WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Another weekend of mixed results for Ayrshire in week 2

The Ayrshire teams had another weekend of mixed fortunes in week 2 of the West of Scotland Inter County matches for the A and Youths teams on Sunday the 5th of September against teams from Lanarkshire.

The A team, who lost out on the opening weekend, enjoyed an emphatic victory over their visitors on week 2, winning the match over the Troon Lochgreen course by 6.5 - 1.5

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

John Shanks (Irvine) beat Dylan Burt (Colville Park) by 2&1

John Haggarty (Loudoun) beat Mark O'Donnell (Hamilton) by 1 hole

Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Scott McPherson (Bothwell Castle) by 3&2

Adam Sweeney (Prestwick St Cuthbert) halved with Greg Watson (Hamilton)

Craig Telfer (Turnberry) beat Willie Steele (Lanark) by 6&5 

Barry O'Rourke (Loudoun) beat Shaun Philbin (Cambuslang) by 2 holes

Darren Mallinson (Irvine) beat Callum MacLean (Hamilton) by 5&4

Blair Morton (Royal Troon) lost to Callum Connacher (Wishaw) by 1 hole

AYRSHIRE   6.5   LANARKSHIRE   1.5

In the other matches played on the 25th of September, Renfrewshire beat Dumbartonshire 5 - 3 at Ranfurly Castle and Glasgow beat Stirlingshire 4.5 - 3.5 at Cowglen.

The present positions in the A League are

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
RENFREWSHIRE	2	2	0	0	11	5	6	8
AYRSHIRE	2	1	0	1	9.5	6.5	3	4
STIRLINGSHIRE	2	1	0	1	8.5	7.5	1	4
GLASGOW	2	1	0	1	8	8	0	4
DUMBARTONSHIRE	2	1	0	1	7.5	8.5	-1	4
LANARKSHIRE	2	0	0	2	3.5	12.5	-9	0

On Sunday the 2nd of October, week three of the five week series, the Ayrshire A team play host to Renfrewshire at Royal Troon.

The Youths team travelled to Strathaven on Sunday the 25th of September for the corresponding fixture in the Youths League, on the back of a comprehensive win in their opening fixture the previous weekend. 

Due to several regular county players being unavailable as a result of a clash with various club fixtures, several players were given the opportunity to represent their county for the first time, with Sam Crozier (West Kilbride) in particular showing his potential with a comprehensive win in his first appearance for the county side, alongside Lewis Higgins (Ardeer) who also had a winning debut.

Despite some close ties and a fighting display from all the team members, it was Lanarkshire who won the match by 5.5 - 2.5

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Jamie Hay (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Kieran McVicar (East Kilbride) by 6&4

Scott Newman (Royal Troon) lost to Greg Andrew (East Kilbride) by 1 hole

Rob Yorston (Loudoun) lost to Scott Thomson (Drumpellier) by 5&3

David Blyth (Ballochmyle) halved with David Fair (Hamilton) 

Sam Crozier (West Kilbride) beat Ben Patterson (Bellshill) by 7&5

Adam Cowie (Loudoun) lost to Rudi Brown (East Kilbride) by 5&4

Connor McMillan (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Mitchell Ronald (East Kilbride) by 5&4

Lewis Higgins (Ardeer) beat Luke Robertson (East Kilbride) by 2 holes 

LANARKSHIRE YOUTHS    5.5    AYRSHIRE YOUTHS    2.5

In the other youths matches held on Sunday the 25th of September, Renfrewshire beat Dumbartonshire 6 - 2 at Balmore and Glasgow beat Stirlingshire 7 - 1 at Grangemouth.

Present positions in the Youths league after week 2 are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
LANARKSHIRE	2	2	0	0	12.5	3.5	9	8
AYRSHIRE	2	1	0	1	10	6	4	4
GLASGOW	2	1	0	1	9	7	2	4
DUMBARTONSHIRE	2	1	0	1	8	8	0	4
RENFREWSHIRE	2	1	0	1	7	9	-2	4
STIRLINGSHIRE	2	0	0	2	1.5	14.5	-13	0

On Sunday the 2nd of October the Ayrshire Youths team travel to Erskine to face Renfrewshire youths.

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION AGM - Initial notice emailed to member clubs

The initial notice for the 2022 Ayrshire Golf Association Annual General Meeting has been emailed to the Secretaries of all member clubs recently.

The Annual General Meeting will be held in Loudoun Gowf Club, Newmilns Road, Galston, KA4 8PA, on Tuesday the 18th of  October 2022 at 7.30pm. 

