DOC THOM AYRSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT - Smyth wins The Hillhouse Cup to close the gap on Johnston

Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) won the Hillhouse Cup over his home course on Sunday 20th may, to close the gap on Ayrshire Order of Merit leader Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) after four events.

Smyth returned an excellent score of 72 over the old course at Troon, in breezy and testing conditions, to win the Hillhouse Cup by two shots from Tommy McInally (Loudoun) and Sandy Buchanan (Prestwick St Nicholas).

Kilmarnock Barassie duo Robbie Muir and Ross Caddis shared fourth place on 75 with Steven Stamper (Turnberry) two shots further back on 77.

The last Order of Merit counting place was shared by five players on 78, including Mark Watt (Prestwick St Cuthbert), Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), Alan Kelly (Cochrane Castle) and the Royal Troon duo of Ian Walker and Blair Morton.

The win on Sunday moved Michael Smyth into second place in the Ayrshire Order of Merit, behind Jim Johnston, who gained points in all three of the opening counting events, including a win in the Ayrshire Strokeplay, semi final place in the Ayrshire Matchplay and a joint third place finish in the West of Scotland Strokeplay.

The next Doc Thom Salver counting events are The Stevenson Trophy at Girvan on saturday 26th may and the West KIlbride Mens Open on Sunday 27th May.

The present positions in the Ayrshire Order of Merit for the Doc Thom Salver are:-

247.5		JIM	JOHNSTON	Ayr Belleisle
175		MICHAEL	SMYTH	Royal Troon
137.5		TOMMY	McINALLY	Loudoun
135		SCOTT	BROWN	Prestwick St Cuthbert
92.5		SHAUN	HEDGER	West Kilbride
62.5		SANDY	BUCHANAN	Prestwick St Nicholas
42.5		JOHN	HAGGARTY	Loudoun
30.83		ROBBIE	MUIR	Kilmarnock Barassie
27.5		ROSS	CADDIS	Kilmarnock Barassie
20		GRAEME	GIMSON	Prestwick St Cuthbert
10		STEVEN	STAMPER	Turnberry
3.33		STUART	BROWN	Loudoun
3.33		GEORGE	ROBERTSON	Irvine
1		MARK	WATT	Prestwick St Cuthbert
1		STUART	MILLER	Kilmarnock Barassie
1		IAN	WALKER	Royal Troon
1		BLAIR	MORTON	Royal Troon