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