The provisional agenda for the AGM is :-

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of AGM of 25/10.2021 

3. Matters Arising

4. Presidents report – to be forwarded in due course

5. Financial report – to be forwarded in due course

6. Coaching report – to be forwarded in due course

7. Course rating report – to be forwarded in due course

8. Ayrshire Junior League Report – to be forwarded in due course

9. Election of Secretary/Treasurer

10. Election of General Committee

11. Area Subscriptions

12. Proposal to establish fully representative County Association

13. AOCB

In accordance with the constitution, there is one retiring member from the executive this year, who is not seeking re-election. It is likely there will be five vacancies for three years on the Executive committee. 

Clubs are invited encourage members interested in serving on the Ayrshire Golf Association Executive to contact the Secretary or Executive members for more information and if appropriate seek nomination for the vacant posts. 

Under the constitution, Nominees must be a member of a club affiliated to The Ayrshire Golf Association and be proposed and seconded by members of affiliated clubs also.

The work of The Association Executive is varied and encompasses, amongst other things, Competitions, Course rating, handicapping, team administration at all age groups, rules and working with the National body and local agencies in the promotion of golf in the county.

All matters for the AGM, any proposals from member clubs and nominations for above positions and Executive posts require to be in the hands of The Secretary, in writing, by Friday the 7th of October 2022 at the latest.   

It would be desirable if all member clubs could be represented by one or two appointed representatives at the Annual General Meeting. One representative will be permitted to vote on behalf of the club.

The final Agenda of the meeting, various reports, 2021 AGM minutes, annual balance sheet and budget proposals will be forwarded to clubs the week prior to the AGM and at this time clubs will be requested to advise if they will be represented at the AGM, and by whom if possible. All documentation will be forwarded to club secretaries by email in due course.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Troon Welbeck win Wallace Thornton Trophy

Troon Welbeck won the 2022 competition for the Wallace Thornton Trophy on Sunday the 25th of September when the final took place at Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club.

In the final against Kilmarnock (Barassie), the Troon Welbeck team drew the match 2 - 2 but were declared winners of the trophy by virtue of a countback over the individual tie results. 

SCOTTISH SENIORS INTER AREA CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire finish in 8th place at Monifieth

The six man Ayrshire team finished in eight place at the Scottish Seniors Inter Area Championship held at Monifieth Links on Friday the 23rd of September.

With five counting scores from six going towards the team score, the Ayrshire team finished on 378, ten shots behind the winning Lanarkshire team on 368 and eight shots adrift of the medal places, taken by Glasgow and Perth & Kinross on 370.

Robert Jenkins (Royal Troon) returned the best round for the Ayrshire team, with a 71, one stroke ahead of fellow Royal Troon and Scottish Senior Internationalist Paul Moultrie, with a 72.

The full list of Ayrshire scores were:-

71 - Robert Jenkins (Royal Troon)

72 - Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon)

76 - Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie)

78 - Paul Ferguson (Turnberry)

81 - Alistair Belford (Prestwick St Nicholas)

84 - Stephen McKnight (Royal Troon) 

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Mixed fortunes for Ayrshire teams on the opening weekend of the 2022 campaign

There were mixed fortunes for the Ayrshire teams on the opening weekend of the five week series of West of Scotland Inter County matches, on Sunday the 18th of September against Stirlingshire, with the A team losing and the youths team winning the respective ties.

The winning Ayrshire Youths team against Stirlingshire

The A team were away from home at Dunblane New GC  and lost the match overall by 5-3, though the result could have gone either way in what was an extremely close contest.

With the exception of the anchor tie, which Steven Stamper (Turnberry) won by 2&1, and Adam Sweeney (Prestwick St Cuthbert) and Darren Mallinson (Irvine) losing their respective ties by the same margin, the other five ties went to the final hole, with Ayrshire unable to take a full point from any of the encounters, four of the ties finishing all square and the remaining one being lost.

Match details (Stirlingshire names first):-

James Donaldson (Stirling) beat Steven McEwan (Caprington) by 2 holes

Alex Marshall (Grangemouth) halved with Blair Morton (Royal Troon)

Craig McGann (Dunblane) halved with Scott brown (Turnberry)

Greg McLellan (Stirling) beat Adam Sweeney (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 2&1

Eion Brown (Kilsyth Lennox) halved with John Haggarty (Loudoun)

Richard Johnston (Glenbervie) halved with Barry O'Rourke (Loudoun)

Charlie Linton (Dunblane) beat Darren Mallinson (Irvine) by 2&1

Mark Hyslop (Glenbervie) lost to Steven Stamper (Turnberry) by 2&1

STIRLINGSHIRE A    5   AYRSHIRE A    3

In the corresponding youths match played at Rowallan Castle GC, late call offs resulted in Stirlingshire only being able to field four of their team of eight players, which resulted in walkovers in the four ties due to involve David Blyth (Ballochmye), Jack Allan (Ballochmyle), Rob Yorston (Loudoun) and Jamie Hay (Ayr Belleisle). 

