AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Jim Johnston wins at Trump Turnberry

2018 Ayrshire Strokeplay Champion
Jim Johnston

Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) won the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship for the first time on Sunday 28th April, when the 2018 competition took place over the King Robert The Bruce course at Trump Turnberry.

The capacity field enjoyed fine sunny weather, though a strengthening breeze in the afternoon made scoring more difficult.

Jim Johnston, playing in the first game in the morning, opened with a one under par 71 which left him three behind the halfway leader Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) on 68 and one ahead of four players on level par 72, including playing partner Steven wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert), Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbhert), Tommy McInally (Loudoun) and Aiden Long (Ayr Belleisle).

In the afternoon, Johnston carded a second successive 71 for a two under par total of 142 which ultimately saw him take the title by three shots from Scott brown, after the halfway leader faded to a 77 in the second round.

Tommy McInally followed his opening round 72 wiuth a 74 in the afternoon for third place on 146, which left him two shots ahead of clubmate John Haggarty (Loudoun) on 148, comprising a morning 75 and an afternoon 73.

Fifth place, also on 148, went to Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) with rounds of 73 and 75 whilst sixth place was secured by Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) on 149 after he added a 77 to his opening round of 72.

The trophy was presented to the 20178 champion, Jim Johnston, by Ayrshire Golf Association President John Rushbury, at the conclusion of the competition.

The CSS for the two rounds were:-

Morning 74 (+2) 
Afternoon 75 (+3) Reduction Only.

Final scores :-  

Ayrshire Golf Association
2018 Ayrshire Strokeplay

1 Jim Johnston 71/71 = 142
Ayr Belleisle
2 Scott BROWN 68/77 = 145
Prestwick St Cuthbert
3 Tommy McInally 72/74 = 146
Loudoun Gowf
4 John Haggarty 75/73 = 148
Loudoun Gowf
5 SHAUN HEDGER 73/75 = 148
West Kilbride
6 Graeme Gimson 72/77 = 149
Prestwick St Cuthbert

7 Robbie Muir 79/71 = 150
Kilmarnock Barassie
8 Stuart Brown 73/77 = 150
Loudoun Gowf
9 George J Robertson 73/77 = 150
Irvine
10 John Sloan 77/74 = 151
Doon Valley
11 Michael Smyth 75/76 = 151
Royal Troon
12 Keith Hamilton 77/75 = 152
Ayr Belleisle
13 Greg Watson 76/76 = 152
Dunaverty
14 IAIN BROWN 76/76 = 152
West Kilbride
15 David A MacDonald 75/77 = 152
Largs
16 Sandy Walker 74/78 = 152
Kilmarnock Barassie
17 Steven Wallace 72/80 = 152
Prestwick St Cuthbert
18 William H Fleming 80/73 = 153
Ballochmyle
19 Aiden Long 72/81 = 153
Ayr Belleisle
20 Stuart Robin 81/73 = 154
Prestwick St Cuthbert
21 Neil Black 77/77 = 154
Rowallan Castle
22 J Rushbury 76/78 = 154
Royal Troon
23 Malcolm Pennycott 81/74 = 155
Royal Burgess
24 Steven STAMPER 81/74 = 155
Turnberry Hotel
25 Calum Sharp 79/77 = 156
Kilmarnock Barassie
26 Adam Sweeney 78/78 = 156
Routenburn
27 Barry O'Rourke 75/81 = 156
Loudoun Gowf
28 SCOTT BELL 79/78 = 157
West Kilbride
29 Christopher Bone 77/80 = 157
Loudoun Gowf
30 Calum McKirdy 75/82 = 157
No Home Club
31 Greg Nichol 80/78 = 158
Troon St Meddans
32 J Gordon BOYLE 79/79 = 158
Turnberry Hotel
33 Alan Connery 75/83 = 158
Irvine
34 GARY VOGWELL 79/80 = 159
West Kilbride
35 Simon Berrie 78/81 = 159
Troon Welbeck
36 Joe McSorley 76/83 = 159
Brunston Castle
37 G Vernon 73/86 = 159
Kilmarnock Barassie
38 Robert Long 82/78 = 160
Ayr Belleisle
39 S Miller 81/79 = 160
Kilmarnock Barassie
40 Barrie McDonnell 76/85 = 161
Caprington
41 P Denim 75/86 = 161
Loudoun Gowf
42 S McClements 83/80 = 163
Kilmarnock Barassie
43 Andrew Thomson 83/82 = 165
Routenburn
44 I Fraser 80/85 = 165
Troon Portland
45 D W Money 81/ 87 = 168
Kilmarnock Barassie
46 Scott Gilchrist 89/83 = 172
Loudoun Gowf
47 G Lamb 75 --
Irvine
48 S White 80 --
Girvan
49 Craig O'Connell 81 --
Irvine Ravenspark
50 Gary Steele 81 --
Brunston Castle
- Craig Hamilton 76 NR --
Ballochmyle
- Darren Mallinson NR 76 --
Irvine
- Stephen Alan Spence 76 NR --
Royal Troon
- C McGowan NR -- --
Troon Welbeck
- A Orton 79 NR --
Kilmarnock Barassie
- ANDY BROWN 81 NR --
West Kilbride
- Scott Cairns 81 NR --
Prestwick St Cuthbert
- Scott McCahill NR -- --
Prestwick St Nicholas
- Gavin Wilson 76 NR --
Loudoun Gowf
- Ross Caddis 80 NR --
Kilmarnock Barassie
- Brian Moore NR 82 --
Largs
- Andy Irvine NR -- --
Troon St Meddans
- Scott Douglas NR -- --
Prestwick St Nicholas

AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - 2 spaces available

Due to two late call offs there are two spaces available,l on a first come first served basis, for the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship at Turnberry, King Robert The Bruce on Sunday 29th April.

The first vacant time is shortly after 8.00 a.m.

Any player wishing a place should attend in person at the venue as early as possible on Sunday morning and speak to championship officials in the main clubhouse.

AYRSHIRE HANDICAP LEAGUES - Three out of four sections now under way

Three of the four qualifying sections in the 2018 Ayrshire Handicap league competition have begun, with some games being played in recent days.

Section A has still to get under way, but matches have been completed in Section B, C and D.

Troon Welbeck remain at the top of Section B with a 3.5 – 2.5 home win over Beith keeping their 100% record intact so far.

Prestwick St Cuthbert moved into second place with a good 3.5 – 2.5 win at Troon St Meddans.

Present positions in Section B are:-

Table	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Troon Welbeck	3	3	0	0	12.5	5.5	7	12
Pr. St Cuthbert	3	1	2	0	9.5	8.5	1	8
Auchenharvie 88	1	1	0	0	4	2	2	4
Irvine Ravenspark	1	0	1	0	3	3	0	2
Beith	2	0	1	1	5.5	6.5	-1	2
Largs Routenburn	2	0	0	2	4	8	-4	0
Tr. St Meddans	2	0	0	2	3.5	8.5	-5	0

In Section C, Ballochmyle got off to a great start with a 6-0 win in their opening game at home to Stewarton. 

Drongan also had a win at home in their first match of the campaign, by 4.5 – 1.45 over Annanhill.

Present positions in Section C are:-

Table	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Ballochmyle	1	1	0	0	6	0	6	4
Drongan	1	1	0	0	4.5	1.5	3	4
Troon Portland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kilbirnie Place	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Annanhill	1	0	0	1	1.5	4.5	-3	0
Stewarton	1	0	0	1	0	6	-6	0

In Section D, Ayr Seafield moved to the top of the table with a 4.5 – 1.5 win away to Crosshouse.

Present positions in Section D are:-

Table	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Ayr Seafield	1	1	0	0	4.5	1.5	3	4
Pr. St Nicholas	1	1	0	0	4	2	2	4
Crosshouse	2	1	0	1	5	7	-2	4
Redburn	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rowallan Castle	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tam O Shanter	2	0	0	2	4.5	7.5	-3	0