EUROPEAN MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - Euan Walker finishes runner up in Austria

Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) boosted his Walker Cup selection hopes again this week when he finished runner up in the 2019 European Men's Amateur Championship, played from 26th to 29th June at the Diamond Country Club in Austria.

Rounds of 70, 72, 68 & 66 gave Walker a 12 under par total of 276 to leave him three behind the winner Matthias Schmid from Germany and three clear of his nearest challengers for the runner up spot.

Leading final scores:-

1

SCHMID, Matthias

Gc Herzogenaurachge

-15

67

73

63

70

273

2

WALKER, Euan

Kilmarnock (Barassie)

-12

70

72

68

66

276

T3

JONES, Benjamin

Northamptonshire County Gc

-9

69

73

69

68

279

T3

STEINLECHNER, Maximilian

Gc Innsbruck-Igls

-9

70

71

64

74

279

T3

LONG, Joseph

Lansdown

-9

67

70

68

74

279

T6

ZUSKA, Jiri

Golf Club Podboranky

-8

71

72

69

68

280

T6

RAFFERTY, Caolan

Dundalk Golf Club

-8

67

74

70

69

280

T6

JI, Jerry

Noordwijkse Golfclub

-8

68

69

70

73

280

VAGLIANO TROPHY - McGarvie shines despite GB & I defeat by Europe

Despite Great Britain & Ireland losing the Vagliano Trophy 14.5 - 9.5 to The Continent of Europe at Royal St George's GC in Kent, Hazel McGarvie (Royal Troon) shone as one of the top performers in the G B & I side.

Europe, who have now won the event for the seventh consecutive time, led 7 - 5 after day one on Friday, with McGarvie teaming up with fellow Scot Shannon McWilliam to put the first point on the board for their side in the morning, before recording a notable 7 & 6 win over Girls' Amateur Champion Emma Spitz in the afternoon singles.

On Saturday morning McGarvie again teamed up with Shannon McWilliam to secure a further half point for their team in the foursomes, with the highlight of McGarvie's round being a hole in one at the third hole  and Hazel completed her unbeaten record in the match with a single hole victory in her afternoon singles tie against Italy's Alessia Nobillio.

Full match scores are available via the R & A website at https://www.randa.org/en/championships/vagliano

SCOTTISH WOMAN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - Louise Duncan through to semi finals at Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) is through to Sunday morning's semi final of the Scottish Woman's Amateur Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie).

In the first round of the matchplay on Saturday morning. Duncan beat Mirren Fraser (Dumfries & County) by 6 & 5 to set up am all Ayrshire clash in the quarter finals on Saturday afternoon against Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas), who beat Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) by a single hole to reach the last eight.

The threat of thunder and lightning saw play suspended in the afternoon for the quarter finals but when play resumed it was Duncan who secured a place in the last four with a 4 & 2 win.

In Sunday morning's semi final, Louise Duncan will face Chloe Goadby (St Regulus).

The other semi final features Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) and Tara Mactaggart (Minto)

In the second flight matchplay competition for the Clark Rosebowl, Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) bowed out in the quarter finals on Saturday afternoon, where a 2 & 1 victory over Susan Woodhouse (East KIlbride) on Saturday morning in the first round of matchplay was followed by a single hole defeat by Megan Robb (Banchory) in the quarter finals, who came from one behind with three to play to snatch victory.

The other two Ayrshire players who qualified for the Clark Rosebowl lost in the first round of the matchplay on Saturday morning, Luisa Gibson (Irvine) going down by 3& 2 to Jennifer Rankin (Haggs Castle) and Claire McLaughlin (West Kilbride) losing by a single hole to Carinne Taylor (Nairn)

SCOTTISH WOMAN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - Two Ayrshire players qualify for championship matchplay stage at Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Louise Duncan
second qualifier
for matchplay stages 

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) and Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas) secured two of the sixteen places in the championship matchplay stage of the Scottish Woman's Amateur Championship which is being held at Kilmarnock (Barassie) from 28th to 30th June.

In Friday's strokeplay qualifying rounds, Louise Duncan took second spot following rounds of 72 and 72 for a six under par total of 144, which left her seven shots behind runaway leader Jessica meek (Carnoustie)

Rachel Foster finished in tenth place after rounds of 73 and 78 gave her a one over par total of 151.

With the cut for the championship matchplay falling at 155, five over par, Luisa Gibson (Irvine) just missed out, finishing in seventeenth place after rounds of 82 and 74 for a six over par total of 156.

Other Ayrshire strokeplay qualifying scores :-

160 (+10) - Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 82./78

160 - (+10) Claire McLaughlin (West Kilbride) 79/81

174 - (+24) Freya Russell (Royal Troon) 84/90

188 - (+38) Katy Hill (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 92/96

Rtd. - Emma Hale (Troon Ladies)   

In the first round of the matchplay, on Saturday morning, Rachel Foster plays Jasmine McIntosh (Hazlehead) and Louise Duncan plays Mirren Fraser (Dumfries & County), and success for both Ayrshire players would see them matched together in Saturday afternoon's quarter finals.