Ayrshire won three of the four remaining ties that went out on the course, and halved the other tie, which resulted in a 7.5 - 0.5 win overall for Ayrshire in the match.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Harvey Broadfoot (Royal Troon) halved with Callum Beauchop (Glenbervie)

Aidan Long (Ayr Belleisle) beat Liam Sutherland (Falkirk) by 3&1

Harvey McDonald (Turnberry) beat Mark Black (Grangemouth) by 1 hole

Jack Ramsay (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Ryan Thomson (Grangemouth) by 4&2

David Blyth (Ballochmyle) W/O

Jack Allan (Ballochmyle) W/O

Rob Yorston (Loudoun) W/O

Jamie Hay (Ayr Belleisle) W/O

AYRSHIRE YOUTHS   7.5   STIRLINGSHIRE YOUTHS   0.5

Next Sunday, the 25th f September, Ayrshire face Lanarkshire, with the A team at home over the Troon Lochgreen course and the Youths Team away from home at Strathaven.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - West Kilbride end 13 year wait to take league Championship crown

The 2022 Ayrshire Junior Golf League champions are West Kilbride Golf Club, who took this year's title on a countback when the final was held at Loudoun Gowf Club on Sunday the 18th of September.

The winning West Kilbride team, with Junior Convener Gary Voigwell.

The 2022 final saw West Kilbride face the 2021 runners up from Irvine Golf Club and the match was on a knife edge throughout, eventually finishing 3-3 with west Kilbride securing their first title win since 2009 by virtue of a countback over the six individual ties, by a score of 22-10.

Match details (Irvine names first):-

R Kennedy lost to S Crozier by 9&7

A Hay beat F Watt by 5&3

L Moran beat E Forrest by 1 hole

L Trundle beat L Vogwell by 1 hole

L Milligan lost to C Shanks by 2&1

C Duffy lost to C Welsh by 2&1

IRVINE     3    WEST KILBRIDE  3

(West Kilbride win 22-10 on the countback)

The 2022 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship finalists

At the conclusion of the final Ayrshire Junior Golf League Secretary, and Loudoun GC Captain, Gavin Scott announced the results and the League Championship trophy was presented to the winning team by Ayrshire Golf Association President Scott Gilchrist.

SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONALS - Royal Troon pair help Scotland to victory in inaugural combined event

Royal Troon members Paul Moultrie & Robert Jenkins helped the Scotland Woman’s and Men’s Senior team to victory in the inaugural Combined Senior Home Internationals matches, held at Pyle & Kenfig GC in Wales from the 13th to the 15th of September.

On the opening day Scotland defeated Wales 10 – 8. Paul Moultrie was paired with Kenny Gallacher (East Kilbride) in the foursomes on day one, losing out by 4&3 to Neil Roderick & Phil Sutton whilst Robert Jenkins and Ronnie Clark (Erskine) lost their foursomes tie by 2&1 to Mike White & Phil Evans, as the foursomes were shared 3-3. In the afternoon singles, which Scotland won 7-5, Robert Jenkins beat Gwyn Jones by 6&5 and Paul Moultrie added another crucial point in the anchor tie with a 4&3 win over Mike White.

In the other match on day one, Ireland beat England by 10-8.

On the second day Scotland faced England and took the morning foursomes 4-2, with Paul Moultrie teaming up with Ronnie Clark on this occasion and securing a 7&6 victory over Steve Sansome and Aide Firman, whilst Robert Jenkins and Nick Robson (Royal Aberdeen) combined for a 2&1 win over Ian Attoe & Trevor Foster. 

Scotland also won the afternoon singles by 6.5-5.5 to take the match overall by 10.5-7.5, with Paul Moultrie and Robert Jenkins both securing points, with victories by 3&2 over Warren Bladon and by one hole over Stephen Creed respectively.

Victory on day two for Ireland over Wales, by 13.5-4.5, set up a winner takes all final day meeting between Ireland and Scotland to decide the destination of the 2022 title.

On the final day Scotland stunned the Irish team in the morning foursomes, taking the series of matches by 5-1. Paul Moultrie again partnered Ronnie Clark, to record a single hole victory over Eamonn Haugh  & Jodie Fanagan, whilst Robert Jenkins and Nick Robson were a successful pairing for the second day running, beating David Mulholland and John O’Brien by 6&5.

