Monday, October 26, 2015

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION SUBSCRIPTION AND CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY FORMS - 2016 forms sent to clubs

Today, Monday 26th October 2015, the 2016 Subscription forms and entry forms for three major Ayrshire events have been forwarded to all member clubs by email.

The per capita subscription remains at £2.30 this year, and is liable in respect of all MALE playing members of clubs at 30th September 2015.

The minimum ammount payable by any club is 30 members (£69).

All subscriptions should be paid, and subscription forms returned to The Area Secretary, by 31st January 2016 at the latest.

Also forwarded to the Club Secretaries  are entry forms for three of the major Ayrshire events in 2016 - The Champion Of Champions Trophy, The Ayrshire Fourball Trophy and the Ayrshire Scratch leagues.

Entries for all three competitions must be in the hands of The Secretary by 31st January 2016.

Any club secretary who does not receive the forms by email should contact the Area Seceretary to arrange for further copies to be forwarded.


AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION AGM - Clubs hear of county successes in 2015

President James McMurdo
The Ayrshire Golf Association Annual General Meeting was held at Caprington Golf Club on the evening of Tuesday 20th October.


28 members, representing 14 member clubs attended the meeting.

President James McMurdo (Ballochyle GC) highlighted a number of points contained within the  Presidents report, Financial Report, Coaching Report, Course rating report, Ayrshire Junior Golf League Report and Scottish Golf Union report, all of which had previously been circulated to member clubs.

Alasdair Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert GC) was re elected as Secretary / Treasurer of The association.

The three retiring members of the Area Executive, by rotation, Robert Wilson (Ballochmyle GC), Gordon Boyle (Turnberry GC) & Hugh McKenzie (Troon Welbeck GC) were all re elected for a further three year term.

Ronnie Potts
Retired after 27 years service



The AGM also marked the retiral from the Ayrshire Golf Association Executiive of Past President Ronnie Potts, after 27 years continual service on the Area Executive. Ronnie was warmly thanked for his service by President McMurdo.

West Of Scotland
Area Championship Trophy




Scottish Area Team
Championship Trophy





Those present at the meeting also had the opportunity to view, at close hand, the Scottish Area Team Championship Trophy, won by the county team at Blairgowrie in May, and also the West Of Scotland Area Team Trophy which had been secured by the county team only two days before the meeting, their first success in the competition for 27 years.


At the meeting, representatives were advised that the per capita subscription to AScottish Golf Ltd would rise from £11.00 to £11.25 in 2016 and, on the recommendation of the AGA Executive, it was agreed to retain the Ayrshire Golf Association per capita subscription at the present level of £2.30.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

GREENLEES TROPHY- Kilmarnock (Barassie) Ladies presented with championship cup

Members of the successful Kilmarnock (Barassie) Greenlees Trophy winning team were presented with the trophy at a lunch at Cathcart Castle Golf Club  on Tuesday afternoon, 20th October 2015.

The successful Kilmarnock (Barassie) players with the Greenlees Trophy
(Photograph courtesy of Carol Fell)
The team, who won the trophy for the first time this year, in the 75th anniversary year of the competition, were honoured along with the other divisional champions and winners in the special anniversary competition held earlier this year, at the lunch.
  

Monday, October 19, 2015

SCOTTISH JUNIOR CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Fraser best for Ayrshire at The Dukes

Jordan Fraser
Tied fourth at The Dukes
Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) was Ayrshire's best performer at the Scottish Junior Champion Of Champions event, played at The Dukes, St Andrews, on Saturday 17th October, finishing tied fourth in the boys competition.

Fraser posted a three over par score of 74, leaving him five strokes adrift of the winner, Jamie Stewart (Old Ranfurly) and just two storkes behind second placed Darren Howie (Peebles)

Jack Thomas (Irvine ) finished tied 11th on 5 over par 76, whilst Ayrshire Boys Champion Craig Mckenzie (Troon Welbeck) finished tied 15th on 78, 7 over par.

