WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Title blow for Ayrshire at Clober

Ayrshire’s hopes of retaining the West Of Scotland Inter County League title suffered a setback on Sunday 30^th September when the team lost out narrowly to hosts Dumbartonshire at Clober in the third match in the 2018 series.

The early ties were exchanged, defeats for Michael Smyth in the lead tie and Craig Telfer being offset by wins for Scott brown and Greg Telfer.

Malcolm Pennycott secured a half in the fifth tie, despite his opponent Martyn Paton having a hole in one at the fifth hole, and the result of the match remained on a knife edge when Tommy McInally won in the anchor tie to offset a defeat for John Shanks in the sixth tie.

With the match score all square the result of the match depended on the outcome of the ninth tie involving jack Broun, but unfortunately for Ayrshire Jack lost out by the narrowest of margins on the final green, which gave Dumbartonshire a 4.5 – 3.5 victory.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) lost to Scott Moore (Clydebank and District) by 2&1

Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Alan Russell (Overtoun) by 6&4

Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Cairn Smyth (Clober) by 4&3

Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Mark Hughes (Milngavie) by 4&3

Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) halved with Martyn Paton (Helensburgh)

John Shanks (Irvine) lost to Iain MacCalman (Clober) by 3&1

Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) lost to David Wylie (Lenzie) by 1 hole

Tommy McInally (Loudoun) beat Stephen Johnston (Milngavie) by 3&2

DUMBARTONSHIRE   4.5   AYRSHIRE   3.5

Next week Ayrshire play host to Glasgow at The King Robert The Bruce course at Turnberry.

In the corresponding youths match at Troon Lochgreen, the Ayrshire team picked up their first point of the campaign when the match finished in a hard fought 4 – 4 draw.

Wins by Robbie Muir, Ruben Lindsay and Greg Vernon were offset by defeats for Sandy Walker, Ewan Milligan & Callum Irving which left the match tied at 3-3 with two ties remaining on the course.

Glen Wilson was unlucky to lose by a single hole in the penultimate tie, but Daryl Lynch secured a single hole win in the anchor tie to tie the overall match by 4 – 4.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Robbie Muir (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Cameron Black (Cardross) by 2&1

Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to lauchlan Reynolds (Hilton park) by 4&3

Ruben Lindsay (Ayr Belleisle) beat Ray Thomson (Dullatur) by 5&4

Greg Vernon (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Hamish Mills (Cardross) by 3&1

Ewan Milligan (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Daniel Muir (Hayston) by 1 hole

Callum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Stewart Boyd (Hayston) by 3&2

Glen Wilson (Ayr Dalmilling) lost to Greig Fitzsimmons (Milngavie) by 1 hole

Daryl Lynch (Ayr Belleisle) beat Kieran Quinn (Clydebank & District) by 1 hole

AYRSHIRE YOUTHS 4  DUMBARTONSHIRE YOUTHS  4

Next week the youths team travel to face Glasgow at Ralston.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire win against Renfrewshire at Western Gailes but youths lose out at Gourock

The Ayrshire A team beat Renfrewshire 6 – 2 at Western Gailes on Sunday 23^rd September 2018 in the second of the series of five matches in the the defence of their West Of Scotland Inter County League championship title.

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) got Ayrshire off to a winning start with a single hole victory over former Western Gailes Club Champion Andrew Farmer but the home side’s hopes were dented when the Ayr Belleisle duo of Keith Hamilton and Jack Broun both lost their ties by 3&2

A 6&5 win by Steven Stamper (Turnberry) in the penultimate tie levelled the match score at 2-2 and a 2&1 win for John Shanks (Irvine) edged Ayrshire ahead. 

The two ties in the middle order, featuring Prestwick St Cuthbert duo Craig Telfer and Scott Brown, looked to be vital and so they proved to be, with both Ayrshire players gaining single hole victories to give the home side the match overall. 

