ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON AMATEUR GOLF IN AYRSHIRE

Thursday, April 26, 2012

AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire name team for Blairgowrie

The 2012 Ayrshire Area Team Championship side
TOP - Michael Smyth, Keith Hamilton, John Shanks
BOTTOM - Jack McDonald, Steven McEwan, David Wilson

The six man team to represent Ayrshire in the 2012 Area Team Championship, being held at Blairgowrie on 19th & 20th May, has been announced.

Fourth in 2010 and third in 2011, Ayrshire have named a strong side in their bid to land the 2012 title, to add to their previous successes in 1986 & 2008.

2011 Ayrshire Matchplay Champion Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) and the recent winner of the British Universities title and 2009 Scottish Boys Strokeplay winner Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) are the only two players who were part of the bronze medal winning team at Prestwick in 2011.

2009 Doc Thom Order OF Merit winner and the runner up in the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship last week, Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) is the lowest handicap player in the Ayrshire side, off + 4, whilst former internationalist Steven McEwan (Loudoun), a former Scottish Boys Strokeplay Champion and Scottish Amateur Championship finalist brings vast experience of golf at the highest level to the side.

Former Ayrshire Strokeplay winner John Shanks (Irvine), a member of the last Area Team Championship winning Ayrshire side, returns to the team after an absence last year whilst the 2011 Scottish Boys Champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck), who won the Ayrshire Strokeplay title for the first time last week, completes the six man Ayrshire team.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY - David Wilson wasn't the youngest winner.

The belief that David Wilson begame the youngest winner of the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship with his success on Sunday appears not to be the case.

The following information was forwarded in response to an article carried in The Herald this week:-

"You report that David Wilson became the youngest winner, at 17 years of age, of the Ayrshire Strokeplay on Sunday.

My son, Ross Duncan (Brodick GC), won the event as a 16 year old in 2002 to become the youngest winner. His 17th birthday fell on 22nd August 2002, well after the championship was played.

He also won the championship as an 18 year old in 2004 in a tie with Alex Gourlay (Irvine GC). That was the only time in the event's history that a tie had been the final result. This was because they had the same score in regulation play and after several play-off holes bad light stopped play!

Ross was also runner-up in 2003 to Lloyd Saltman at the Scottish Boys' Strokeplay at Prestwick GC. He then played in the Boys' Home Internationals at Royal St Davids, Harlech, where one of his opponents was a certain (very young) Rory McIlroy who hasn't done too badly since!"
Yours in golf

Russell Duncan
Brodick
Isle of Arran

Monday, April 23, 2012

BELLEISLE CUP - Entry forms now available

The Belleisle Cup, a Doc Thom Ayrshire Order Of Merit Event, will take place at Ayr Belleisle on Sunday 3rd June, over 36 holes, and entry forms are now available

The event will again be sponsored by Corum estate Agents and has an unchanged entry fee of £10 and a top prize voucher of £250

The entry form and poster can be downloaded from this web page via the link on the left of the page under the 'Mens Info' heading.

 
THE BELLEISLE CUP

AYR BELLEISLE GOLF CLUB
Sunday 3rd June 2012
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36 HOLE SCRATCH COMPETITION
HANDICAP LIMIT 6          Entry fee £10
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The Annual Scratch Competition for the Belleisle Cup will take place at Ayr Belleisle on Sunday 3rd June 2012. 
Play shall be over two rounds of 18 holes stroke play.
Play shall be under R & A Rules and subject to Local Rules.
The Competition is open to amateur golfers having a handicap not exceeding 6 and who are members of a Club within one of the British Golf Unions.
Limited to 75 competitors.  Ballot if necessary.
Qualifying event for Doc.Thom Award and Evening Times Casket Tournament.
Entries shall be made through Club Secretaries and must be in my hands, accompanied by Entry Fees (£10 each)
NOT LATER THAN WEDNESDAY 23rd MAY 2012.
 Entries received without entry fees will not be accepted.
All players will be responsible for ensuring that their score cards are signed immediately on completion of their round and returned to the competition office.