Scotland completed the victory and took the Home Internationals title in the afternoon, winning the singles 6.5-5.5 for an overall match victory by 11.5-6.5.

Paul Moultrie finished the campaign with a 4&3 defeat by Declan O’Neill whilst Robert Jenkins bowed out with a single hole victory over David Mulholland.

England rounded of the championship with a 14.5-3.5 victory over Wales to secure third place overall.

The two Ayrshire players played a significant part in the win, Paul Moultrie contributing four points from a possible six, with Robert Jenkins going one better with five points from a possible six.

The full Scotland team for the matches was:-

Ronnie Clark (Erskine)

Karen Ferguson-Sneddon (Mortonhall)

Kenny Gallacher (East Kilbride) 

Stewart Henderson (Hamilton)

Robert Jenkins (Royal Troon) 

Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire)

Diane Macdonald (Dumfries & County)

Karen Marshall (Baberton)

John Mathers (Haggs Castle)

Elaine Moffat (ST Regulus)

Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon)

Wendy Nicholson (Baberton)

Nick Robson (Royal Aberdeen)

Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies)

The title will be defended next year on home soil, in Ayrshire, when Scotland host the event at West Kilbride Golf Club from the 19th to the 21st of September 2023.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Kilmarnock Barassie and West Kilbride retain respective Division 1 and 2 places after play off wins

Kilmarnock Barassie and West Kilbride have retained their respective places in Divisions 1 and 2 of the Ayrshire Scratch leagues next season, after victories in the Division 1/2 and 2/3 play offs on Sunday the 11th of September.

Kilmarnock Barassie went into the away leg of their play off with Turnberry with a 3.5 - 2.5 lead after the home leg of the tie, and they repeated the scoreline away from home to retain their top division status with a 7 - 5 overall victory in the play off.

Match details of the second leg (Turnberry names first) were:-

Dominic Booth beat Robbie Muir by 2&1

Harvey Macdonald lost to Andy Campbell by 3&1

Billy McCullough lost to Jack Ramsay by 3&2

Scott Brown beat Adrian Orton by 4&3

Paul Ferguson halved with Stuart Miller 

Craig Telfer lost to Bruce Caldow by 4&3 

In the Division 2/3 play off West Kilbride held a 4 - 2 lead from the home leg of their tie and although Ardeer won the return leg, their 3.5 - 2.5 victory was not enough to prevent West Kilbride winning the play off overall by 6.5 - 5.5

Details of the second leg tie (Ardeer names first) were:-

Jason Butler beat J Shearer by 3&1

Scott Ainsworth beat C Gray by 1 hole

Paul Giffney beat A Kelly by 6&4

Dylan Scally lost to C Lawson by 3&2

Scott Gibson halved with C Stevenson

Craig Stewart lost to A Brown by 3&2

2022 SCOTTISH SENIORS INTER AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire team announced for Monifieth event

The Ayrshire Golf Association team for the 2022 Scottish Seniors Golfing Society Inter Area Team Championship at Monifieth Golf Links on Friday the 23rd of September has been announced.

Paul Moultrie, Robert Jemkins, Alistair Belford,
Paul Ferguson, Robert McKnight, Stuart Miller

Paul Moultrie and Robert Jenkins of Royal Troon, who are both members of the Scotland Senior Home Internationals team, are joined in the team by clubmate Stephen McKnight, inaugural Ayrshire Seniors Matchplay Champion Alistair Belford (Prestwick St Nicholas), along with Turnberry's Paul Ferguson and Stuart Miller of Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Five scores from six will form the team score, with the sixth score being used in the event of a tie.

IRVINE JUNIOR OPEN - 2022 competition postponed due to Her Majesty's funeral

The Irvine Junior Open, due to take place on Monday the 19th of September, has been postponed as it clashes with the day of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.

As a mark of respect the Irvine GG will be closed on the day of the funeral and consequently the Junior Open has been rescheduled, and will now take place on

SATURDAY the 24th of SEPTEMBER 2022 , from 1.30 p.m.

It is requested that all club junior convenors in Ayrshire advise their members taking part in the event of the change of date, and confirm to the competition organisers that players are still available for the rescheduled date.

Additional entries may also be accommodated on the rearranged date.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR ORDER OF MERIT - Jack Broadfoot confirmed as 2022 winner

With the completion of the penultimate counting event, The Prestwick St Nicholas Junior Open, on Sunday the 11th of September, Jack Broadfoot (Troon Welbeck) has been confirmed as the 2022 winner of the Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit title.