In the girls event, following the withdrawal of Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), Ayrshire's only representative was Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) who finished tied sixth on 77, 6 over par, leaving her four shots adrift of the winner Fiona Liddell (Schloss Vornholz).

GREENLEES TROPHY - First title win for Kilmarnock (Barassie) Ladies in West Of Scotland Inter Club Leagues

The ladies of Kilmarnock (Barassie) won the the Greenlees Trophy and Division 1 title in the West Of Scotland Inter Club Leagues in 2015, their first ever success in the competition.

7 - 2 wins at home to West Kilbride and away at Whitecraigs in their final two fixtures saw the Barassie team overtake Milngavie at the top of the table to capture the league crown and get their name on the Greenlees Trophy in the 75th anniversary year of the competition.

Troon ladies finished the season in third place with Loudoun fourth, whilst West Kilbride avoided relegation to division 2, finishing in seventh place in the table.

Final placings in Division 1 were :-

46.5 - Kilmarnock (Barassie)
45.0 - Milngavie
42.0 - Troon Ladies
40.5 - Loudoun
38.0 - Ranfurly Castle
37.5 - Cathkin Braes
31.0 - West Kilbride
27.0 - Douglas Park
16.5 - Whitecraigs

In Division 2, Cathcart Castle edged out Ayr Belleisle for the league title, though the Ayr club have the satisfaction of winning promotion for the second successive season. 

Largs finished in joint third place in division 2, but even a 5.5 - 3.5 away win at Hilton park in their final match of the season could not save Prestwick St Nicholas from relegation for a second successive year.

Final placings in Division 2 were :-

42.5 - Cathcart Castle
41.0 - Ayr Belleisle
38.5 - Williamwood
38.5 - Largs
37.5 - Erskine
33.5 - Old Ranfurly
33.0 - Lenzie
30.0 - Hilton Park
27.5 - Prestwick St Nicholas

Haggs Castle were clear winners of Division 3 and gained promotion alongside Kilmacolm.

Final placings in Division 3 were :-

64.0 - Haggs Castle
56.5 - Kilmacolm
51.5 - Cardross
37.5 - East Renfrewshire
36.5 - Bothwell Castle
36.0 - Cawder
34.0 - Eastwood
32.5 - Cowglen
31.0 - Lanark
25.5 - Greenock

Kilmarnock (Barassie) will be presented with their trophy at a lunch at Cathcart Castle on Tuesday 20th October.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire Youths lose out to Renfrewshire in final league match

The Ayrshire Youths team lost their final West Of Scotland Inter County League match of the season to Renfrewshire at Ayr belleisle on Sundau 18th October, going down by 5 - 3 to their visitors.

Sandy Buchanan and Jordan fraser won the opening two ties but defeats for Luke Murdoch, Robbie Fitzpatrick and Ally berry left the home side trailing 3 - 2 with three ties remaining. Renfrews edged closer to a win when David Wilson lost in the anchor match but a 2 & 1 win by Murray McCrone kept Ayrshire hopes alive, before Renfrewshire secured the win when Sandy walker lost on the final green.

Match details (Ayrshire names First) :-

Sandy Buchanan (St Nicholas) beat Anton O'Donnell (Greenock Whinhill) by 2 holes
Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belliesle) beat Alex Ferguson (Paisley) by 4 & 2
Luke Murdoch (Loudoun) lost to Paul Dorian (Greenock) by 6 & 5
Robbie Fitzpatrick (Irvine) lost to Matthew Dalrymple (Old Ranfurly) by 3 & 1
Ally Berry (Irvine Ravenspark) lost to Bryan Robertson (Renfrew) by 3 & 2
Sandy Walker (Ardeer) lost to Callum Taggart (Eastwood) by 1 hole

Murray McCrone (Troon Welbeck) beat Sean Burns (Caldwell) by 2 & 1
David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) lost to Josh Beatt (Caldwell) by 5 & 4


AYRSHIRE YOUTHS  3  RENFREWSHIRE  YOUTHS   5

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire beat Renfrewshire to win West Of Scotland title for the first time in 27 years

The Ayrshire A Team beat Renfrewshire on Sunday 18th October at Bonnyton GC, in the West Of Scotland Inter County league, to claim the championship title for the first time in 27 years.



