AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - latest positions as leagues draw to a close

The five Ayrshire Scratch League competitions are rapidly drawing to a close with many of the promotion and relegation issues already resolved and others being decided over the next couple of weeks.

In DIVISION 1, the destination of the title will be decided in the last match, between Loudoun and Irvine Ravenspark, with a win for either team destined to secure them the title.

Kilmarnock (Barassie) finished their campaign with a 4 - 2 home win over Irvine but look likely to come up just short for a second successive season in their title challenge. Whilst fully deserving their tilt at the title, disappointingly for the competition, particularly bearing in mind then possible significance of the result, Troon Welbeck decided to concede their last match to Loudoun who gained a 4 - 2 result as a consequence. The issue of conceded matches will be discussed at the conclusion of the season, in an effort to ensure that clubs fulfill their obligation to the competition and their fellow competitors in full in future years.

Ballochmyle will be relegated back to Divsion 2 for the 2013 competition.

Present positions in Division 1 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Kilmarnock Barassie	10	30	30	24
Irvine	10	33.5	26.5	22
Loudoun	9	31.5	22.5	22
Irvine Ravenspark	9	27.5	26.5	22
Troon Welbeck	10	25	35	16
Ballochmyle	10	26.5	33.5	10

Remaining matches:-
Loudoun Vs Irvine Ravenspark

In DIVISION 2, West Kilbride have secured the title and promotion to Division 1, following a 5 - 1 win over New Cumnock in their final home match of the season. Ardeer are in second place following a 4 - 2 home win over Prestwick St Cuthbert recently.

New Cumnock will drop down to Division 3 in 2013.

Present positions in Division 2 are :-
 

	Played	For	Against	Points
West Kilbride	9	36	18	30
Ardeer	9	26	28	20
Prestwick St Cuthbert	9	29	25	18
Caprington	9	28	26	18
Ayr Belleisle	7	21.5	20.5	16
New Cumnock	9	15.5	38.5	2

 Remaining matches :-
Ardeer Vs Caprington
Ayr Belleisle Vs West Kilbride
New Cumnock Vs Ayr Belleisle
Prestwick St Cuthbert Vs Ayr Belleisle

In DIVISION 3, the destination of the title and any relegation place are still very much to be decided, with all five teams still involved in both aspects.

Present positions in Division 3 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Largs	4	13.5	10.5	12
Prestwick St Nicholas	6	18	18	12
Kilbirnie Place	6	17.5	18.5	12
Troon St Meddans	6	17.5	18.5	12
Tam O Shanter	6	17.5	18.5	8

 Remaining matches :-
Troon St Meddans Vs Tam O Shanter
Largs Vs Prestwick St Nicholas
Largs Vs Tam O Shanter
Kilbirnie Place Vs Largs
Prestwick St Nicholas Vs Kilbirnie Place
Largs Vs Troon St Meddans

In DIVISION 4, Girvan secured the title and promotion some weeks agowhilst the remaining four teams are still contending the relegation place.

Present positions in Division 4 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Girvan	6	31	5	24
Turnberry	6	18.5	17.5	12
Moorpark	6	13.5	22.5	8
Maybole	6	12.5	23.5	8
Ayr Dalmilling	6	14.5	21.5	8

 Remaining matches :-
Maybole Vs Girvan
Maybole Vs Moorpark
Ayr Dalmilling Vs Turnberry
Moorpark Vs Turnberry
Girvan Vs Ayr Dalmilling

In DIVISION 5, Rowallan Castle lead the chase for the title and promotion to division 4.

Remaining matches :-
Rowallan Castle Vs Brunston Castle
Brunston Castle Vs Doon Valley
Brunston Castle Vs Rowallan Castle

Present positions in Division 5 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Rowallan Castle	4	16.5	7.5	16
Brunston Castle	3	11.5	6.5	8
Doon Valley	5	13	17	8
Crosshouse	6	13	23	4

GLASGOW YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire trio bid for team title

Ayrshire will have a team of three bidding to land the Glasgow Youths title at Ralston Golf Club on Saturday 15th September.

Former Ayrshire Boys Champion Callum Beveridge (Troon Welbeck) will team up with Louis Murray (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Jack McCluskey (Ayr Belleisle) in their bid to bring the team title to Ayrshire for the first time.
                                 

WEST OF SCOTLAND UNDER 18 LEAGUE - Ayrshire play Glasgow in final outing of the season

Ayrshire will play Glasgow at Bishopbriggs on Sunday 9th September in their final match of this season's West Of Scotland Inter County Under 18 League for the Wishart Trophy.

With Dumbartonshire already destined to retain the trophy, Ayrshire have taken the opportunity to play some of the younger squad members, in preparation for next season's title bid.
The Ayrshire team for Sunday is :-

Stuart Easton (Irvine)
Murray McCrone (Troon Welbeck) Campbell Mathieson (Troon Welbeck)
Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride)Louis Murray (Troon Welbeck)
Blair Gavin (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Darryl Lynch (Ayr Belleisle)
Jack Thomas (Irvine)

DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS - Premier junior event at Royal Troon

(SGU news release)

No-one is surprised that the 18-year-old Haydn Porteous, the highest ranked amateur in the field, is back for the 12th edition of The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy which takes place at Royal Troon next week (11th – 13th September).