With the top two players in the Order of Merit unavailable due to county representative duties in the Scottish Area Boys' Team Championship, Jamie Hay (Ayr Belleisle) consolidated his third place, and moved closer to second spot with a second place finish at Prestwick St Nicholas with a score of 73, three shots adrift of Drew Cleaver (Ayr Belleisle) who returned the best scratch score of the day with a 70.

The only remaining counting event is the Irvine Junior Open which was scheduled to take place on Monday the 19th of September but has, due to the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II taking place that day, been postponed until Saturday the 24th of September.

With just one counting event remaini9ng, current standings in the Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit are:-   

SCOTTISH BOYS' AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire's hopes of retaining title washed away in afternoon rain at Gleddoch

Ayrshire's hopes of retaining the Scottish Boys' Area team Championship title were washed away in the afternoon of heavy rain at Gleddoch GC on Sunday the 11th of September.

With Harvey Broadfoot and Connor Wills from the victorious Ayrshire team of 2021 back in the team this year, the Ayrshire team started well in the morning foursomes, Harvey And Connor scoring 74 (+2)  and Jack Broadfoot & Ryan Kennedy returning a 75 (+3) to leave Ayrshire lying in second place overall going into the afternoon singles, just four shots adrift of the North area. in first place, and with realistic hopes of emulating the 2021 side. 

Unfortunately however, the Ayrshire players were out in the latter groups in the afternoon singles and the rain, which started in the opening holes, became increasingly heavy throughout the afternoon, leaving the four Ayrshire team players facing a battle of attrition for the vast majority of their round over an increasingly wet course, which was on the verge of being unplayable as the last few groups completed their rounds.

Despite the chances of retaining the national title slipping away, it was to the credit of the four team members that they battled on and returned scores which ultimately left the Ayrshire team in mid table when the final results were announced.

Details of the Ayrshire scores were:-

The final placings in the championship, which was won by the North East Area Association, were:-

PRESIDENT'S PUTTER - County title double for Moorpark

Moorpark GC completed a county title double on Sunday the 11th of September at Loudoun Gowf Club with victory in the President's Putter final.

Following their win in the Handicap League Championship final the previous weekend, the Moorpark team followed with a win in the handicap club team knockout competition final against West Kilbride with a 3 - 0 victory.

Receiving several shots in the two singles and one foursomes tie, singles tie victories by Andrew Armstrong and Jamie Ralston secured the win for Moorpark, and the victory was completed with a foursomes win at the seventeenth hole.

Ayrshire Golf Association Secretary Alasdair Malcolm presented the trophy to the winning team at the conclusion of the final.

Match details (Moorpark names first):-  

Andrew Armstrong (13) beat Samuel Crozier (6) by 5 & 4

Jamie Ralston (18) beat Jason Crozier (10) by 6 & 5

Alan Burns & John Beckett (17) beat Brian banks & Jim Hendry (7) by 2 & 1

MOORPARK       3      WEST KILBRIDE   0

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Division 1 / 2 play off on a knife edge for second leg clash

The result of the division 1 / 2 play off in the Ayrshire Scratch Leagues, between Kilmarnock (Barassie) and Turnberry, remain on a knife edge after the first leg at Kilmarnock (Barassie) recently.

The home side take a narrow 3.5 - 2.5 lead into the second leg, scheduled to be played at Turnberry on Sunday the 11th of September.

The match details from the first leg (Kilmarnock Barassie names first) were :-

Adrian Orton lost to Scott Brown by 2 holes

Robbie Muir lost to Craig Telfer by 2 & 1

Jack Ramsay halved with Harvey McDonald

Ross Caddis beat Peter Keenan by 6 & 5

Bruce Caldow beat Paul Ferguson by 3 & 2

Stuart Miller beat Alan Connery by 4 & 2

KILMARNOCK BARASSIE     3.5     TURNBERRY    2.5

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Championship updates

The Ayrshire Junior Golf League competition finals are rapidly progressing towards a conclusion this month.

The AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP final, between West Kilbride and Irvine, is scheduled to take place at Loudoun Gowf Club on Sunday the 18th of September at 1.00 p.m.

The date and venue of the UNDER 16 KNOCKOUT TROPHY final, between Irvine and Troon Welbeck, has still to be confirmed, as is the CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY final, between Ayrshire Boys Champion Harvey Broadfoot and Sam Crosier of West Kilbride, who secured his place in the final this week with an away win in the semi final against Cameron Shanks (Caprington).

Troon Welbeck secured their place in the final of the WALLACE THORNTON TROPHY competition this week with a second leg victory by 3.5 - 1.5 in their semi final clash with Ayr Belleisle, and now await the winners of the other semi-final, between Kilmarnock Barassie and Prestwick St Nicholas, in the final with the date and venue to be confirmed.