PRIZES
WINNER – Custody of BELLEISLE CUP for one year and voucher to the value of £250
RUNNER-UP - Voucher value £170                   THIRD - Voucher value £120
Fourth, Fifth, Six, Seventh and Eighth – Vouchers value £90, £70, £60, £50, £40 respectively

Competitors shall have the courtesy of the Course on Friday 1st June 2012 on production of an official entry and subject to availability. Tee times must be booked 7 days in advance.
Competitors shall be notified by postcard of starting times and must report 15 minutes before tee-off time.  Failure to appear timeously may result in disqualification.
First tee-off:  7.30 am.     In the event of ties, places decided on count-back.
Any dispute shall be referred to the Committee of Ayr Belleisle Golf Club whose decision shall be final.
Entries, entry fees, certification of handicap and enquiries to:
ROBERT MORRISON
 Match Secretary, Ayr Belleisle Golf Club, 65 Forehill Road, Ayr KA7 3JR
Telephone:  07708 861569
(Cheques to be made payable to “Ayr Belleisle Golf Club”)
CLUB SECRETARIES   :   PLEASE DISPLAY

SCOTTISH GOLF UNION - Closing dates for two events approaching

The closing dates for two Scottish Golf Union events are fast approaching.

Entries for the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event 2, which will be played at The Roxburghe at the end of May, close on 26th April whilst the entries for the Carrick Neill Scottish Amateur Open Strokeplay, which takes place in June at Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC - pictured - close on 3rd May.

Details of both events are listed below :-


1. Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event 2


Entries close on Thursday 26 April 2012

Conditions of entry are as follows -
Venue: The Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course

Dates: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 May 2012
H’cap Limit: 2.4

Entry Fee: £15

Age: Under 18 on 1 January 2012

To download an Entry Form please click here.

To view a current list of entries received please click here.

2. Carrick Neill Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship


Entries close on Thursday 3 May 2012

 Conditions of entry are as follows –

Venue: Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC

Dates: Friday 1 – Sunday 3 June 2012

H’cap Limit: 0.4

Entry Fee: £67

To download an Entry Form please click here.

To view a current list of entries received please click here.

WEST OF SCOTLAND BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - Entry forms now available

Entry forms for the 2012 West Of Scotland Boys Championship, being hosted by Glasgow Golf Union this year at Cawder GC on 16th July, are now available.

The entry form can be downloaded direct from this website via the link on the left of this page under the 'Juniors Info' heading.

Details of the competition are as follows :-


THE WEST OF SCOTLAND BOYS STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

CAWDER GOLF CLUB  - 16 JULY 2012 

The West of Scotland Boys Stroke Play Championship 2011 will be played on the above course and will be decided over 36 holes.

1.    The Competition will be open to Amateur golfers (as defined by the R & A) who are in possession of a senior handicap not exceeding 12, certified on the entry form by their match or Club Secretary and who are members of Clubs in Ayrshire, Dumbartonshire, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Stirlingshire Areas of the Scottish Golf Union.

2.    The Competition will be played in accordance with the Rules of Golf as approved by the R & A and in accordance with the Local Rules of the Club.

3.    Glasgow Golf Union Executive to whom all disputes will be referred and whose decision will be final will manage the Competition. The Committee reserve the right to amend the conditions of the Championship.

4.    The number of entries will be limited to 81 and the Committee reserve the right to ballot out entries in excess of this figure. All entries are subject to the approval of the Committee who reserve the right to accept or reject any entry without assigning any reason for doing so and may call for the production of a birth certificate of any competitor either before or during the Championship.      Entrants must be under the age of 18 on 1st January 2012.
  

5.    Entry forms can be downloaded from our Website www.glasgowgolfunion.com or obtained from your Club Secretary and must be returned not later than 30th June 2012, addressed to M Paterson, 11 Briar Gardens, Glasgow G43 2TF and accompanied by the Entry Fee of £10.00. No late entries or telephone entries will be accepted. The Entry Fee will not be refunded unless intention to scratch is received prior to the making of the draw.

 6.    The winner shall be the competitor who returns the lowest gross score over 36 holes and shall hold the Trophy for one year. Scratch and Handicap prize vouchers will be awarded to the leading competitors as determined by the Committee.