The full matchplay draw is:-

Jessica Meek (Carnoustie) Vs Jennifer Saxton (Muckhart)

Tara McTaggart (Minto) Vs Katie Wright (Stranraer)

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) Vs Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne)

Penelope Brown (Worthing) Vs Katy Alexander (Blairgowrie)

Alison Muirhead (Jumeira Estates) Vs Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe)

Chloe Goadby (St Regulus) Vs Clara Young (North Berwick)

Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) Vs Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas)

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) Vs Mirren Fraser (Dumfries & County)

Three of the Ayrshire players who failed to qualify for the championship matchplay rounds have the consolation of being included in the second tier matchplay competition for the Clark Rosebowl.

In the first round of the Clark Rosebowl event, played on Saturday morning, Luisa Gibson (Irvine) plays Jennifer Rankin (Haggs castle), Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) plays  Susan Woodhouse (East Kilbride) and Claire McLaughlin (West Kilbride) plays Carinne Taylor (Nairn).

GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER - Quarter final line up confirmed

The line up for the quarter finals of the 2019 scratch club team knockout competition for The Gary Bryden Memorial Salver has been confirmed after the remaining two second round matches were completed this week.

Ayr Belleisle had a 2-1 home win over Troon Portland whilst Largs traveled to Girvan and recorded a 2-1 win to progress.

The full quarter final line up, with matches to be completed by 28th July, is:-

KILMARNOCK BARASSIE Vs IRVINE

TROON WELBECK Vs CAPRINGTON

AYR BELLEISLE Vs LOUDOUN

ROYAL TROON Vs LARGS 

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Competition updates

Defending Champions Ayr Belleisle are on course to reach the final, in their bid to retain The Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship this year.

A 5 – 1 win at home to Troon Welbeck last week in qualifying section B moved the Belleisle team ten points clear at the top of the table.

Loudoun opened their title bid with a good 4.5 – 1.5 win away to Prestwick St Cuthbert.

Present positions in qualifying section B are:-

Table	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Ayr Belleisle	4	3	1	0	19	5	14	14
Loudoun	1	1	0	0	4.5	1.5	3	4
West Kilbride	1	0	1	0	3	3	0	2
Troon Welbeck	1	0	0	1	1	5	-4	0
Prestwick St Cuthbert	3	0	0	3	2.5	15.5	-13	0

In the UNDER 16 KNOCKOUT TROPHY competition, the three scheduled first round ties all resulted in walkovers. Ballochmyle going through against Caprington, with Irvine and Troon Welbeck progressing at the expense of Loudoun and Prestwick St Cuthbert.

The full draw for the quarter finals, with matches due to be completed by 31^st July, is:-

Troon Welbeck Vs Caprington

Ardeer Vs Ayr Belleisle

West Kilbride Vs Prestwick St Nicholas

Irvine Vs Kilmarnock Barassie

In the CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY, Rob Yorston (Loudoun) and Jordan Orr (Ballochmyle) were given walkovers by Sean Addie (Ayrshire Boys Champ) and Euan Ferguson (Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champ) respectively whilst Jamie McKinnon (Caprington) beat Luisa Gibson (Irvine) by 4 & 3 in their first round tie at Caprington

The one remaining first round tie due for completion by 30^th June features The representatives of Kilmarnock Barassie, Ross McDonald, and Prestwick St Nicholas, who are due to meet at the Barassie Links.

The updated quarter final line up, with matches to be completed by 31^st July, is:-

Ross McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) or (Prestwick St Nicholas) Vs Rob Yorston (Loudoun)

Jordan Orr (Ballochmyle) Vs Ruben Lindsay (Ayr Belleisle)

Alison Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert) Vs Jamie McKinnon (Caprington)

(Troon Welbeck) Vs (West Kilbride)

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Caprington boost Division 2 title hopes

Caprington gave their hopes of the Ayrshire Scratch league Division 2 title alive recently with an important win away from home.

Playing bottom club Irvine Ravenspark, the Caprington team won 4 – 2 to move into joint second spot in the table.

Present positions in Division 2 of the Ayrshire Scratch leagues are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Largs	5	3	1	1	20.5	9.5	11	14
Ballochmyle	5	3	0	2	15.5	14.5	1	12
Caprington	5	3	0	2	15.5	14.5	1	12
Ayr Belleisle	3	1	0	2	5.5	12.5	-7	4
Irvine Ravenspark	4	0	1	3	9	15	-6	2

PRESIDENT'S PUTTER - Three more teams through to the quarter finals.

