AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - West Kilbride take Under 16 crown in sudden death play off

West Kilbride are the 2012 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Under 16 Knockout Trophy winners for 2012 after an exciting finish in the final against Ayr Belleisle which took place at Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club on Sunday 2nd September.

Under 16 winners West KIlbride
with George Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

(Report by John Nordbo)

 

In the lead tie of the four final pairings, Ayrshire squad players Sean Hedger (West Kilbride) and Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) produced some fine golf in thier tussle. The two 4 handicappers opened brightly, sharing the first in birdies. Fraser was having difficulties with his driving which allowed Hedger to claim the next 2 holes. It took Fraser to the 7^th to respond with a birdie 2 but Hedger replied winning the 8^th and 9^th to turn for home 3 up. Fraser reduced the deficit at the 11^th but Hedger hit back at the 12^th to go 3 up with 6 to play. Fraser, whose game was back in its prime, then won 3 of the next 4 holes to go all square only for Hedger to once again take the lead at the 17^th. On the last both players lay around 12 feet from the hole and whilst Hedger's putt lipped out, Fraser holed his to earn a half match.

The Under 16 finalists
with AJGL Chairman Bobby Caddis (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

In the second tie, Kieran Tumilty (West Kilbride)  won the first and remained 1 up after the 6^th against Jordan Sweeney (Ayr Belleisle). After the steady start, Tumilty pulled away rapidly, winning four of the following five holes before Sweeney managed to reduce the deficit at the 11th. Tumilty was not to be denied however, winning the 12th to restore his five hole advantage en route to a 5 & 4 win.

In the third tie between Johnathon Duncan (West Kilbride) and Andrew Gordon (Ayr Belleisle), Gordon took the early lead by winning the first although Duncan soon bounced back, winning the 3rd and 4th to take the lead. Gordon squared the match again, taking the 9th, and over the following six holes the lead was exchanged a number of times and when the players halved the 16th hole it became apparent that the tie would prove pivotal in the destination of the trophy, the fourth tie already having gone to Belleisle by this stage. Duncan championed the West KIlbride cause, winning the 17th to take a lead down the last hole, but with a calmness that belied his young age, Gordon won the final hole with a fine par to square the match.

Robert Meddings (Ayr Belleisle) had already won the fourth tie against Jack Kerr (West KIlbride), taking the first three holes and maintaining the margin of his lead through the turn to set up a 3 & 2 win, which left the match score as 2 - 2.

With honours even, the first tie, between Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) and Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) had to out again in a sudden death play-off.

After the opening drives it appeared it may be a short play off as Hedger found trees and heavy rough on the right. However, a concentrated crowd search found his ball and a miraculous second shot put him on the green, 17 feet from the pin resulting in a very unlikely halved 1^st hole. Perhaps buoyed by his unlikely eascape at the opening play off hole, Hedger won the second to give West Kilbride victory in this keenly fought final and one that Belleisle can look back on with a great deal of pride.

At the conclusion of the final, the trophies were presented by George Brown, an official of Prestwick St Cuthbert GC, assisted by  Bobby Caddis the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Chairman.

Match Details (West Kilbride names first)

Shaun Hedger halved with Jordan Fraser
Kieran Tumilty beat Jordan Sweeney by 5 & 4
Johnathon Duncan halved with Andrew Gordon
Jack Kerr lost to Robert Meddings by 3 & 2

WEST KILBRIDE  2  AYR BELLEISLE  2
(West Kilbride won at the second play off hole)