SCOTTISH MEN'S AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire draw away to Argyll & Bute in opening fixture

Ayrshire opened their bid for the 2023 Scottish Men's Area Team Championship title on Sunday the 7th of May with a 4.5 - 4.5 draw away from home against Argyll & Bute at Rothesay Golf Club.

In a tight foursomes series in the morning, Ayrshire trailed 2-1 after losing two ties on the final green.

The afternoon singles saw good wins for Jack Broun in the lead tie, Steven Stamper in a pivotal tie and Daniel Forbes, with the biggest winning margin of the day, along with a crucial half match by Craig Hamilton. Both John Haggarty and John Shanks fought back from 4 down with 5 to play but just came up short, both losing on the penultimate green, leaving the final match score tied at 4.5 - 4.5.

Match details (Ayrshire names first) :-

Morning Foursomes

Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) & Jack Broun (Turnberry) lost to Craig Pirrie & Jack Reynolds by 2&1

Daniel Forbes (Irvine) & John Haggarty (Loudoun) beat Ally Shaw & Donald Standaloft by 3&2

John Shanks (Irvine) & Steven Stamper (Girvan) lost to Callum McKirdy & Graham Bolton by 1 hole

Afternoon Singles

Jack Broun beat Craig Pirrie by 1 hole

Craig Hamilton halved with Jack Reynolds

Daniel Forbes beat Ally Shaw by 7&6

Steven Stamper beat Donald Standaloft by 1 hole

John Haggarty lost to Callum McKirdy by 3&1

John Shanks lost to Graham Bolton by 2&1

AYRSHIRE   4.5  ARGYLL & BUTE  4.5

Next month Ayrshire host Dumbartonshire, on Sunday the 4th of June, at Dundonald Links in the second of the three match qualifying series.