WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUES -Under 18 team win final match of the series

The Ayrshire Under 18 team played their final match of the season in the West Of Scotland Inter County League on Sunday 11^th September when they entertained Dumbartonshire at Kilmarnock Annanhill.

After suffering their first defeat of the season against Lanarkshire last month, the Ayrshire team bounced back with a 4.5 – 3.5 victory in the latest match.

Elliot Spence (Loudoun) lost heavily to Euan McBride (Lenzie) but his defeat was countered by Declan Chalmers (Ballochmyle) who recorded a 7 & 6 win to level the match.

Liam Kirkham (Troon Welbeck) lost out to Kieran Hughes (Hilton Park) but again the match was levelled when Greg Hampshire (Loudoun) won by 5 & 4 against Lauchlan Reynolds (Hilton Park).

Lewis McMillan (Ballochmyle) lost to Jack Pike (Clober) which put Dumbartonshire 3 – 2 ahead with only three ties remaining on the course but Charlie Cameron (Ayr Belleisle) levelled the match with a 5 & 4 win over Murray McVicar (Hilton Park).

One up with one to play in the lead tie, Callum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) was unfortunate to lose the last hole to Rhys Thomson (Palacerigg) for a halved match, which left the match score as 3.5 – 3.5 with only the tie between Rob Yorston (Loudoun) and Scott Souter (Douglas Park) to finish. 

Rob Yorston ensured a t least a draw for Ayrshire by winning the seventeenth to go dormie one, and he secured a crucial half at the final hole for a one hole victory in his tie and a 4.5 – 3.5 win for Ayrshire.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Liam Kirkham (Troon Welbeck) lost to Kieran Hughes (Hilton Park) by 5 & 4

Greg Hampshire (Loudoun) beat Lauchlan Reynolds (Hilton Park) by 5 & 4

Roy Yorston (Loudoun) beat Scott Souter (Douglas Park) by 1 hole

Lewis Macmillan (Ballochmyle) lost to Jack Pike (Clober) by 3 & 2

Callum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) halved with Rhys Thomson (Palacerigg)

Charlie Cameron (Ayr Belleisle) beat Murray McVicar (Hilton Park) by 5 & 4

Declan Chalmers (Ballochmyle) beat Blair Rodger (Clober) by 7 & 6

Elliot Spence (Loudoun) lost to Euan McBride (Lenzie) by 7 & 5

AYRSHIRE    4.5   DUMBARTONSHIRE   3.5

In the other remaining match in the 2016 Under 18 West League, also played on Sunday 11 September, Renfrewshire beat Glasgow by 6.5 – 1.5 to finish the season unbeaten and retain the league championship and Wishart Trophy as a result.

Ayrshire finished the season in third place, just behind Lanarkshire in the runners up place.

The final League positions were :-

Area                             Played       Won      Lost        Drawn           For         Against Points

Renfewshire                      5              3              0              2              26           14           8

Lanarkshire                      5              3              1              1              26.5        13.5        7

Ayrshire                            5              2              1              2              21.5        18.5        6

Glasgow                            5              2              2              1              19           21           5

Stirlingshire                      5              1              4              0              13.5        26.5        2

Dumbartonshire               5              1              4              0              13.5        26.5        2