Three more teams have booked their places in the quarter finals of the handicap club team knockout competition for The President's Putter, following third round ties completed recently.

Muirkirk beat their visitors from Ballochmyle , the 2017 winners, by 2.5 - 0.5 in their clash at Muirkirk and now face a trip to either Caprington or Troon Portland in the last eight.

Alton had a 3 - 0 home win against NB Parkstone to set up a quarter final at home to Moorpark, whilst a 2 - 1 home win over Skelmorlie saw Kilbirnie Place through to the quarter finals where they will entertain Braehead.

With five third round matches completed, the remaining three third round ties are due to be settled by 30th June, to confirm the quarter final line up.

GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER - Loudoun through to quarter finals

Loudoun Gowf Club are through to the quarter finals of the scratch club team knockout competition for the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver.

At home to Moorpark in the second round the Loudoun team, who won the inaugural competition in 2016, won 3 - 0 to go through to the last eight where they will travel to meet either Ayr Belleisle or Troon Portland.

Kilmarnock Barassie will host Irvine and Troon Wwelbeck will entertain Caprington in two of the other quarter final matches, whilst Royal Troon await the winners of the match between Girvan and Largs to see who they will host in the other quarter final tie.

The remaining two second round matches are due to be completed by 30th June.

AYRSHIRE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY - Robbie Muir through to semi finals

Robbie Muir

Robbie Muir (Kilmarnock Barassie) is the first player to book his place in the semi finals of the 2019 Ayrshire Champion of Champions Trophy competition.

Muir, who recently won the Troon Links Championship for the third time over the Old Course at Royal Troon will return there for the semi finals on Friday 2nd August following his single hole victory on the Barassie Links in his quarter final tie against Adam Sweeney (Largs Routenburn)

In the semi finals Muir will face either Sandy Buchanan (Prestwick St Nicholas) or Nicholas Tindall (Tam O Shanter)

The other quarter finals, which are due to be completed by 21st July, see Gordon Johnston (Kilbirnie Place) play Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) and Gordom Munro (Caprington) up against Gordon Boyle (Turnberry).

AYRSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT - Euan Walker moves up to third after Amateur Championship run

Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) has moved straight in to third spot in the Ayrshire Order of Merit, for the Doc Thom Salver, following his run to the final in the recent Amateur Championship played at Portmarnock in Ireland.

Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) remains out in front in the chase for this year's Order of Merit title, with ten of the twenty counting competitions now completed, although Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) closed the gap with a second place finish in the recent McGilchrist Cup competition at Ardeer, where local member Paul Giffney took maximum points with a scratch 73, just one ahead of Brown.

The next counting events are The Gowf Cup on 114th July and the Rowallan Castle Open on 28th July.

The present positions in the Order of Merit, after ten events, are:-

387.5		MICHAEL	SMYTH	Royal Troon
320		SCOTT	BROWN	Prestwick St Cuthbert
175		EUAN	WALKER	Kilmarnock Barassie
158.75		STEVEN	STAMPER	Turnberry
150		JIM	JOHNSTON	Ayr Belleisle
137.5		DARREN	MALLINSON	Irvine
125		JACK	BROUN	Turnberry
100		STEWART	RUSSELL	Royal Troon
100		PAUL	GIFFNEY	Ardeer
75		STEVEN	McEWAN	Caprington
75		DAVID	LONGAIR	Troon St Meddans
75		JOE	McSORLEY	Prestwick St Cuthbert
70		TOMMY	McINALLY	Louodun
50		BLAIR	MORTON	Royal Troon
50		SEAN	ADDIE	Ayr Belleisle
50		GREGOR	MACKINTOSH	Girvan
50		STEVEN	McCREADIE	Ayr Belleisle
45		GEORGE	HIGGINS	West Kilbride
45		GRAHAM	McKENZIE	West Kilbride
42.5		KEITH	HAMILTON	Ayr Belleisle
42.5		CRAIG	TELFER	Prestwick St Cuthbert
35		WILLIAM	FLEMING	Ballochmyle
35		GREG	VERNON	Kilmarnock Barassie
35		ROBERT	McMASTER	Girvan
28.75		PETER	HUME	Ardeer
28.75		SANDY	WALKER	Kilmarnock Barassie
28.75		JAMES	McINTYRE	Moorpark
20		JIM	McINTYRE	Moorpark
17.5		SHAUN	HEDGER	West Kilbride
17.5		ROSS	CADDIS	Kilmarnock Barassie
10		STUART	WHITE	Girvan
7.5		ALAN	SMEETON	The Chase
7.5		SANDY	BUCHANAN	Prestwick S Nicholas
5		CRAIG	HAMILTON	Ballochmyle
5		KEVIN	DOYLE	Turnberry
2.5		CHARLES	ALLAN	Ardeer
2.5		SCOTT	AINSWORTH	Ardeer