A TEAM - Irvine beat Ayrshire team in opening match of the season

 Ayrshire Scratch league Division 1 winners Irvine Golf Club scored a victory in the seasons opening match against the Ayrshire team on Sunday 20th, played over the Irvine (Bogside) course.

In the lead tie, Ayrshire regular John Shanks, who was playing for his home club on this occasion, crashed to a heavy defeat by Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) but george Robertson squared the match with a win over Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle).

Tommy McInally (Loudoun) restired Ayrshire's advantage with a win against Alan Connery but defeats for Scott brown (Turnberry) and Craig telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) meant that Ayrshire required a win in the final tie to force a draw in the overall match.

The final tie, between Jack Thomas and Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) went all the way to the last green with honours even, which gave Irvine a 3 1/2 - 2 1/2 win overall in the match

Match details (Irvine names first) :-

John Shanks lost to Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 7 & 5
George Robertson beat Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) by 2 & 1
Alan Connery lost to Tommy McInally (Loudoun) by 2 & 1
Colin Grey beat Scott Brown (Turnberry) by 5 & 3
Jack Thomas halved with Michael Smyth (Royal Troon)
Gareth Lamb beat Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 2 & 1

IRVINE   3 1/2       AYRSHIRE   2 1/2

Next Sunday, 27th March, a combined Ayrshire boys and youths team travel to Southerness to play South Of Scotland in the annual match for the Presidents Trophy.