SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - Two matchplay qualifiers from Ayrshire as Smyth equals course record en route.

Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) and Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) were the only two Ayrshire qualifiers for the matchplay stages of the 2019 Scottish Amateur Championship, being held this week at Crail, following conclusion of the two strokeplay qualifying rounds on Wednesday 31^st July, when they both posted ten under par totals of 131.

Broun opened with a 62 over the shorter Balcomie course on Monday and followed with a  69 over the Craighead links on Wednesday. whilst Smyth followed his opening 71 on the Craigend course with a superb nine under par course record equalling score of 60 on the Balcomie links on Wednesday

There scores left the Ayrshire pair just two off the best qualifying score, in joint fourth place.

Leading Scores :-

129 (-12) – Stuart Mclaren (Bruntsfield Links) 68/61

130 (-11) – Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links) 62/68, Darren Howie (Peebles) 62/68

131 (-10) – Angus Carrick (Craigielaw) 67/64, Will Porter (Carnoustie) 65/66,

      Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) 62/69, Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 71/60

      Jeff Wright (Forres) 63/68

132 (-9) – Lewis Irvine (Kirkhill) 62/70, Marcus Rickard (Cupar) 64/68

The cut for the matchplay stages fell at 140, one under par and Ayrshire players who failed to make the cut were:-

141 – Elliot Thom (Turnberry) 66/75

142 - Sandy Buchanan (Prestwick St Nicholas) 72/70

142 – Stuart Easton (Irvine) 67/75

146 – James Bunch (Prestwick) 68/78

146 – Blair Morton (Royal Troon) 64/82

146 – Sean Addie (Ayr Belleisle) 69/77

146 – Robbie Muir (Kilmarnock Barassie) 76/70

149 – Jonathan Stevenson (Troon St Meddans) 80/69

151 – Euan Ferguson (Turnberry) 79/72

151 – Robbie Stewart (Troon Portland) 71/80

153 – James McCullagh (Kilmarnock Barassie) 73/80

154 – Callum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) 80/74

157 – Aidan Long (Ayr Belleisle) 78/79

165 – Jordan Sweeney (Ayr Belleisle) 80/85

N/R – Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride)

In the opening round of the matchplay on Thursday morning, Jack Broun plays G Brown (Cathkin Braes GC), teeing off at 10.02 am, whilst Michael Smyth faces Matthew Miller (Lundin GC) with an 11.06 am start.

AYRSHIRE HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Qualifying sections completed as eight clubs are confirmed for the quarter finals

All the qualifying sections in the 2019 Ayrshire Handicap League Championship have now been completed, with the top two in each section now progressing to the knockout stages.

In SECTION A, Rowallan Castle finished off their campaign at the top of the table after a 5 – 1 win away to Prestwick St Cuthbert in their final fixture whilst Ayr Dalmilling had a home win over Prestwick St Cuthbbert by the same score to edge out Ballochmyle in the chase for the other quarter final spot.

Final positions in section A are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Rowallan Castle	12	8	1	3	47.5	24.5	23	34
Ayr Dalmilling	12	7	1	4	39	33	6	30
Ballochmyle	12	6	3	3	37	35	2	30
Auchenharvie 88	12	4	6	2	39	33	6	28
Alton	12	2	5	5	32.5	39.5	-7	18
Pr. St Cuthbert	12	3	2	7	28	44	-16	16
Ayr Belleisle	12	1	4	7	29	43	-14	12

In SECTION B, Kilbirnie Place finished in top spot with a 6 – 0 home win over tam O Shanter in their final fixture.

A 5 – 1 win at home over Largs Routenburn in their last match saw Royal Troon take the second qualifying spot just ahead of Prestwick St Nicholas.

Final positions in Section B are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Kilbirnie Place	12	7	3	2	47	25	22	34
Royal Troon	12	6	2	4	41	31	10	28
Pr. St Nicholas	12	6	1	5	38	34	4	26
Tam O Shanter	12	5	3	4	36	36	0	26
Ayr Seafield	12	4	3	5	37.5	34.5	3	22
Stewarton	12	5	1	6	30	42	-12	22
Largs Routenburn	12	1	3	8	22.5	49.5	-27	10

In SECTION C, Annanhill conceded their final tie, away to Troon Merchants, having already secured the second qualifying place behind Kilmarnock Barassie in first place.

Final positions in Section C are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Kilmarnock Barassie	10	8	1	1	40	20	20	34
Annanhill	10	6	1	3	35.5	24.5	11	26
Troon Welbeck	10	3	2	5	29.5	30.5	-1	16
Troon Merchants	10	4	0	6	23.5	36.5	-13	16
Irvine Ravenspark	10	3	1	6	26.5	33.5	-7	14
Tr. St Meddans	10	3	1	6	25	35	-10	14

In SECTION D, the final fixture between Troon Portland and Loudoun, which ended in a 4 – 2 win for the home side, had no bearing on the qualifiers with Beith and Redburn going through to the quarter finals.

Final placings in Section D are:-

Club	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	Diff.	Points
Beith	10	6	1	3	33	27	6	26
Redburn	10	6	0	4	31.5	28.5	3	24
Moorpark	10	5	1	4	36.5	23.5	13	22
Troon Portland	10	5	0	5	28.5	31.5	-3	20
Loudoun	10	3	2	5	23.5	36.5	-13	16
West Kilbride	10	3	0	7	27	33	-6	12

The eight qualifying teams now go forward to play quarter finals and, if successful, semi finals on a home and away basis in a bid to reach the final which is scheduled to take place at Finals Day on Sunday 1^st September at Skelmorlie GC.

With the final placings now known, the quarter final line up is confirmed as:-

ROWALLAN CASTLE Vs ANNANHILL

KILBIRNIE PLACE Vs REDBURN

KILMARNOCK BARASSIE Vs AYR DALMILLING

BEITH Vs ROYAL TROON

All quarter final ties are scheduled to be completed by Thursday 15^th August.

The successful teams will progress to the semi finals, which are scheduled to be completed by Friday 30^th August.

The line up for the semi finals will be:-

Rowallan Castle or Annanhill Vs Kilbirnie Place or Redburn

Kilmarnock Barassie or Ayr Dalmilling Vs Beith or Royal Troon.