DOC THOM AYRSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT - Round the world dash for Smyth as he secures 2011 title

Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) secured the 2011 Doc Thom Ayrshire Order Of Merit title, with one event still to be played, with a second place finish in the Welbeck Links Championship on Sunday 28th August.

Some players go well out of their way in their pursuit of success but Michael's efforts in taking part in the penultimate counting event to succesfully secure sufficient points to win the order of merit are worthy of note.

Michael (second from the left) before his mad dash home
with his long suffering caddie, dad David, beside him

On Saturday 27th August Michael and his family were still travelling back, in temperatures of 102 degrees, from a trip to the PGA in Atlanta, (see photo) where Michael played the Highlands course which hosted the PGA. Michael and the party landed in a chilly 59 degrees at Glasgow and finally arriving home in Prestwick at 5.00 p.m.

Shrugging off any jet lag and keen to take part in the Welbeck Links to try to win the Doc Thom salver for the order of merit, Michael was up early the next mornng and led the Welbeck Links after the first round by two strokes. Although he faded in the second round, no doubt with tiredness a contributory factor, his runner up spot behind Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck) was good enough to secure sufficient points to ensure that he cannot be overtaken  when the final counting event, the Arroll Cup at Prestwick St Nicholas, is played in September.

Present positions in the Doc Thom Ayrshire Order Of Merit are :-

512.5		Michael	Smyth	Royal Troon
187.5		Jamie	Mackay	Kil. Barassie
185		Stephen	Murray	Troon Welbeck
175		Michael	Stewart	Troon Welbeck
174		John	Haggarty	Loudoun
150		Tommy	McInally	Loudoun
108.75		Keith	Hamilton	Ayr Belleisle
108.75		Craig	Hamilton	Ballochmyle
100		Scott	McCahill	Maybole
100		Craig	Adams	Ardeer
100		Iain	Macdonald	Largs
77.5		Marc	Smith	Troon Welbeck
75		John	Cairney	Ravenspark
75		David	Kelso	Tam O Shanter
75		James	Russell	Ardeer
75		Steven	McEwan	Caprington
74		Scott	Gilchrist	Loudoun
71.25		David	McLellan	Largs
62.5		Scott	Davidson	Largs
62.5		Gregor	Dickson	Largs
58.75		Gary	Bryden	Girvan
42.5		Stephen	Spence	Irvine
42.5		David	Tierney	Ayr Belleisle
42.5		Kenneth	Campbell	Ayr Carrick
42.5		James	Donnelly	Ardeer
35		Scott	Brown	Turnberry
35		Billy	Hunter	Irvine
35		Ian	Walker	Turnberry
30		George	Robertson	Ravenspark
27.5		Robbie	Fulker	Kil. Barassie
27.5		David	Macdonald	Largs
24		Stuart	White	Girvan
24		Paul	Denim	Loudoun
24		S	Muir	Loudoun
11.67		Josie	Gillon	Tam O Shanter
11.67		Alex	Jack	Ayr Seafield
11.67		Stephen	Coulter	Ravenspark
11.67		Robin	McCaig	West Kilbride
11.67		Kevin	McCormack	Ardeer
11.67		Andrew	Muirhead	Ardeer
10		Carl	Thomas	Largs
8.75		Denis	Larman	Annanhill
8.75		Richard	Easterbrook	Ballochmyle
8.75		William	Wilson	Ballochmyle
8.75		Neil	McCormack	New Cumnock
7.5		Stuart	Miller	Kil. Barassie
7.5		Gavin	Wilson	Loudoun
5		Graeme	Rowan	Ballochmyle

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Defending Champions toppled in semi finals

Defending Champions Kilmarnock (Barassie) lost their grip on the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship trophy in the semi finals of the 2011 competition when they were defeated by Irvine (Bogside).

The Irvine club, who last won the championship in 1991, won their home leg of the semi final match by 4 - 2 and a defeat at Kilmarnock (Barassie) by 3.5 - 2.5 gave Irvine the semi final with a 6.5 - 5.5 winning margin.

The other semi final saw Annanhill beat Ayr Belleisle by 4.5 - 1.5 at home and although defeated by 3.5 - 2.5 in their away match, Annanhill progressed to the final with a 7 - 5 semi final winning score.

The final of the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship is scheduled to take place at Loudoun Gowf Club on SUNDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER with an 11.00 a.m. tee off.

Two of the other Ayrshire Junior Golf league competitions are also at the final stage.

In the WALLACE THORNTON TROPHY, the final will be a repeat of the 2010 match. Defending champions Troon Welbeck concluded their section with successive 2.5 - 1.5 away wins at West Kilbride and Ardeer to secure top spot, whilst 2010 runners up Kilmarnock (Barassie) confirmed their place in the final with a 3 - 1 away win at Ayr Belleisle in their closing match in their section.

In the UNDER 16 KNOCKOUT TROPHY competition, Kilmarnock (Barassie) will face Prestwick St Nicholas in the final.

A 3.5 - 0.5 home win against Ayr Belleisle ensured a place in the final for Kilmarnock (Barassie) whilst Prestwick St Nicholas were awarded a walkover in their semi final fixture against Ardeer after  their opponents were unable to field a team for the tie.