Tommy McInally (Loudoun) finished off a deceptively comprehensive 6 – 2 victory for Ayrshire with a 2&1 win in the anchor tie.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) beat Andrew Farmer (Kilmacolm) by 1 hole

Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Derek Anderson (Cochrane Castle) by 3&2

Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Stewart Watt (Old Ranfurly) by 3&2

Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Paul Alexander (Caldwell) by 1 hole

Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Alex Ferguson (Paisley) by 1 hole

John Shanks (Irvine) beat Lee Jenkins (Elderslie) by 2&1

Steven Stamper (Turnberry) beat Andy Jamieson (Paisley) by 6&5

Tommy McInally (Loudoun) beat Craig Thomson (Marr Hall) by 2&1

AYRSHIRE   6    RENFREWSHIRE   2

Next Sunday, 30^th September, Ayrshire are away to Dumbartonshire at Clober.

In the corresponding youths match at Gourock, the Ayrshire team were unfortunate to lose out narrowly to their hosts by 4.5 – 3.5.

Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) won the lead tie by 2&1 whilst sandy walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) added another half point in the second tie on the course

A 3&2 defeat for Ross Caddis (Kilmarnock Barassie) was countered by a 3&2 win for Daryl Lynch (Ayr Belleisle) and when Ewan Milligan (Kilmarnock Barassie) took Ayrshire’s total to 3.5 with a 2&1 win in is tie, Ayrshire were close to taking something from the match.

Despite their best efforts however, Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost by 3&2 and Jordan Murray (Rowallan Castle) lost by 5&3 which left the match score tied a 3.5 – 3.5 with just the tie involving Glenn Wilson (Ayr Dalmilling) left on the course. In a tight finish, Wilson unfortunately lost out by a single hole which gave Renfrewshire victory overall, by the narrowest of margins.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Andrew Crusher (Eastwood) by 2&1

Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) halved with Callum Taggart (Eastwood)

Ross Caddis (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Graham Barr (Gleddoch) by 3&2

Daryl Lynch (Ayr Belleisle) beat Ibrahim Hussain (Eastwood) by 3&2

Ewan Milligan (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Kevan Ingram (Greenock) by 2&1

Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to David Slack (Kilmacolm) by 3&2

Glen Wilson (Ayr Dalmilling) lost to Jamie Duffy (Eastwood) by 1 hole

Jordan Murray (Rowallan Castle) lost to Furhan Iqbal (Gleddoch) by 5&3

AYRSHIRE YOUTHS   3.5   RENFREWSHIRE YOUTHS 4.5

The youths play host to Dumbartonshire next Sunday, 30^th September, at Troon Lochgreen.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Ayr Belleisle win the Wallace Thornton Trophy

Ayr Belleisle won the Ayrshire Junior Golf League scratch club knockout competition for the Wallace Thornton Trophy on Saturday 22nd September when they beat Kilmarnock (Barassie) in the final at Caprington GC.

Wallace Thornton Trophy winners
Ayr Belleisle

Having come out on top the previous week in the meeting of the same two clubs for the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship, the Ayr Belleisle team were hoping to do the double, but faced a strong Klmarnock Barassie side.

In the lead tie, Ruben Lindsay got the Belleisle bid off to the best start possible with a 5&3 win over John McCracken and Belleisle's hold on the trophy was almost assured when Sean Addie beat Ben Watson by 3&1 to put his side 2-0 ahead.

In the third tie, the honour of securing a clear win for the Belleisle team fell to Drew Cleaver who had a half match with Ewan Milligan to gain a vital half point for his team.

Ross McDonald won the final point for Kilmarnock Barassie in the anchor tie with a single hole victory over John Kelly.

The Wallace Thornton finalists at Caprington

Match details (Ayr Belleisle names first):-

Ruben Lindsay beat John McCraken by 5&3

Sean Addie beat Ben Watson by 3&1

Drew Cleaver halved with Ewan Milligan

John Kelly lost to Ross McDonald by 1 hole

Ayr Belleisle 2.5   Kilmarnock Barassie 1.5

SCOTTISH GOLF - Meeting of Ayrshire clubs convened as Scottish Golf EGM announced to consider proposed rise in per capita payments

Scottish Golf have announced that an EGM, called by a small number of Areas & Counties is to be  held at Stirling Court Hotel on Thursday 4th October 2018 at 7.15 p.m., to consider a proposal to implement a rise in the per capita payable by clubs to Scottish Golf this year, following the rejection of a proposed increase at the AGM in March, from the present £11.25 to £14.50.

