AYRSHIRE SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP - Tom McKay captures the Sandy Provan Trophy

Tom McKay from Annanhill GC is the 2011 Ayrshire Seniors Champion after taking the title, and the Sandy Provan Trophy, by two shots at West Kilbride on Tuesday 19th July.

In a competition blessed with dry weather but with a stiff northerly breeze, 70 year old McKay, a 14 handicapper, played close to his handicap on the outward nine but turned on the style in the inward half, carding seven pars and two double bogeys in an inward half of 39, four over par.

His four under par nett score of 66 ousted the early leader, Charlie McGregor (Irvine Ravenspark) who, after an indifferent fround nine, came home in an impressive two over par 37, which included a birdie two at the 12th.

73 was the best scratch score of the day, returned by 3 handicapper Alan Harrington (Western Gailes). Harrington's outward half of 36, one over par, including six pars and a birdie three at the sixth. On the inward stretch, a run of six successive pars from the 11th contributed to an inward nine of 37, two over par.

A total of 87 players started the championship this year, an increas of almost a third on the entry in 2010, as the popularity of the event continues to grow.

At the conclusion of play, Ayrshire Golf Association Past President Alasdair Malcolm presented prizes to the succesful participants.

The prizewinners at the 2011 championship were :-

BEST NETT 
(winner of the Sandy Provan Trophy) - Tom McKay (Annanhill) 80 - 14 = 66

BEST SCRATCH
Alan Harrington (Western Gailes) 73

AGE CATEGORY 55 - 62
1st - Alastair Todd (Loudoun) 76 - 5 = 71 (bih)
2nd - Edward McMillan (Largs) 88 - 17 = 71 (bih)
3rd - John McCann (West Kilbride) 79 - 8 = 71 (bih)

AGE CATEGORY 63 - 69
1st - John Mansefield (Troon Merchants) 83 - 13 = 70 (bih)
2nd - Fraser Crawford (West Kilbride) 76 - 6 = 70
3rd - Tom Baird (Irvine) 89 - 18 = 71 (bih)

AGE CATEGORY 70 +
1st - Charlie McGregor (Irvine Ravenspark) 79 - 11 = 68
2nd - John Johnstone (Caprington) 87 - 18 = 69
3rd - Ronald Harrison (Irvine) 83 - 13 = 70 (bih)

The Competition Scratch Score for the championship increased by 1 to 70.