AYRSHIRE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Early exit for the holder as first round ties are completed.

The defending champion Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) had an early exit in the 2018 Ayrshire Champion of Champions Trophy competition, as the first round matches were completed this week.

Playing at home to Peter Bond (Irvine Ravenspark), in windy conditions, Smyth was one ahead after thirteen, but some good fortune at the fourteenth saw Bond square the match. Smyth had the chance to restore his lead at the fifteenth but, with two putts for the hole, he three putted to leave the match all square with three to play. A second successive three putt from Smyth at the sixteenth saw Bond take the lead and when both players failed to find the putting surface from the tee at the par three seventeenth, it was Bond who succeeded in getting up and down for a winning par three, to take the match by 2&1.

Peter Bond will be away from home in the second round against Scott Ainsworth (Ardeer) who won away from home against Maurice Mulholland (Doon Valley) to progress from round 1.

A walkover for John Rushbury (Rowallan Castle) against Martin Riddell (New Cumnock) gives Rushbury a home tie against Gary Jordan (Crosshouse) in round two.

Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) beat Andrew Lindsay (Ayr Dalmilling) by 5&3 and will be at home to Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) in round two.

Robert Adams (Abbotsford) will also be at home in round two, following a walkover against Steven Gray (Ayr Carrick) in round one, and will play Alan McLean (Kilbirnie Place).

At the top of the draw, Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) beat Derek Watt (Drongan) by 5&3 and will be at home in round two to Paul Denim (Loudoun) who defeated Gordon Boyle (Turnberry) in the first round.

Following a 4&3 win away from home against Craig Menzies (Muirkirk), Ian Walker (Royal Troon) will be at home in the second round against Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) who secured his place in round two with a 6&4 victory over Andrew Brown (Redburn).

A single hole victory at home to Gregor Mackintosh (Girvan) was enough to see George Paton (Troon Merchants) into the second round, where he will have a home tie against Kevin Campbell (Glacier), who received a walkover against Sandy Buchanan (Prestwick St Nicholas).

In the remaining second round tie, Adam Sweeney (Largs Routenburn) will be at home, following his 4&3 win over Kevin O'Neill (Alton) in round one, and will face Stuart Campbell (Ayr Seafield), who beat Sam Findlater (Troon Welbeck) by one hole to progress to round two.

The full draw for the second round is :-

2nd Round	3rd Round
Played By:- 13th May 2018	Played By:- 17th June 2018
SHAUN HEDGER (West Kilbride)
PAUL DENIM (Loudoun)
IAN B. WALKER (Royal Troon)
CRAIG HAMILTON (Ballochmyle)
GEORGE PATON (Troon Merchants)
KEVIN CAMPBELL (Glacier)
ADAM SWEENEY (Largs Routenburn)
STUART CAMPBELL (Ayr Seafield)
ROBERT ADAMS (Abbotsford)
ALAN McLEAN (Kilbirnie Place
JIM JOHNSTON (Ayr Belleisle)
SANDY WALKER (Kil. Barassie)
SCOTT AINSWORTH (Ardeer)
PETER BOND (Irvine Ravenspark)
JOHN RUSHBURY (Rowallan Castle)
GARY JORDAN (Crosshouse)
GARY STEELE (Brunston Castle)
ROBERT GILCHRIST (The Chase)
BARRY McDONNELL (Caprington)
JOHN SLOAN (Tam O Shanter)
JAMES McINTYRE (Moorpark)
SCOTT BROWN (Pr. St. Cuthbert)
LEN McDONALD (Beith)
GREG NICHOL (Troon St. Meddans)
KIERAN CLARK (Braehead)
DAVID McLELLAN (Largs)
FRASER McCALL (Troon Portland)
ROSS McGINN (Skelmorlie)
JOHN CAIRNEY (Malletsheugh)	DAVID PRATT (Annanhill)
DAVID PRATT (Annanhill) w/o
ANDREW McDONALD (Auchenharvie)
GARETH LAMB (Irvine)