SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - Jenson Fergusson leads six Ayrshire qualifiers into matchplay stages

Six of the eleven players from Ayrshire in the Scottish Boys Championship, being played at Fraserburgh GC this week, have qualified for the matchplay stages after the second round of strokeplay qualifying was completed on Thursday the 16th of July.

Jenson Fergusson (Royal Troon) lead the Ayrshire challenge, qualifying in second spot following a second round of 66 for a five under par total of 135, just three shots adrift of the top qualifier, Fraser Brown (Nairn). 

Harris Vennard (Ayr Belleisle) and Archie Baker (Prestwick St Nicholas) qualified in equal eleventh place on 142, two over par,  after rounds of 71-71, and 69-73 respectively.

Gregor Hay (Ayr Belleisle) added a second round of 76 to his opening 69 for a five over par total of 145 and a joint twenty fourth qualifying place.

Mason Chisholm (Irvine) recovered from an opening 76 to post a second round 71 for a seven over par score of 147 and an equal thirty fifth place in qualifying.

The last Ayrshire player to qualify for the matchplay stages was Finlay Watt (West Kilbride) who fought back from an opening score of 78 to post a 72 in the second round and a ten over par total of 150, for an equal fifty third spot in qualifying.

The qualifying score fell at 152, twelve over par, with three players from five on that score filling the last of the sixty four matchplay places.

James McNeillie (West Kilbride), who had an opening round of 80, recorded a second round of 73 for a thirteen over par total of 153 to agonisingly miss the qualification mark by a single shot.

Other Ayrshire scores

155 (+15) - Connor Hunter (Prestwick St Nicholas) 83-72 - joint 80th place.

156 (+16) - Ryan Steven (Ayr Belleisle) 76-80 - Joint 87th place.

157 (+17) - Findlay Andrew (Turnberry) 81-76 - Joint 90th place.

162 (+23) - Thomas Carlyle (Turnberry) 78-85 - Joint 114th place.

The matchplay stages commence on Friday morning, the 17th of July, at Fraserburgh GC.

The ties involving Ayrshire players are:-

0820 - Harris Vennard (Ayr Belleisle) Vs Sebastian Harvey (West Links)

0915 - Jenson Fergusson (Royal Troon) Vs Harry Riley (Downfield)

1023 - Gregor Hay (Ayr Belleisle) Vs Jamie McDonald (St Andrews New)

1035 - Archie Baker (Prestwick St Nicholas) Vs Archie cargill (Arbroath Artisan)

1059 - Cameron Russell (Crieff) Vs Mason Chisholm (Irvine)

1107 - Oliver Henderson (Bathgate) Vs Finlay Watt (West Kilbride)