AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Turnberry win League Championship crown in first year

Newcomers Turnberry won the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship title on Sunday 25th September at Kilmarnock (Barassie), in their first season in the competition.

The South Ayrshire side beat the host club and 2015 finalists Kilmarnock (Barassie) in the final by 4 - 2

The 2016 final was also the first to feature a girl in one of the teams, following the change in the competition rules introduced a few years ago.

Rachel Foster of Turnberry marked the event by getting up and down on the final hole for a par to half the hole against her opponent Andrew Bogle and take her tie with a one hole victory.

Match details (Kilmarnock Barassie names first):-

R Muir lost to E Ferguson by 1 hole

F Rigby lost to K Brown by 4&3

A Bogle lost to R Foster by 1 hole

R McDonald beat K Beauchamp by 3&1

B Watson lost to D Long by 2&1

F Wallace beat M Barclay by 3&1

KILMARNOCK (BARASSIE)   2    TURNBERRY   4

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Graeme Greer takes Champion Of Champions title

2016 Ayrshire Junior
Champion Of Champions
Graeme Greer

Graeme Greer (Prestwick St Nicholas) is the 2016 Ayrshire Junior Champion Of Champions title winner following a closely contested final at Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC on Saturday 24th September.

Greer, a Scotland Boys internationalists who also plays at Carluke Golf Club was up against the 2016 Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champion Euan Ferguson (Turnberry) in the final.

Ferguson has the better of the early exchanges and raced to a three hole lead, taking successive holes from two through to four with par figures after the opening hole was halved in par.

A par at the fifth was good enough for Greer to reduce the deficit to two holes and further pars over the closing holes of the opening half from Greer saw him reduce the deficit to just one hole at the turn when he won the eighth hole in that run of four holes.

A birdie at the tenth hole saw greer level the match and he went ahead for the first time at the elevent with a winning par, only to see Ferguson win back the following hole to square the match once again.

A par at the fifteenth hole was good enough for Greer to take a one hole advantage again and it remained that way until the final hole where both players found the green in regulation. Putting first, Ferguson's birdie attempt from eighteen feet slipped past the hole, leaving Greer with the prospect of two putts for the championship from eight feet, which he duly secured for a one hole victory.

With driving rain and wind gusting to thirty five miles per hour at times during the match, the level of play and scoring was commendable and the match was played in a great spirit by both finalists.

At the end of the match Ayrshire Junior Golf League Chairman Craig Gilmour presented the trophy to the 2016 winner, Graeme Greer.

 

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Victory for youths at Rowallan Castle but A team lose out at Glenbervie

Ayrshire faced Stirlingshire on Sunday 25th September in the second week of matches in the 2016 West Of Scotland Inter County A & Youths League competitions.

The Youths team, defeated last week at Cowglen, were at home this week, with the match being played at Rowallan Castle GC.

Jack Thomas (Irvine) and Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) set the home side up with 5 & 4 wins in their ties. 

A 4 & 2 win for Robbie Fitzpatrick (Irvine) and 3 & 2 wins for both Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) and Sandy Buchanan (Prestwick St Nicholas) ensured a win for Ayrshire overall and despite defeats for Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) and Craig McKenzie (Troon Welbeck), Sandy walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) won his tie on the final green to complete a comfortable 6 - 2 win for the Ayrshire Youths side.

Match details (Ayrshire names first) :-

Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Stuart Irving (Falkirk) by 2 holes

Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) beat Stuart Murray (Falkirk) by 3 & 2

Jack Thomas (Irvine) beat Jamie Hunter (Falkirk) by 5 & 4

Sandy Buchanan (Prestwick St Nicholas) beat Thomas Craig (Falkirk) by 3 & 2

Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Gran Kirkwood (Falkirk Tryst) by 1 hole

Craig McKenzie (Troon Welbeck) lost to David Hood (Strathkendrick) by 3 & 2

Robbie Fitzpatrick (Irvine) beat Scott Johnston (Falkirk Tryst) by 4 & 2

Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Bradley Ferguson (Falkirk Tryst) by 5 & 4

AYRSHIRE YOUTHS   6   STIRLINGSHIRE YOUTHS  2

In the corresponding A team fixture at Glenbervie, Ayrshire were looking to make it two wins from two in their bid to retain the title they won last year, but lost out narrowly to the hosts by 4.5 - 3.5.

Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle), John Shanks (Irvine) and Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) all recorded wins whilst Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) halved his tie, but defeats for Keith hamilton (Ayr Belleisle), Charlie Macneal (Prestwick), Scott Brown (Turnberry) and Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) allowed the home side to secure a win and maintain their own unbeaten record in the series so far.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Graeme Robertson by 3 & 2
Charlie Macneal (Prestwick) lost to Tom Beattie by 2 & 1
Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Cuthbert) halved with Mark Hyslop
Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) beat Allan Watson by 2 & 1
John Shanks (Irvine) beat Richard Johnston by 4 & 3
Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) beat David Guthrie by 2 holes  
Scott Brown (Turnberry) lost to Ben Liddell by 5 & 4
Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Colin Mundie by 3 & 2

AYRSHIRE   A     3.5     STIRLINGSHIRE  A   4.5

Next Sunday, 2nd October, the A Team entertain Lanarkshire at West Kilbride whilst the Youths team travel to Airdrie.

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - Largs duo win 2016 title at Ballochmyle

The winning pairing from Largs with tournament administrator
and match referee, John Watt

The 2016 Ayrshire Fourball Champions are David and Iain Macdonald of Largs GC, who won a very tight final on Friday 23rd September at Ballochmyle against the pairing representing Doon valley GC.





In the final the Macdonald brothers faced the challenge of  David Sloan & John Barr Jnr. of Doon Valley GC and the match proved to be close throghout, with the destination of the title not being decided until the final green.

The Ayrshire Fourball Championship finalists
From Doon Valley (Left) and Largs (Right)

The lower handicapped Macdonalds gave a number of shots to both their opponents but the teams were well matched, with only three holes in the outward nine being won and the other six halved.

It was the Largs pair who took the lead by winning the fourth hole, but the Doon Valley duo hit back to square the match at the seventh and also take the ninth hole to turn for home one ahead.

The Macdonalds squared the match again at the tenth, only to lose the eleventh and go behind in the match once more.

The Doon Valley team also won the twelfth hole to take a two hole lead in the match, only to see their advantage reduced to one when the Largs team won the thirteenth.

Sloan and Barr remained ahead until the fifteenth when the Macdonald brothers won the hole to square the match once again.

The position remained the same over the next couple of holes and the teams went to the final hole all square.

At the last the Largs team secured a closing par five which ultimately proved enough to win the final hole of the tie and take the trophy and title for 2016 with a narrow one hole win.

At the conclusion of the final the tournament administrator and match referee, John Watt, presented vouchers to all four finalists before handing over the trophy and medals to the 2016 winners, David and iain Macdonald of largs GC.

SCOTTISH MENS' CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - Prestwick St Cuthbert finish eighth at Stranraer

Ayrshire's representatives in the 2016 Scottish Mens' Club Championship, Prestwick St Cuthbert GC, finished in eighth place of the 16 teams when the competition was played at Stranraer on Sunday 18th September.



The team of Craig Telfer, Greg Telfer and Stuart Robin finished with a team total of 303, 23 over par, to trail the winners Balmore by by 21 shots.

Craig Telfer  opened well in the morning round, recording three birdies in the opening six holes but a double bogey at the ninth followed by a triple bogey at the tenth undid his good work as he eventually carded a round of 74.

With seven bogeys, a triple bogey and one solitary birdie during his round, Greg Telfer's opening round of 79 was the discarded morning round of the three.

Stuart Robin had two birdies and three bogeys over the first nine holes of his morning round but three bogeys on the inward nine along with a double bogey at the short fifteenth hole took his morning total to 76, giving Ayrshire a 150 total for the team score going into the second round.

In the afternoon Craig Telfer recorded an eagle two at the sixth hole and a birdie at the eighth as well as four bogeys in his outward nine of 36, but despite a closing birdie he could only record a 78 in the second round following two double bogeys over the inward half.