7.    In the event of a tie after 36 holes the Championship shall be decided by ‘sudden death’ play off over hole(s) nominated by the Committee. Ties for other places will be decided by the ‘count back’ system i.e. better 2nd round, last nine, last six etc.

8.    Caddies are not allowed.

9.    Jeans, trainers, collarless or sleeveless shirts, shell-suits, must not be worn in the Clubhouse or on the Course.


THE WEST OF SCOTLAND BOYS MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

CAWDER GOLF CLUB – 18 & 20 JULY 2012

       The qualifiers for the Match Play Championship will be the 16 players with the lowest aggregate scores in the Stroke Play Championship and will play off by Match Play on the above dates.

       Prize vouchers will be awarded as determined by the Committee and the winner shall hold the Trophy for one year.

       Glasgow Golf Union will manage the Competition. All points are as detailed above for the Stroke Play Championship.

MID AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF SCOTLAND - Bunch triumps as Ayrshire players shine at Dundonald

James Bunch
James Bunch (Prestwick) led the way as Ayrshire players shone in the new Mid Amateur Championship Of Scotland event which was held for the first time at Dundonald Links on Friday 20th April.

Bunch won the scratch event with a two round total of 149, 5 over par, edging out John Youille (Royal Burgess) by virtue of the better second round, whilst Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) also featured in the prize list in fourth place, on 151.

The handicap event was also won by an Ayrshire player, Kevin Nisbet (Ballochmyle) returning a level par total of 144 to take first place by six shots from fellow Ayrshire golfer Gary Cochran (Irvine Ravenspark).

Results.
Scratch Event.
1st James Bunch, Prestwick - 149
2nd John Youille, Royal Burgess - 149
3rd Wayne Crick, Oakdale - 150
4th Paul Moultrie, Royal Troon - 151
Handicap Event.
1st Kevin Nisbet, Ballochmyle - 144
2nd Gary Cochran, Irvine Ravenspark - 150
3rd Chris Fitt, Gog Magog - 152
Best score by a player over 50.
Stuart Black, Cathcart Castle - 159
Best AM Scratch - David McDowell - 75
Best PM Scratch - James Bishop - 70
Best AM Net - Andrew Turner - 75
Best PM Net - Adam Wells - 73
CSS for AM round - 76
CSS for PM round - 77


FINAL TOTALS
149 - James Bunch (Prestwick) 76 73, John Yuille (Royal Burgess) 73 76
150 - Wayne Crick (Oakdale) 74 76
151 - Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) 70 81
152 - James Bishop (Little Aston) 82 70, Jody Greenall (Brampton Park) 77 75
153 - Michael Wilson (West Lothian) 77 76
156 - J Richard Johnston (Glenbervie) 78 78, Gary Cochran (Irvine Ravenspark) 76 80
158 - Chris Fitt (Gog Magog) 81 77, Iain Fraser (Troon St Meddans) 79 79, Paul Denim (Loudoun Gowf) 79 79, Kenneth Fairbrother (Cochrane Castle) 77 81, Jason Morris (Deangate Ridge) 77 81
159 - Iain Wilson (Marriott Dalmahoy) 80 79, Kenny Milliken (Troon St Meddans) 79 80, Stuart Black (Cathcart Castle) 78 81
160 - Jean Charles Gouvernaire (St Cyprien) 81 79, Kevin Nisbet (Ballochmyle) 77 83
161 - Paul Tatlow (Chevin) 79 82
162 - Steve Creed (Maxstoke Park) 81 81, Fraser McCall (Troon Portland) 78 84, David McDowell (Portlethen) 74 88
163 - Adam Wells (Wentworth) 85 78, Graham Smith (Drumpellier) 83 80
164 - George Higgins (West Kilbride) 83 81, Andrew Turner (Wentworth) 80 84
166 - Christopher McKellor (Ulverston) 79 87
167 - Neil Elborn (City of Newcastle) 90 77, Alistair Serrels (Royal Montrose) 83 84, John Lorimer (Gog Magog) 79 88
168 - Christian Bedes (St Cyprien) 88 80
169 - Mike Hall (Stirling) 86 83
170 - Iain Kirkham (Rowallan Castle) 83 87
171 - Barry Mitchell (Murcar Links) 88 83, Thierry Lambert (Saint German) 85 86. Dean Elliott (Ellesborough) 85 86
172 - Andy Brown (Vale of Llangollen) 86 86, William Ferguson (Drumpellier) 85 87
174 - Christopher Marriott (Cranleigh) 93 81, Richard Wileman (Notts) 92 82, Nigel Moxon (Congleton) 88 86
176 - Jim Schiavone (Lundin) 83 93
179 - Alan Lee (Leven Thistle) 89 90
182 - Bryn Largue (Ulverston) 86 96
184 - Derek Riddell (Glenbervie) 93 91, Davied Morrans (Torphin Hill) 89 95
185 - Mike Page (Dun Whinny) 89 96
188 - Derek Bryson (New Cumnock) 94 94
190 - Oliver Jacquin (St Cyprien) 96 94
192 - Stephen Manchester (Hart Common) 103 89
196 - Pete Stamps (Burton on Trent) 98 98
207 - Geoff Bray (Chestfield) 97 110