If passed, the proposed rise in the per capita would effectively apply with immediate effect, being payable on membership number as of September 2018 and would be payable by all member clubs by 31st March 2019.

All paperwork is available via links on the Scottish Golf website. This includes the notice of the meeting, supporting notes from Scottish Golf indicating how any increased revenue would be allocated, as well as a copy of the proxy form for the meeting and instructions on completion of the proxy form.

Although timescales are tight, The Ayrshire Golf Association Executive are keen to not only measure the feeling of the member clubs on the proposal tabled for the EGM before confirming the way The Association's vote will be cast, but also wish to give member clubs the opportunity to meet and discuss any relevant aspects to allow them to make a decision as to which way they intend to cast their vote at the EGM.

Consequently, secretaries of all member clubs have today (19th September) been emailed details and information, and notice that a general meeting of Ayrshire Golf Association member clubs has been arranged for

TUESDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2018 AT 7.30 P.M. at Caprington Golf Club, Kilmarnock.

A maximum of two attendees from each member club can attend the meeting at Caprington, and it has also been confirmed to clubs that, as with the last AGM, The Association will be happy to act as proxy for member clubs at the meeting as desired, subject to completion and submission of the required paperwork.

mygolfranking.net - week 2018/36 results

mygolfranking.net AYRSHIRE GOLFERS of Week 18/36 are MAUREEN PATERSON (Prestwick St Cuthbert Ladies) who re-enters the Top 10 of Ayrshire Ladies MGRanking at No 8 and ANDREW GILCHRIST JNR (Loudoun Gowf) who arrives at NUMBER ONE on Ayrshire Men MGRanking.                                                                                         

                                     

AYRSHIRE LADIES

 1 Kelly McNee (Loudoun Gowf) 1056 points

 2 Emma Thomson (Loudoun Gowf) 1032

 3 Sheena Murchie (Lamlash) 1028

 4 Jean Capes (Largs) 1020

 5 Christine Whitelaw (Largs) 1003

 6 Audrey Thompson (Loudoun Gowf) 974                                             

 7 Aileen Anderson (Loudoun Gowf) 962

 8 Maureen Paterson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 953

 9 Pauline Patrick (Irvine) 951

10 Catherine Garrett (West Kilbride) 938

                                                       

AYRSHIRE LADIES - CLUBS

 1 Loudoun Gowf 914 points

 2 Largs 871

 3 Prestwick St Cuthbert 851

 4 Lamlash 837

 5 Skelmorlie 795

AYRSHIRE MEN

 1 Andrew Gilchrist Jnr (Loudoun Gowf) 1273 points

 2 Robbie Muir (Kilmarnock (Barassie)) 1264

 3 Jack Purdie (Routenburn) 1260

 4 Ben Fleming (Troon Welbeck) 1189

 5 Douglas Mitchell (West Kilbride) 1175

 6 Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) 1146

 7 Walker Cairns (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 1131

 8 John Paton (Loudoun Gowf) 1115

 9 Colin Knox (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 1111

10 Brian Moore (Largs) 1110

AYRSHIRE MEN - CLUBS

 1 Loudoun Gowf 937 points

 2 Kilmarnock (Barassie) 894

 3 Prestwick St Nicholas 890

 4 Largs 883

 5 Routenburn 881

If you and your golfing friends want to see your Club MGRanking, the full Regional, National and International MGRankings, Movers & Shakers, How It Works and free Registration for golfers and clubs, visit mygolfranking.net

A wee reminder - golfers must register to win MGR prizes.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - League Championship win for Ayr Belleisle whilst Robbie Muir takes Champion Of Champions crown.

Two more Ayrshire Junior Golf  League finals were completed on Sunday 16th September at Caprington when the League Championship and Champion Of Champions finals were scheduled.

