrshire Golf Association President Alasdair Malcolm (Prestwick St. Nicholas) presented the winning teams and individuals with their prizes and trophies.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS :-

Ayrshire Boys Team Champions (Matt Lygate Trophy) - TROON WELBECK (221) - Marc Smith, David Wilson, Charlie Macneal, Calum Beveridge)

Second Scratch team - KILMARNOCK BARASSIE (234) - Euan Henderson, Euan Walker, Calum Gorrie, Blair Garven)

Handicap Team Champions - ARDEER (207) - Robbie Fitzpatrick, Daniel Forbes, Sandy Walker, Nick Carr)

Best Individual Scratch (Prestwick Circuits Trophy) - MARC SMITH (Troon Welbeck) - 69

Best Individual Nett (Carrick Trophy) - ROBERT MONTGOMERY (West Kilbride) - 77-12=65

Handicap 0 - 9 Nett - CHRIS HOBSON (Irvine) - 75-9=66 bih

Handicap 10 - 18 Nett - MATTHEW SMITH (Loudoun) - 86-18=68

SCRATCH TEAM SCORES

221 - Troon Welbeck

234 - Kilmarnock (Barassie)

237 - Prestwick St. Cuthbert

237 - Ardeer

239 - Irvine

241 - Ayr Belleisle

242 - West Kilbride

244 - Prestwick St. Nicholas

248 - Ballochmyle

253 - Troon St. Meddans

266 - Largs

268 - Loudoun

288 - Skelmorlie

294 - Irvine Ravenspark