NR - John Fowler (Hayston) 80 NR
NR - Len Grindrod (Cawder) 83 NR
NR - William Lee (Leven Th) 84 NR
NR - Darren Kilfara (Dunbar) NR 85
NR - Martin McCrory (Cathkin Bares) 86 NR
NR - Steve Whitby (Mere) 90 NR
NR - Benjaim Ellison (Gog Magog) NR 92NR - James McKenzie (Glasgow Gailes) 92 NR
NR - Scott Cochran (Windyhill) NR NR
NR - Stephen Higgins (West Kilbride) NR NR

AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Holder Smyth qualifies to defend title

Title holder
Michael Smyth
The holder of the Ayrshire Matchplay Championship, Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) successfully overcame the first hurdle en route to defending his title when he successfully qualified for the 2012 matchplay Championship to be held at Western Gailes from Monday 7th to Thursday 10th May. 

With the top 16 placed players in the Ayrshire Strokeplay, held at Prestwick St Nicholas GC on Sunday 22nd April, going through to contest the matchplay championship, Smyth qualified comfortably in 11th place on 145.

The cut fell at 147 with Del Chamberlain (Troon Welbeck) being the one player from six on that total to secure a place in the starting line up, by virtue of the best second round score.

The full draw for the first round matches, to be held on Monday 7th May, is :-

1700 - David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) Vs. Del Chamberlain (Troon Welbeck)

1707 - Stephen Spence (Irvine) Vs Chris Bone (Loudoun)

1714 - John Shanks (Irvine) Vs Ian Walker (Turnberry)

1721 - John Haggarty (Loudoun) Vs Steven Stamper (Girvan)

1728 - Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) Vs Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie)

1735 - Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) Vs David Orchison (Ballochmyle)

1742 - Tommy McInally (Loudoun) Vs Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie)

1749 - Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck) Vs Michael Smyth (Royal Troon)

AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Double top weekend for Wilson

David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) rounded of a superb weekend and created a bit of history on Sunday 22nd April with his first win in the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship, over the Prestwick St Nicholas course.
Having won the prestigious Edward Trophy by 4 shots, over Glasgow Gailes on Saturday 21st April, 17 year old Wilson repeated the winning margin to become the youngest ever winner of the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship on Sunday.

With a capacity field of 60 players, and a handicap ballot of 2.2, Wilson was one of only five players who matched par or better in round 1 with his one under par 68 lying just one shot off the halfway lead held by Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) and John Haggarty (Loudoun) on 67. Stephen Spence (Irvine) and John Sloan (Doon Valley) were one shot further back on 69.
In the afternoon, 69 was the best score posted, which was achieved by four players. Along with Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), Callum Beveridge (Troon Welbeck) and the ultimate winner David Wilson, former Champion Tommy McInally (Loudoun) was one of those players, and his second round effort saw him post a total of 142 to set the target, which was ultimately only bettered by two players in the field.
Despite fading a little in the afternoon, Keith Hamilton's 74 in round two was good enough to take the lead from McInally by one stroke on 141 and left David Wilson, in the final group on the course, as his only serious challenger for the trophy.
Needing a 3 over par 72 or better to take the title, Wilson stood on the final tee on level par. Despite his tee shot at the par 3 finishing hole coming to rest perilously close to a green side bunker, Wilson played a delicate chip to within a couple of feet of the hole and confidently slotted home his par putt for a level par round of 69 and the 2012 Ayrshire Strokeplay title with a four shot winning margin.
Prizes were presented to the leading players present at the conclusion of the competition by Ayrshire Golf Association President David J Miller who concluded the day's proceedings by handing over the trophy and champions medal to the 2012 winner, David Wilson.