The winning Ayr Belleisle team
with the Ayrshire Junior Golf league Championship trophy

Ayr Belleisle are the 2018 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Champions following a very close match with Kilmarnock (Barassie) in the final at Caprington on Sunday 16^th September.

With both teams having identical records in their league sections, all the way down ties for and against it was always likely to be a close match, as it proved to be, with a number of the ties being settled on the final green.

In the lead tie, Sean Addie (Ayr Belleisle) lost out to his Ayrshire boys team mate Ewan Milligan by a single hole in a closely fought encounter.

2018 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Champions - Ayr Belleisle

In the second tie, John Kelly of Belleisle started well against John McCracken but was pulled back over the mid round holes before Kelly rallied to secure a 3&2 victory.

In the third tie, Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Callum Byers were well match over the opening holes before McDonald edged two ahead with three to play. Byers wasn’t finished however, as he pegged McDonald back to take the tie to the eighteenth before he succumbed to a one hole defeat.

The fourth tie also proved to be a close encounter with Lewis Connor (Belleisle) fighting back to secure a single hole victory over Ben Watson.

In what would prove to be a crucial tie, Daniel Long played some great golf  to beat Craig Erentz by 5&4 and to give the Belleisle team a crucial draw overall at the least.

In the anchor tie, Harvey McDonald lost out by 2&1 to Aiden Tasker.

With the final score tied at 3-3, the countback over the results of the individual ties led to the announcement of Ayr Belleisle as the 2018 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Champions.

 Match details (Ayr Belleisle names first):-

Sean Addie lost to Ewan Milligan by 1 hole

John Kelly beat John McCracken by 3&2

Callum Byers lost to Ross McDonald by 1 hole

Lewis Connor beat Ben Watson by 1 hole.

Daniel Long beat Craig Erentz by 5&4

Harvey McDonald  lost to Aiden tasker by 2&1

AYR BELLEISLE   3    KILMARNOCK (BARASSIE)   3

Ayr Belleisle win 15 – 5 on the countback)

2018 winner
Robbie Muir

In the final of the Champion Of Champions Trophy competition, Robbie Muir (Kilmarnock Barassie) was scheduled to play Adam Carballo (Prestwick St Cuthbert).

 Illness on the morning of the final for Carballo prevented the final going ahead and despite the best efforts of the Ayrshire Junior Golf League to have an alternative date identified, Adam Carballo decided to forfeit the tie and Robbie Muir was announced as the 2018 winner, at the trophy presentation which followed the conclusion of the AJGL Final match.

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - Brunston Castle brothers charge to fourth county fourball title

The Brunston Castle pairing of George & David McCulloch charged to a fourth Ayrshire Fourball Championship title in seven years on Sunday 16th September when they beat Keith Mckenzie & Colin Yair (Ayr Neptune) in the final at Prestwick St Cuthbert.

2018 Ayrshire Fourball Championship winners
David & George McCulloch (Brunston Castle GC)

The McCulloch brother had previously won the trophy in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and their bid for a fourth title got of to the perfect start when they won the first hole with a par four and the second with a birdie three.

A nett birdie three at the fourth hole put the Brunston Castle representatives three up but a bogey five at the sixth hole allowed McKenzie and Yair to reduce the deficit to two holes.

The fightback was short lived however with the McCullochs winning the eighth hole with a par five to go three ahead again.

A half in pars at the ninth saw the players turn for home with the Brunston Castle team three up.

After the tenth was halved in par, a par four at the eleventh was good enough to extend the McCulloch's lead to four holes with seven to play.

The McCulloch's also won the twelfth to go five up and closed the match out with a winning par four at the thirteenth to win the match, and the 2018 title, with a 6 & 5 victory.

The scoring from the Brunston Castle duo was impressive throughout the final, with the team having a better ball return of two over par when the match ended at the thirteenth.

After the match, which was refereed by Past President Iain Harvey, was completed, Association executive member Willie McCormick presented vouchers to all four finalists before handing over the trophy and commemorative medals to the 2018 winners from Brunston Castle GC, George & David McCulloch.  