Going into the match both teams knew that the winners on the day would win the league title for 2015, and whilst Ayrshire were bidding to end a barren run dating back to their last win in 1988, 

Renfrewshire were hoping to extend their unprecedented run of successive championship wins to 13, having not tasted defeat in the West League since Dumbartonshire won the title on 2001.

Jack McDonald opened for Ayrshire against Matt Clark and was well ahead early on before Clark found his putting touch and pegged McDonald back to be all square playing the last. In a top class tie, the players halved the final hole in birdie threes to end all square.

Tommy McInally put Ayrshire’s first full point on the board with a 3 & 2 win over Andrew Farmer before the match was squared again when Malcolm Pennycott, who was leading after five holes, lost 6 & 5 following a run of five birdies and an eagle from his opponent.

Keith Hamilton held out for a notable one hole win over Craig Watson to put Ayrshire ahead once more and when Stuart Robin added a 2 & 1 win in his tie, Ayrshire only required a point from the remaining three ties to ensure victory in the match and the championship.

After 14 holes Craig Telfer was all square but lost fifteen and sixteen which resulted in a 2 & 1 defeat, but Ayrshire hopes remained high with both Steven Wallace and John Shanks one hole ahead after fourteen in their respective ties.

Steven Wallace extended his lead to two holes after fifteen and at the sixteenth a par five was good enough for Wallace to win his tie by 3 & 2. Having contributed five wins from five during the series, it was fitting that Wallace’s win gave Ayrshire the required 4 ½ points to win the match.

In the final tie on the course, John Shanks remained one hole up with two to play, but two closing birdies by his opponent was enough to pull one hole back to leave their tie all square and give a final match score of Renfrewshire 3 Ayrshire 5.

Match details (Ayrshire names first) :-

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) halved with M. Clark
Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) beat C. Watson by 1 hole
Tommy McInally (Loudoun) beat A. Farmer by 3 & 2
Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat P. Reilly by 2 & 1
Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) lost to D. Anderson by 6 & 5
Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to C. Pirie by 2 & 1
Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat S. Watt by 3 & 2
John Shanks (Irvine) halved with D. Dickson

AYRSHIRE     5     RENFREWSHIRE     3


The 2015 win is the ninth time that Ayrshire have won the West Of Scotland title since the competition began in 1936, the previous wins being in 1936, 1938, 1948, 1966, 1968, 1970 1971 and 1988,

Following on from the success earlier in the season in the Scottish Area Team Championships at Balirgowrie , this win provided a perfect end to the season for the management team of John Rushbury, Gordon Boyle and Allan Muir.

Over the five match series a total of 13 Ayrshire players took part, from nine clubs throughout the county:-

Ayr Belleisle – Keith Hamilton & Jim Johnstone
Ballochmyle – Craig Hamilton
Irvine – John Shanks
Kilmarnock (Barassie) – Jack McDonald
Loudoun – Tommy McInally
Prestwick St Cuthbert – Steven Wallace, Stuart Robin & Craig Telfer
Royal Troon – Michael Smyth
Turnberry – Gordon Boyle & Scott Brown
Whiting Bay – Malcolm Pennycott

Friday, October 16, 2015

AYRSHIRE WINTER GOLF ASSOCIATION - Gray, McKechnie and O'Neill take the honours at Dundonald

The first of this years Ayrshire Winter Golf Association competitions took place on Tuesday 13th October, in glorious sunny weather, over the Dundonald Links course.

Paul McKechnie  and Stephen Gray tied on 67  at Dundonald in the AWGA opening fixture of the season.