In a difficult day of scoring, the CSS for the morning round was 72 (R/O) and for the afternoon round was 72 (+3).
FINAL SCORES

Players Name Club Round 1 Round 2 Total
David Wilson Troon Welbeck 68 69 137
Keith Hamilton Ayr Belleisle 67 74 141
Tommy McInally Loudoun 73 69 142
John Shanks Irvine 70 72 142
John Haggarty Loudoun 67 75 142
Stephen Murray Troon Welbeck 72 72 144
Paul Moultrie Royal Troon 71 73 144
Stephen Spence Irvine 69 75 144
Chris Bone Loudoun 75 70 145
David Orchiston Ballochmyle 74 71 145
Michael Smyth Royal Troon 74 71 145
Steven Stamper Girvan 73 72 145
Ian Walker Turnberry 71 74 145
Stuart Miller Kilmarnock Barassie 77 69 146
Euan Brown Kilmarnock Barassie 71 75 146
Del Chamberlain Troon Welbeck 77 70 147
Gray Bryden Girvan 76 71 147
Stuart Robin Prestwick St Nicholas 74 73 147
John Cairney Ravenspark 72 75 147
Steven McEwan Loudoun 72 75 147
John Sloan Doon Valley 69 78 147
Callum Beveridge Troon Welbeck 79 69 148
Craig Hamilton Ballochmyle 76 72 148
Mark Anderson Irvine 74 74 148
Euan Walker Kilmarnock Barassie 74 74 148
Fraser McCall Troon Portland 73 75 148
Paul Denim Loudoun 73 76 149
Gavin Lawrie Prestwick St Nicholas 70 79 149
Russell Whittaker Prestwick St Nicholas 74 76 150
Andrew Kent Troon Welbeck 77 74 151
Stuart White Girvan 75 76 151
Gary McTaggart Annanhill 76 77 153
Scott McCahill Brunston Castle 74 79 153
Graeme Gimson Prestwick St Cuthbert 83 71 154
Malcolm Pennycott Whiting Bay 76 78 154
Kevin Brock Prestwick St Nicholas 75 79 154
Stephen King Prestwick St Nicholas 74 80 154
Neil Black Rowallan Castle 81 74 155
Jim W Milligan Kilmarnock Barassie 78 77 155
Joe Gilligan Troon Portland 82 74 156
Walter Meiklem Troon Welbeck 79 77 156
George Higgins West Kilbride 74 82 156
Richard Hill Kilmarnock Barassie 79 78 157
Callum Gorrie Kilmarnock Barassie 78 80 158
Iain Fraser Troon St Meddans 78 80 158
Barrie McDonnell Caprington 77 81 158
Robbie Fulker Kilmarnock Barassie 80 79 159
Gordon McKelvie Royal Troon 79 80 159
Craig Adams Ardeer 82 79 161
Billy Hunter Irvine N/R 73 N/R
Kenneth Houston Prestwick St Nicholas 73 N/R N/R
Colin Gray Irvine 77 N/R N/R
Brian Murray Ballochmyle N/R N/R N/R
David MacDonald Largs 76 N/R N/R
J. Gordon Boyle Turnberry 80 N/R N/R
Stephen McBlain Prestwick St Cuthbert 77 N/R N/R
Gary Tierney Prestwick St Nicholas 76 N/R N/R
George Robertson Ravenspark 72 N/R N/R
Gavin Nimmo Troon St Meddans 78 N/R N/R
Darren Mallinson Ravenspark N/R RTD N/R