SCOTTISH GOLF - Cuts to national championships announced

In the latest Scottish Golf newsletter circulated this week, a number of changes to national competitions have been announced, with some events being dropped from the calendar altogether, and others being substantially altered. 

The statement in the newsletter reads :-

Championship Changes 2018-19 Our budget position has been approved for 2018/19 and, as has been well documented, we have had to look at making some significant cuts across all parts of the business which although regrettable is necessary to balance the books. As referenced in previous communication with you, we have taken the opportunity to review the fixture list and I would like to draw your attention to a number of changes to the 2019 Championship Fixture List which we will need to make: Area & County Championships Men’s Area Team Championship: 6-8 September 2019 Venue TBC (Central) Boys Area Team Championship: 6-8 September 2019 Venue TBC (Central) Women's County Finals: 30 August – 1 September Venue TBC (South) - Please note this event has been moved to an earlier date to avoid clashing with The Solheim Cup and would anticipate it remaining in this slot going forward. Scottish Golf will continue to work with Areas & Counties to source venues and assist in the delivery of the events, however the costs for the delivery of all aspects of the event (other than costs associated with the 2 x Scottish Golf staff in attendance) will be fully borne by the respective Area & County Associations from 2019. While we are fully committed to Area & County team events being on the fixture calendar the financial contribution which attaches itself to these events is unsustainable. We recognise that for some associations this financial burden will be more challenging than others and would welcome thoughts or suggestions as to how this could potentially operate, whereby all areas and counties are still able to participate in the events. This is also an ideal opportunity to collectively consider the format and duration of these events for 2019 and beyond to ensure they continue to meet the needs of all Areas & Counties, as well as consider whether the boy’s event could be run simultaneously with the men’s or incorporate a number of junior players into each of the men's teams. Scottish Men’s Club Championship (Team) The Scottish Men’s Club Championship will be removed from the Scottish Golf fixture list in 2019. We accept that this will be disappointing to Clubs and Areas alike. Should the Areas wish to consider hosting a national final on a rotational basis we would certainly be supportive of that position, however, there will be no financial or administrative contribution available from Scottish Golf for either a national final nor towards participation in the European event. Captains & Secretaries Championship As we come to the end of the sponsorship agreement with Belhaven, the Captains & Secretaries Championship will be removed from the calendar. It will be replaced with a male medal finals event, where similar to an existing format within the women’s game we will invite clubs to put forward two players (best scratch and best net) from designated monthly medals to enter a series of regional qualifying events, with top qualifiers progressing to the Grand Final. This will be a pay to enter event, as is the case with the Women’s Regional Medal Finals which has long proved a popular event for club golfers of all ages and abilities. Additional Changes... with more information to come Scottish Senior Women's Open Championship: 4-7 June, at Edzell GC (Date change) Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship: 28-30 June, venue TBC (Date & format change) Scottish Boy’s Amateur Championship: 17-21 July, at Blairgowrie, Lansdowne (Separate to Girls event) Scottish Girl’s Amateur Championship: 19-21 July, Blairgowrie, Rosemount (Separate to Boys event & format change) Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship: 30 July-3 August, at Crail GS (Final will be played over 18 holes thus shortening the event by one day)

It is anticipated that there will be some debate engendered by the announcements made, which have been decided on with little or no consultation with stakeholders, and any comments on the changes announced are welcome by The Association to ascertain what member clubs and golfers in general feel about the proposed changes.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire held to a draw at Kilmarnock Barassie whilst the youth team lose at Airdrie

The Ayrshire county team opened their defence of the West Of Scotland Inter County League title on Sunday 16^th September 2018, with a 4 –4 draw with Lanarkshire at Kilmarnock (Barassie).

The match was played in extremely windy conditions which made play difficult for both teams.

Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie), despite a busy schedule recently, led the Ayrshire team having played for Scotland in the previous 2 weeks in the Eisenhower Trophy and Home Internationals, and got the home side off to a great start with a 4&3 victory.

