DOC THOM AYRSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT - Eight in title contention with one counting event remaining.

In one of the closest contests for a number of years, any one of eight players could win the 2015 Doc Thom Ayrshire Order Of merit, with only one counting event remaining to be played.

The last counting event is the Arrol Cup at Prestwick St Nicholas on Saturday 19th September.

Defending champion John Shanks (Irvine) still leads the way, staying in front with a third place in the Stevenson Open at Girvan and a sixth place finish at the recent Viking Krus at Largs, but his lead has been reduced to less than 50 points with Tommy McInally (Loudoun) taking second place at Girvan to close the gap.

Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) remains in third place whilst full points with a scratch score of 62 at Girvan saw Steven Stamper (Turnberry) move up into fourth place.

Depending on a good result and how other players above them finish, Craig \Hamilton (Ballochmyle), Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle), and John Haggarty (Loudoun) can all still take the title whilst a first place finish in the Viking Krus at Largs has given Iain Macdonald (Largs) an outside chance of  a tie for the title with John Shanks this year.

Present positions, with one counting event remaining, are :-

300		JOHN	SHANKS	Irvine
253.33		TOMMY	McINALLY	Loudoun
225		STUART	ROBIN	Prestwick St Cuthbert
206.84		STEVEN	STAMPER	Turnberry
187.5		CRAIG	HAMILTON	Ballochmyle
185		KEITH	HAMILTON	Ayr Belleisle
181.67		JOHN	HAGGARTY	Loudoun
150		IAIN	MACDONALD	Largs
137.5		MICHAEL	SMYTH	Royal Troon
112.5		STUART	MILLER	Kilmarnock Barassie
105		GRAEME	ROWAN	Ballochmyle
101		JACK	McDONALD	Kilmarnock Barassie
100		JAMES	JOHNSTON	Ayr Belleisle
95		GARY	JORDAN	Crosshouse
87.5		MARK	DUNSMORE	Ballochmyle
87.5		ALAN	McLEAN	Kilbirnie Place
87.5		GARETH	LAMB	Irvine
75		C	McFARLANE	Irvine
62.5		GRAEME	GIMSON	Prestwick St Cuthbert
56		SANDY	WALKER	Ardeer
56		STEPHEN	HIGGINS	Ardeer
56		SCOTT	AINSWORTH	Ardeer
56		STUART	WALSH	Ardeer
50		SCOTT	McILWRAITH	Brunston Castle
49.17		SCOTT	BROWN	Turnberry
42.5		WILLIAM	WILSON	Ballochmyle
42.5		BRIAN	JAMIESON	Brunston Castle
38.33		EUAN	BROWN	Kilmarnock Barassie
36		SANDY	BUCHANAN	Prestwick St Nicholas
35		MATTHEW	DARGIE	Royal Troon
35		COLIN	McGOWAN	Troon Welbeck
35		GREGOR	DICKSON	Largs
27.5		DAVID	TAYLOR	Ayr Seafield
17.5		JOHN	NEILAN	Brunston Castle
17.5		GARY	STEELE	Brunston Castle
17.5		GARY	ALLISON	Rowallan Castle
15		STUART	WHITE	Girvan
15		ROBERT	McMASTER	Girvan
11.67		ROSS	CADDIS	Annanhill
11.67		JAMES	McMURDO	Ballochmyle
7.5		BRUCE	CALDOW	Kilmarnock Barassie
7.5		JOHN	MILROY	Ardeer
7.5		CRAIG	TELFER	Prestwick St Cuthbert
5		GRAEME	ANDREW	GIRVAN
3.33		STEVEN	McEWAN	Loudoun
1		JOHN	DICKSON	Ayr Seafield
1		RICKY	TAIT	Tam O Shanter
1		SHAUN	RYAN	Ayr Belleisle
1		STEVIE	DUNN	Ayr Seafield