Stuart Robin
Best for St Cuthbert at Stranraer

Greg Telfer struggled again in the afternoon, two double bogeys, a triple bogey and a quadruple bogey contributing to a second round total of 83.

Despite two bogeys over the early holes, Stuart Robin was out in 36 in the afternoon following a run of three birdies on four holes but the inward half proved testing again in the afternoon for Robin with two bogeys and two double bogeys in the closing holes for a total of 75 in the afternoon.

The afternoon counting scores gave a total of 153 and an overall team score for the competition of 303 and eighth place out of the sixteen competing clubs.

The winning Balmore team will now go forward to represent Scotland in the European Club Championship competition later this year.

GLASGOW YOUTHS AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Fourth place for Ayrshire as Shaun Hedger is individual runner up

Shaun Hedger
Individual runner up at Ralston

Ayrshire finished in fourth place in the Glasgow Youths Team Championship at Ralston on Saturday 17^th September 2016, with Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) taking the runner up spot in the individual event.

Rounds of 69 and 70 gave hedger a total of 139, leaving him six shots adrift of the runaway leader Calum Fyfe who followed his opening round of 69 with a second round of 64 for a total of 133.

Calum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) carded a 78 and a 72 for a total of 150 whilst Andrew Gordon (Ayr Belleisle) returned a total of 158 with rounds of 82 and 76.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire A team open title defence with win over Glasgow but youths suffer opening day defeat

The Ayrshire A Team got off to a winning start in their defence of the West Of Scotland Inter County League title on Sunday 18^th September, opening their campaign with a 6 – 2 home win over Glasgow at Troon Portland.

With some established first team players unavailable, the strength in depth of the present Ayrshire squad was clearly illustrated during the match, with only one defeat and two half matches surrendered to the Glasgow team by the home side in the eight ties.

Host club member Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) led off for Ayrshire with a 2 & 1 win over Fraser Grant whilst both Charlie Macneal (Prestwick) and Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) secured half matches against John Lawrie and Alan Waugh respectively, in the following two ties.

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) made it 3 – 1 for Ayrshire with a 2 & 1 win over Craig Brown before John Shanks (Irvine) and Jim Johnstone (Ayr Belleisle) ensured the match win for Ayrshire with single hole victories over Steven Manning and Graeme Cross respectively.

The penultimate tie saw Steven Stamper (Turnberry) record a 3 & 2 win over Brendan McLeman to give Ayrshire six points from seven.

Ayrshire suffered their only defeat in the anchor tie, Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) losing out to Steven Mechin of Cowglen, who is also a member of the host club, by 4 & 3.

In the corresponding youths match, also played on Sunday 18^th September at Cowglen GC, Ayrshire suffered a 5.5 – 2.5 defeat to the Glasgow youth side.

In the lead tie Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) halved with Chris Grant (Ralston) and Ayrshire took a 1.5 -.0.5 lead when Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Matthew Hendrick (Pollock) by 3 & 2.

Louis Murray (Troon Welbeck) was unfortunate to lose by the narrowest of margins on the final green to Ross Douglas (Ralston) in the third tie and Glasgow edged ahead with Jack Williams (Sandyhills) inflicting a 3 & 2 defeat on Robbie Fitzpatrick (Irvine).

Ally Berry (Irvine Ravenspark) had a 4 & 3 win over Allan Murray (Ralston) to make the match score 2.5 – 2.5, but Ayrshire were unable to take anything from the three remaining ties and lost out by 5.5 – 2.5 overall.

Stuart McLean (Ralston) beat Jack Purdie (Largs) on the final green by one hole, Blair Fleming (Troon Welbeck) was beaten 4 & 3 by Chris McMillan (Bishopbriggs) and Charlie Cameron (Ayr Belleisle) was beaten 5 & 3 by Alex Melrose (Haggs Castle).

