AYRSHIRE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Paul Denim takes title to Loudoun

2018 Ayrshire Champion Of Champions
Paul Denim (Loudoun)

Paul Denim (Loudoun) is the 2018 Ayrshire Champion Of Champions Trophy winner after winning an excellent final on Friday evening, 10th August, on the final green of the Old Course at at Royal Troon.



Neither Denim or his final opponent, Gary Steele (Brunston Castle) had won the trophy before and a new name was guaranteed to be engraved on the trophy this year.

At the opening hole, Steel three putted for a bogey five to give Denim an early lead and after Steele bunkered his tee shot at the third and could only make five, Denim recorded his third successive par four of the round to take a two hole lead.

Steele hit back immediately at the fifth with a birdie three to reduce the defecit to one hole,l but this only lasted until the par five sixth hole where a birdie four from Denim restored his two hole advantage.

Again Steele reduced the deficit at the seventh with a winning birdie three, only to see Denim's lead restored to two holes at the eighth when Steele was bunkered and could not match Denim's par three.

In keeping with the rest of the outward half, Steele again produced a birdie three at the ninth hole to turn for home a single hole down.

Champion Of Champions Trophy Finalists
Paul Denim & Gary Steele

The decisive phase of the final came just after the turn when Denim won the tenth with a par four and then both players made a mess of the eleventh hole and, despite going out of bounds, Denim was fortunate to win the hole with a double bogey six to go three up.

Steele continued to fight however, and three successive pars over the next three holes saw him firstly reduce Denim's lead then , at the 14th, level the match for the first time since the opening hole of the tie.

At the fifteenth hole, Steele made the mistake of going out of bounds, which prompted a concession and gave Denim the lead once again.

This hole proved decisive as the players matched each other blow by blow over the next three holes, culminating in Denim securing the three halved holes needed to give her a one hole victory and the Ayrshire Champion Of Champions title for 2018.