AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Double county title joy for Murray

Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champion
Louis Murray

Louis Murray (Troon Welbeck) completed a county title double on Thursday evening, 8th August, when he won the 2013 Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Championship at Prestwick Golf Club.

In winning the final against Darryl Lynch (Ayr Belleisle), Murray became the fourth player to win both the Strokeplay and Matchplay titles in the same year, following his clubmate Callum Beveridge in 2011, Scott Brown of Turnberry in 2008 and Hugh McKibbin of Caprington in 1990.



The final was played in perfect conditions, with the course in immaculate order.


Championship finalists
Darryl Lynch & Louis Murray

Murray got off to a great start with a birdie three at the testing opening hole to go one up in the match and he never relinquished his lead throughout the remainder of the tie.

When Lynch bogeyed the par five third, Murray's lead was increased to two holes and further bogeys by Lynch at the sixth and eighth hole, combined with a run of seven successive pars by Murray from the second hole, left Murray four holes ahead as they turned for home.

Murray found trouble at the tenth hole which led to him conceding the hole to Lynch, but a bogey six at the par five twelfth by Lynch allowed Murray to restore his four hole advantage.

Prestwick GC Captain John Kerr
presents the trophy to Louis Murray

Both players matched each other at the thirteenth and fourteenth, leaving Murray four up with four to play as the players entered Prestwick's famed closing loop.

At the fifteenth hole, Murray was through the back in two whilst Lynch missed the green to the back left. Murray's chip pulled up some distance short of the hole whilst Lynch kept his hopes alive with a fine chip to within three feet of the hole. Murray's effort for a par four slipped by the hole leaving Lynch with a three foot downhill put to keep the match alive. Despite Lynch hitting a good putt, the ball struck the back of the hole but spun agonisingly out, to give Murray the match and the championship title by a 4 & 3 margin of victory.

The match, was played in a most sporting manner in front of a good number of spectators, and at the conclusion of play, prizes were presented to both players by Prestwick Golf Club captain John Kerr, before he handed the Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Championship trophy and commemorative medal over to the new champion, Louis Murray.