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) extended the home advantage to 2 – 0 with a 3&2 win and Jack Broun added another half point in his tie with Robert Jenkins.

Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) lost out on the final green whilst Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) staged a superb fightback from 4 down with 7 to play to secure a vital half match and make the match score 3 – 2 to AYrhsire.

John Shanks (Irvine) ensured a draw at least with a 2 & 1 win in is tie but with defeats for Scott brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) and Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) in the final two ties, Ayrshire just failed to gain the further half point needed for overall victory.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Dominic Douglas (Drumpellier) by 4&3 

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) beat Grant Nisbet (Strathaven) by 3&2 

Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) halved with Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood) 

Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Alan Laird (Strathaven) by 1 hole 

Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) halved with Scott McPherson (Bothwell Castle)

John Shanks (Irvine) beat Tommy Boyd (Bothwell Castle) by 2&1 

Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Andrew Steven (Easter Moffat) by 3&1 

Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Garry McLetchie (Lanark) by 5&4

AYRSHIRE   4   LANARKSHIRE   4

The next match in the series is against Renfrewshire at Western Gailes on Sunday 23^rd September.

In the corresponding youths match at Airdrie Golf Club, Ayrshire lost out by 6 – 2 to their hosts.

The Ayrshire cause had an early setback when a late call off from the team resulted in the concession of one of the eight ties.

Blair Morton (Royal Troon) got Ayrshire off to a good start with a 2&1 win in the lead tie and a further point from Aiden Long (Ayr Belleisle) partly offset defeats for Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie), Glen Wilson (Ayr Belleisle) and Jordan Murray (Rowallan Castle), which left Lanarkshire leading 4 – 2 with two ties remaining on the course.

Unfortunately for the Ayrshire team, both the remaining ties were lost on the final green, to give Lanarkshire a 6 – 2 win overall.

Match details (Lanarkshire names first):- 

Callum Connacher (Wishaw) lost to Blair Morton (Royal Troon)  by 2&1
Graham Greer (Carluke) beat Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 4&3
Greg Andrews (East Kilbride) lost to Aiden Long (Ayr Belliesle) by 3&2

Kieran McAlister (Colville Park) beat Daryl Lynch (Ayr Belliesle) by 1 hole
John Woodhouse (East Kilbride) beat Callum Irving (Ayr Belliesle) by 1 hole
Alan Woodhouse (East Kilbride) beat Glen Wilson (Ayr Dalmilling) by 3&2
Kieran McVicar (East Kilbride) beat Jordan Murray (Rowallan Castle) by 3&2
Ayrshire lost tie number 8 by a walkover

LANARKSHIRE YOUTHS  6     AYRSHIRE YOUTHS    2

In the second match of the series, on Sunday 23^rd September, Ayrshire youths travel to meet Renfrewshire youths at Gourock.

MEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS - Scotland avoid the wooden spoon

Scotland avoided the wooden spoon at the Men's Home Internationals at Conwy Golf Club, Wales, with an 8 - 7 final day victory over Wales on Friday 14th September.

In the morning foursomes Ayrshire's Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) teamed up again with James Wilson and with the help of a run of three successive birdies from the eighth they beat Oliver Brown and Matt Roberts by 6 & 5.

Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Stuart Easton (Irvine) paired up again and finished their match against Gaelen Trew and Jacob Davies with a birdie two at the fiteenth for a 4 & 3 victory.

In the afternoon singles Euan Walker beat Tom Williams by 2 & 1, Jim Johnston lost by 3 & 2 to Matt Roberts and Stuart Easton had a 4 & 3 win against Archie Davies.

In the championship decider, England defeated defending champions Ireland by 8.5 - 6.5 to take the Raymond Trophy and Home International title for 2018.

MEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS - Scotland and Wales in wooden spoon clash

Scotland and Wales will battle it out for the wooden spoon on the final day of the 2018 Men's Home Internationals at Conwyn Golf Club, Wales, after both teams were defeated on the opening two days of the series.