The finals of the Wallace Thornton and Under 16 competitions are scheduled to take place at Loudoun Gowf Club on SUNDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER with the first match teeing off at 11.00 a.m.

In the CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY competition, Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) awaits the winner of the semi final between Ross Hunter (West Kilbride) and David Wilson (Boys Matchplay Champion). With both Walker and Wilson involved in preparations for the Schools International against England, scheduled to take place on Monday 12th September at Kilmarnock (Barassie), the Champion Of Champions final is unlikely to take place asscheduled on Sunday 11th September and may be rescheduled to a later date.

WEST OF SCOTLAND UNDER 18 LEAGUE - Ayrshire face final match showdown for the title

The final match for the Ayrshire Under 18 team in the 2011 West Of Scotland Inter County League will be a title decider.

In the latest round of matches, Dumbartonshire maintained their 100% record with a 5.5 - 2.5 win away from home against Renfrewshire at Old Ranfurly which leaves them one point ahead of Ayrshire.

The final series of matches, which all take place on Sunday 11th September, sees Dumbartonshire playing host to Ayrshire at Lenzie. A win for the Ayrshire team would see them taking the West League title for only the third time, whilst Dumbartonshire only need to avoid defeat to win the Wishert Trophy.

The present positions in the league are :-

COUNTY - P - W- D- L -F -A -PTS

DUMBARTONSHIRE - 4 - 4 - 0 - 0 - 24 - 8 - 8
AYRSHIRE - 4 - 3 - 1 - 0 - 19.5 - 12.5 - 7
RENFREWSHIRE - 4 - 2 - 0 - 2 - 18.5 - 13.5 - 4
GLASGOW - 4 - 2 - 0 - 2 - 16 - 16 - 4
STIRLINGSHIRE - 4 - 0 - 1 - 3 - 11.5 - 20.5 - 1
LANARKSHIRE - 4 - 0 - 0 - 4 - 6.5 - 25.5 - 0

Remaining fixtures :-
Stirlingshire Vs Lanarkshire (Glenbervie)
Dumbartonshire Vs Ayrshire (Lenzie)
Glasgow Vs Renfrewshire (Cathcart Castle)

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - Ardeer and Kilbirnie Place in the final

The final of the 2011 Ayrshire Fourball Championship will be between Kevin McCormick & Albert Payne (Ardeer) and Barry O'Rourke & Robert Nairn (Kilbirnie Place).

In the semi final, the Ardeer pair had a 2 & 1 win at home against Iain & David MacDonald (Largs) whilst the Kilbirnie duo won by the same score away to Jim Mitchell & Ian Fisher (Ballochmyle).

The date and venue for the final will be finalised in due course.

WEST KILBRIDE GIRLS OPEN - Trophies for Hale and Irvine

Some competitors and the trophy winners in the
2011 West Kilbride Girls Open competition

Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) and Rachel Irvine (Largs) were the main trophy winners at the 2011 West Kilbridde Girls Open Competition wghich was played on Saturday 27th August.

(Report and photos courtesy of  June Kerr)





18 girls competed in the West Kilbride Girls Open played on Saturday 27th August on a dry, breezy afternoon where the CSS went up to 76 against a SSS of 73. 

Emma Hale
with the
Nancy Chisholm Trophy

The Scratch prize and winner of the Nancy Chisholm trophy went to Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) with a 78.

Silver 1st Rachel Irvine (Largs) 88 (12) 76
2nd Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 82 (6) 76
3rd Samantha Cowan (Cochrane Castle) 87 (11) 76 

Rachel Irvine
with the
Kandy Bar Cup

Bronze 1st Bekki Allan (West Kilbride) 111 (32) 79
2nd Ali Roy (Maybole) 108 (28) 80
3rd Rachel Evans (Kilbirnie) 123 (36) 87


Rachel Irvine won the Kandy Bar Cup for the best nett score.



Nearest the Pin prizes were won by:-

 9th Mirren Fraser (Powfoot)
12th Marie Grey (Williamwood)
16th in 2 shots (bronze) Jillian Farrell (Cardross)
18th in 2 shots (silver) Emma Kennedy (Paisley)

Group of competitors in the
Pre handicap competition

Pre-Handicap Girls played 9 holes from junior tees.
Younger girls: 1st Gillian Sinclair (Caldwell)
2nd Abbi Hamilton (Caldwell)
3rd Emma Turner (West Kilbride)

Older girls: 1st Ava Gornell (West Kilbride)
2nd Caitlin McMail (West Kilbride)
3rd Emily McAlpine (West Kilbride)

Ava Gornell won the June Kerr Trophy for the best Pre-handicap score which was 60.

Nearest the Pin at 4th Caitlin McMail


Putting Challenge younger girls winner Caitlin McCartney (Caldwell)
Chipping Challenge younger girls Caitlin McCartney (Caldwell)

Putting Challenge older girls Emily McAlpine (West Kilbride)
Chipping Challenge older girls Hannah McGuire (Caldwell) and Ava Gornell (West Kilbride)