Both had front 9’s of 35 and back nines of 32.  Paul started with a triple bogey 7.   Stephen's  2 birdies and 1 bogey in front 9 were matched by Paul after his 7 he followed that with  birdie, birdie,  par, birdie, birdie  then 3 pars.

Professional scoreboard :-

DUNDONALD LINKS
13/10/2015
PAR 72
PROFESSIONAL/TRAINEE
CLUB
SCORE
STEPHEN
GRAY
Hayston G C
67
PAUL
MCKECHNIE
Braid Hills
67
JONNY
MULLANEY
Unattached
69
JOHN
HENRY
Clydebank & District G C
71
ALAN
WELSH
Cathkin Braes G C
71
STUART
KERR
Strathaven G C
73
STEPHEN 
MCALLISTER
The Renaissance
73
CAMPBELL
ELLIOTT
Haggs Castle G C
73
D.ROSS
NICOL
Dundonald Links
74
PAUL
O'HARA
Clydeway Golf
74
GARY
FOLEY
Royal Troon G C
75
MARTIN
POTTINGER
American Golf Gailes
75
CALLUM
BEVERIDGE
West Kilbride G C
76
ALASTAIR
FORROW
Whitecraigs G C
76
DAVID 
FLEMING
Prestwick G C
77
SCOTT
GARRETT
Fereneze G C
77
ALLAN
TODD
Prestwick G C
79
JORDEN
FERRIE
Hilton Park G C
79
LINZI
ALLAN
West Kilbride G C
80
CIAR
PORCIANI
Trump Turnberry
80
KENNETH
MCLEAN
Cowglen G C
80








Johnny O'Neill of the North Beach Golf Club in Prestwick won the amateur competition for the J Kerr Wylie Salver with a nett 71

Leading amateur scores :-

J KERR WYLIE SALVER


AMATEURS
CLUB
GROSS
HCAP
NETT
JOHNNY
O'NEIL
North Beach
76
5
71
PETER
MILLER
Dundonald Links
77
5
72
PETER J
BOYD
Glasgow G C
80
5
75
GORDON
CLARK
Loudon Gowf
86
11
75
HARRY
MILLER
Royal Troon G C
80
5
75





Thursday, October 15, 2015

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Sunday showdown for Ayrshire against Renfrewshire in title bid

Despite losing their unbeaten record last Sunday, the Ayrshire A team still have a ‘winner takes all’ final match this Sunday, 18th October in the 2015 West Of Scotland Inter County League, when they travel to play defending champions Renfrewshire at Bonnyton Golf Club.

A draw would be good enough for Renfrewshire to retain the title but a win for Ayrshire would give them their first title win in over 15 years.

The present positions in the A league are :-


P
W
L
D
F
A
Pts
Renfrewshire A
4
3
0
1
21.5
10.5
7
Ayrshire A
4
3
1
0
21.5
10.5
6
Lanarkshire A
4
2
1
1
18
14
5
Stirlingshire A
4
0
2
2
15
17
2
Glasgow A
4
1
3
0
11.5
20.5
2
Dumbartonshire A
4
1
3
0
10
22
2

The other matches in the final weekend see Dummbartonshire hosting Stirlingshire at Windyhill and Glasgow taking on Lanarkshire at Ralston.

In the Youths League, Ayrshire play host to Renfrewshire at Ayr Belleisle in their final match of the series on Sunday, with both teams seeking a win by a substantial margin in order to maintain their title hopes in the event that the league leaders, Lanarkshire, slip up in their match against Glasgow at Shotts.

The other match to be played on the final weekend sees Stirlingshire play host to Dumbartonshire at Falkirk.

Present positions in the Youths League are :-



P
W
L
D
F
A
Pts
Lanarkshire Y
4
3
1
0
21.5
10.5
6
Ayrshire Y
4
2
2
0
18
14
4
Renfrewshire Y
3
2
1
0
13
11
4
Glasgow Y
3
2
1
0
13
11
4
Dumbartonshire Y
4
2
2
0
15
17
4
Stirlingshire Y
4
0
3
0
7
25
0