SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - 7 through, 6 out for Ayrshire after day 1 at Dornoch

Ayrshire players had mixed fortunes on day one of the 2012 Scottish Amateur Championship at Royal Dornoch on Monday 30 July with seven of the players in action going through to round 2 and a further six bowing out in the opening round.

Ayrshire Champion Of Champions title holder Scott Brown (Turnberry) was first out, losing by 4 & 2 to Douglas Thorburn (Reay) but shortly after Ayrshire had their first succes when Charlie Macneal (Troon Welbeck) beat Clark Nelson (Glasgow) by 4 & 3. Macneal plays Andrew Burgess (Nairn) in round 2. Macneal's clubmate Marc Smith joined him in round 2 with a one hole victory over Kevin Matheson, a member of the host club. In round 2, Smith will face Stewart Burke (Ranfurly Castle).

James Bunch (Prestwick) faced the hardest task of the local contingent in round 1, being up against one of the seeded players in Scotland internationalist Paul Ferrier (Baberton), and was on the receiving end of a 6 & 5 defeat. Ferrier faces another Ayrshire player in round 2 after Steven Stamper (Turnberry) beat Louis Murray (Troon Welbeck) by 6 & 5 in their all Ayrshire  opening round tie.

Kenny McKaskill (Turnberry Staff) bowed out in the opening round to a 3 & 2 defeat by Callum Trahan (Meldrum House), whilst Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) enjoyed a 2 & 1 win over Tom Spencer (Meldrum House) to set up a second round encounter with Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh). Hamilton's clubmat Ciar Porciani is also through to round 2, following a one hole win against Munro Ferries (Tain), and will face Callum Hill (Tantallon) in the second round.

Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Nicholas) closed out Alan Welsh (Cathkin Braes) at the 20th in their opening round encounter and Robin will now face Stuart Graham (Blairgowrie) who ended the hopes of Ben Gibson (Troon Welbeck) with a 5 & 3 first round result.

Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) won by 2 & 1 in his opening match against James Graham (Lochmaben) and will now play Connor Neil (Blairgowrie) in the second round.

The last Ayrshire player on the course on Monday was Dominic Booth (Turnberry) whose hopes in the championship ended with a 6 & 5 defeat by Alister hain (Ladybank) .

The remaining first round matches, featuring a further 7 Ayrshire players, are scheduled to be completed on Tuesday, along with a number of second round ties.