DOC THOM AYRSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT - Holder boosts defence with win in the Hillhouse Cup

Stuart Robin

Doc Thom Ayrshire Order Of Merit title holder Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) boosted his chances of retaining the title this season with a win on Sunday 18th may in the prestigious Hillhouse Cup competition over the Old Course at Royal Troon.

Robin, who was a member of the Ayrshire side beaten in the quarter finals of the SGU Scottish Area Team Championships on Saturday morning, bounced back with a fine score of 73 over the championship links at Troon to take the trophy by two shots from the new Ayrshire Strokeplay champion John Shanks (Irvine)

Four players shared third place on 76, George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark), Michael Smyth (Royal Troon), Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) and Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle).

With three of the 16 counting events now completed, Strokeplay Champion John Shanks leads the table. Present standings in the Doc Thom Ayrshire Order Of Merit are :-

225		JOHN	SHANKS	IRVINE
135		STEPHEN	SPENCE	ROYAL TROON
103.75		CRAIG	HAMILTON	BALLOCHMYLE
100		STUART	ROBIN	PR. ST CUTHBERT
85		SCOTT	BROWN	TURNBERRY
75		MARK	ANDERSON	IRVINE
50.42		GEORGE	ROBERTSON	IRVINE RAVENSPARK
50		STEVEN	WALLACE	PR. ST CUTHBERT
28.75		MICHAEL	SMYTH	ROYAL TROON
28.75		KEITH	HAMILTON	AYR BELLEISLE
21.67		STEVEN	MCEWAN	LOUDOUN
21.67		EWAN	MCKINNON	CORRIE
0.83		GREG	VERNON	KIL. BARASSIE
0.83		IAIN	MACDONALD	LARGS
0.83		STEPHEN	MCBLAIN	TROON PORTLAND
0.83		A D	WRIGHT	ROYAL TROON
0.83		STEVEN	MURRAY	TROON WELBECK
0.83		GORDON	BOYLE	TURNBERRY

The next counting event is the Scottish Strokeplay Championship from 30th May to 1st June at Panmure.

Local counting competitions due to be played soon include The Belleisle Cup (1st June), The Ayr Seafield Open (7th June), The ballochmyle Open (14th June) and the McGilchrist Cup at Ardeer (21st June)