WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Historic title hat trick for Ayrshire A team

The Ayrshire A team secured a historic third successive West Of Scotland Inter County League title on Sunday 29th October when they defeated their nearest challengers, Renfrewshire, in their re arranged fixture at Kilmacolm GC.

Ayrshire's win saw them win the title for three successive years for the first time since the championship began in 1936.

Craig Hamilton was beaten in the final green in the lead tie but a half from Steven Wallace in the second tie and wins for John Shanks, Michael Smyth and Scott Brown saw Ayrshire into a 3.5 - 1.5 lead. Although Euan walker lost his tie, Tommy McInally and Jim Johnston completed the scoring for Ayrshire with two wins, for a 5.5 - 2.5 victory in the match, and a clean sweep of five wins from five in this years championship.

Match details (Renfrewshire names first):-

Andrew Farmer (Kilmacolm) beat Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) by 1 hole
Stewart Watt (Old Ranfurly) halved with Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert)
David Dickson (Bonnyton) lost to John Shanks (Irvine) by 5&4
Chris Conroy (Paisley) lost to Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) by 1 hole
David Sibbald (Eastwood) lost to Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 4&2
Craig Thomson (Earl Of Mar) lost to Tommy McInally (Loudoun) by 2&1
Ryan McKenzie (Erskine) beat Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 3&2
Ronnie Clark (Erskine) lost to Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) by 4&3

RENFREWSHIRE A    2.5   AYRSHIRE A     5.5

In the corresponding re arranged youths match, played at Troon Portland, the Ayrshire team were narrowly defeated 4.5 - 3.5 by their visitors from Renfrewshire.

Shaun Hedger and Greg Telfer put points on the board for the home side in the two leading ties but a succession of narrow defeats in the next four ties left the hosts struggling to get anything from the match. Calum Irving recorded a third point for Ayrshire in the anchor tie but a half for Renfrewshire in the tie involving Ewan Milligan was enough to secure a win for the visitiors.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) beat Alex Ferguson (Paisley) by 1 hole
Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Stewart Sameron (Elderslie) by 4&2
Rory McGuire (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Stewart Thomas (Erskine) by 1 hole
Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Callum Taggart (Eastwood) by 3&2
Greg Vernon (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Ibrahim Hussain (Eastwood) by 2 holes
Robbie Muir (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Furhan Iqbal (Gleddoch) by 2&1
Ewan Milligan (Kilmarnock Barassie) halved with Kenan Ingram (Greenock) 
Calum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) beat Andrew Crusher (Eastwood) by 3&2

AYRSHIRE Y    3.5   RENFREWSHIRE Y   4.5

The youths team, still seeking their first points of the campaign, have one final re arranged match to play, when they host Glasgow at Loudoun next Sunday, 5th November.