On Wednesday, 12th September, Scotland were crushed 11.5 - 3.5 by Ireland whilst Wales suffered defeat to England by the same margin.

In the morning foursomes Ayrshire's Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) made his international debut in a foursomes pairing with James Wilson  but lost out by 3&2 to Caolan Rafferty & Alex Gleeson whilst Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) and fellow Ayrshire player Stuart Easton (Irvine) were out of sorts in their foursomes match, going down by 5&3 to Conor Purcell & Mark Power.

In the afternoon singles Walker had four successive birdies from the eleventh on his way to a 4&3 win over Mark Power whilst Easton was unlucky to lose by one hole to James Surgue, who produced four birdies in the inward nine for victory.

Jim Johnston recorded his first positive international result, winning the final hole of his tie with Peter O'Keefe to secure a half match.

On Thursday 13th September Wales were defeated 9.5 - 5.5 by irealand whilst Scotland had a very close match with England before going down by 8 - 7.

In the morning foursomes Jim Johnston & James Wilson teamed up again but were defeated by a single home by Ben Jones & Jake Burnage, whilst Euan Walker and Stuart Easton produced a much more positive performance against Bailey Gill & Nick Poppleton, with an eagle three at the fourteenth to go two up being the pivotal moment on the way to a 2&1 win.

In the afternoon singles Euan Walker was dormie two and produced a birdie three at the seventeenth to secure a 3&1 win in his tie against Tom Sloman but Stuart Easton was on the wrong end of a seven birdie round by David Hague to go down by 4&3 whilst Jim Johnston also lost by 4&3 to Tom Plumb, who finished the match with successive birdies at the fourteenth and fifteenth.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - 2018 play offs under way

The play offs for the Ayrshire scratch leagues are all under way, with the first leg of each play off match already completed.

In the Division 1 / 2 play off, Loudoun take a 5 – 1 advantage into the home leg on Sunday 16^th September, following a crushing win at Ayr Belleisle in the first leg.

In the Division 2 / 3 play off Caprington won the first leg at home by 3.5 – 2.5 against West Kilbride, with the return leg at West Kilbride scheduled to take place on 7^th October.

The Division 3 / 4 play off is finely balanced following a 3 – 3 draw in the first leg at Kilbirnie between Kilbirnie Place and Largs Routenburn on Sunday 9^th September. The second leg is scheduled to take place at Routenburn on Sunday 16^th September.

The final placings after completion of all the fixtures in the Scratch leagues this yeare were:-

DIVISION 1

Table	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Pr. St Cuthbert	10	6	3	1	35	25	10	30
Irvine	10	6	1	3	36.5	23.5	13	26
Kilmarnock Barassie	10	3	4	3	30.5	29.5	1	20
Turnberry	10	3	3	4	32	28	4	18
Loudoun	10	4	1	5	29.5	30.5	-1	18
Irvine Ravenspark	10	2	0	8	16.5	43.5	-27	8

DIVISION 2

Table	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Troon Portland	10	7	1	2	35.5	24.5	11	30
Ayr Belleisle	10	5	2	3	33	27	6	24
Ballochmyle	10	4	2	4	32	28	4	20
Troon Welbeck	10	3	3	4	30	30	0	18
West Kilbride	10	2	3	5	26	34	-8	14
Tr. St Meddans	10	3	1	6	23.5	36.5	-13	14

DIVISION 3

Table	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Largs	10	6	2	2	40.5	19.5	21	28
Caprington	10	6	0	4	29.5	30.5	-1	24
Rowallan Castle	10	4	2	4	29.5	30.5	-1	20
Girvan	10	4	1	5	30	30	0	18
Largs Routenburn	10	3	3	4	26	34	-8	18
Pr. St Nicholas	10	2	2	6	24.5	35.5	-11	12

DIVISION 4

Table	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Royal Troon	6	4	1	1	23.5	12.5	11	18
Kilbirnie Place	6	3	1	2	19.5	16.5	3	14
Brunston Castle	6	2	2	2	20.5	15.5	5	12
Tam O Shanter	6	1	0	5	8.5	27.5	-19	4