Next Sunday, 25^th September, the A team travel to face Stirlingshire at Glenbervie whilst the Youths entertain the Stirlingshire Youths side at Rowallan Castle.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Last match win in Division 1 sees Loudoun avoid relegation and gives title to Prestwick St Cuthbert

Loudoun Gowf Club rallied in their final fixture of the 2016 Ayrshire Scratch League Division 1 to avoid relegation and in the process ensure that Prestwick St Cuthbert won the Division 1 title for the first time.

A 6 – 0 win over title hopefuls Turnberry in their final home fixture of the season, on Sunday 18^th September, allowed Loudoun to overtake Ballochmyle at the foot of the table, consigning the Mauchline club to Division 2 next season in the process, and indeed in one of the closest league campaigns to date, Loudoun eventually finished in third place in the table on the back of their last match win.

Turnberry went into the match with Loudoun knowing that they needed at least a draw to maintain their title hopes into their own last fixture next week against league leaders Prestwick St Cuthbert, but in the event their defeat ensured that Prestwick St Cuthbert were crowned Division 1 champions for 2016, with one fixture remaining to play.

The present positions in Division 1 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
PR. ST CUTHBERT	9	31.5	22.5	26
TURNBERRY	9	28	26	20
LOUDOUN	10	30	30	18
IRVINE	10	29.5	30.5	18
KIL. BARASSIE	10	26.5	33.5	18
BALLOCHMYLE	10	28.5	31.5	16

The destination of the Division 3 title was also confirmed on Sunday 18^th September when Largs had a 4.5 – 1.5 home win over title rivals Prestwick St Nicholas to win Division 3 and promotion to the second flite next season, with one match still to be played.

Present positions in Division 3 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
LARGS	7	26	16	20
KILBIRNIE PLACE	8	23.5	24.5	18
PR. ST NICHOLAS	8	27	21	16
ROWALLAN CASTLE	7	21	21	14
CAPRINGTON	8	16.5	31.5	8
ARDEER	0	0	0	0

AYRSHIRE SENIORS LEAGUE - Four clubs still in title chase

The chase for the 2016 Ayrshire Seniors league is hotting up, with four clubs still in a position to take the title this year.

Ballochmyle and Ardeer are locked together at the top of the table following Ballochmyle’s 4 – 1 home win over Ardeer in August, whilst West Kilbride and Loudoun are close behind.

Results of matches in August were :-

West Kilbride	4.5	St. Cuthbert	0.5
Welbeck	2	Ravenspark	3
St. Meddans	1.5	West Kilbride	3.5
Loudoun	3	Barassie	2
Ballochmyle	4	Ardeer	1
Barassie	4	St. Cuthbert	1
Loudoun	4	West Kilbride	1
Ravenspark	3	St. Nicholas	2
Ardeer	3	Kilbirnie	2
St. Cuthbert	1.5	St.Nicholas	3.5
West Kilbride	3	Ballochmyle	2
St. Meddans	2	Barassie	3

Present positions in the Ayrshire Seniors League are :-

Team	P	W	L	D	F	A	Diff	Pts
Ballochmyle	9	7	2	0	28.5	16.5	+12	14
Ardeer	9	7	2	0	25.5	19.5	+6	14
West Kilbride	9	6	3	0	26	19	+7	12
Loudoun	8	6	2	0	23	17	+6	12
Kilmarnock Barassie	9	5	4	0	24	21	+3	10
Prestwick St. Nicholas	8	4	3	1	22.5	17.5	+5	9
Irvine Ravenspark	10	4	6	0	19.5	30.5	-11	8
Kilbirnie Place	8	3	4	1	19.5	20.5	-1	7
Prestwick St. Cuthbert	9	2	7	0	16.5	28.5	-12	4
Troon St. Meddans	8	1	7	0	17.5	22.5	-5	2
Troon Welbeck	7	1	6	0	12.5	22.5	-10	2

The remaining fixtures this year, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of September are :-

Kilbirnie		West Kilbride
Welbeck		St. Cuthbert
Welbeck		St. Nicholas
Loudoun		Ballochmyle
Ardeer		St. Meddans
Kilbirnie		Loudoun
St. Nicholas		Barassie
St. Meddans		Welbeck