 

Last year at Royal Liverpool, the South African Porteous was just one shot away from making the play-off in which England’s Harry Casey defeated the European Young Masters girls’ champion, Harang Lee.

 

Porteous has packed plenty of experience under his belt since that week. This owner of a +5 handicap has won the 2012 South African Match and Stroke Play Championships, besides finishing second behind Paul Barjon in the Scottish Stroke Play Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie). In the process, he has earned himself a reputation for being at his best down the stretch. In winning the South African Stroke Play, he came from behind with two birdies in the last four holes; at Barassie, he soared up the leaderboard with an eagle, birdie, birdie finish.

 

After the Young Champions Trophy, Porteous will be representing his country in the World Amateur Team Championships in Turkey in early October. Yet however impressive his credentials, he is likely to have a tough time of it at Royal Troon.

 

In a year when the field takes in 58 champions from 33 countries, with handicaps averaging out at a remarkable +2, Gavin Hall from the USA, Rigel Fernandes from India, Tyler Hodge from New Zealand, Kenta Konoshi from Japan and Scots pair Craig Howie and Greig Marchbank are just five who could give the South African some trouble.

 

Peebles’ Howie won the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Boys Championship in April while Marchbank of Dumfries and County claimed the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Scottish Boys’ Stroke Play title in July.

 

In the girls’ section, Scottish hopes lie with Lauren Whyte, the Scottish Girls’ champion from the St Regulus club in St Andrews.

 

Of the other girls, there is none more formidable than Casey Danielson, the current Wisconsin State School Champion. She is on the same +5 handicap mark as Porteous, while she and her older sister, Lindsay, have been cleaning up in State events for some time.

 

John Renninger, their coach, says that the sisters’ games never cease to amaze him: “Both girls are a joy to watch. They are not just great players, but they love the game and that’s so important.”

 

Much interest will also attach to the progress of Jing Yan from China who finished as the leading amateur in the LET World Ladies’ Championship. China’s golfing youth, as everyone knows, is working flat out in a bid to be a factor when golf joins the Olympics in 2016.

 

Finally, a point to ponder from the Duke of York’s remarks at the end of the 2011 event when the girls were the more impressive through the 35 mph gusts of the first day, only to find the boys catching them as the elements became a little less frisky.

 

“Boys,” came HRH’s cryptic comment, “can’t play in a gale and girls can’t play in a wind.”

In the light of that royal comment, everyone will be hoping for something more than a mild zephyr to stir the links for the Young Champions.

 

Entry to Royal Troon next week is free so please come along to cheer on stars of the future.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Kilmarnock (Barassie) recapture Wallace Thornton Trophy

The winning Kilmarnock (Barassie) team
with George Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

After a gap of three years, Kilmarnock (Barassie) recaptured the Wallace Thornton Trophy on Sunday 2nd September, beating Ardeer in the final at Prestwick St Cuthbert GC.
 
(Report by John Nordbo)

With a course was in wonderful condition, fine weather with a light wind, the Barassie team took the title with a 4 - 0 win over their opponents from Ardeer.

In the leading tie, Craig Gorman (Ardeer) took an early lead over Callum Gorrie (Barassie) when Callum found the trees at the first,  but the advantage was short-lived when Gorrie levelled the match at the second. A birdie four at the 3^rd hole restored Gorman's lead but Gorrie then hit a hot streak to win the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th to go 2up, a lead he maintained through the turn. Another hot streak from Callum saw him win the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th to win 5 & 3.

In the second tie, Sandy Walker (Ardeer) and Stewart Russell (Barassie) were evenly matched with no more than one hole between the players until  Walker lost two from three holes from the 13th to leave him two behind with three to play. Despite taking the 16th and 17th with pars to level the tie, Walker lost out when Russell rallied with a final hole birdie four to take the tie by one hole.

The Wallace Thornton Trophy finalists
with AJGL Chairman Bobby Caddis (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

In the third tie, between Neil Stevenston (Ardeer) and Blair Gavin (Barassie), the match remained close over the opening holes until Gavin won successive holes from the sixth to establish a two hole advantage, which he held until the turn and then increased by taking a further three successive holes from the 10th on his way to a 5 & 4 win.

 The final tie featured Adam Porter (Ardeer) and Euan Henderson (Barassie). Henderson won the opening two holes for an early lead which he maintained through the turn, eventually securing the match point with a 4 & 2 win.

In the end a fine win for the Kilmarnock Barassie team and Captain Callum Gorrie, in his acceptance speech, thanked Prestwick St. Cuthberts for their generous hospitality and all the organisers for their time and effort.

Match details (Ardeer names first)

Craig Gorman lost to Callum Gorrie by 5 & 3
Sandy Walker lost to Stewart Russell by 1 hole
Neil Stevenson lost to Blair Gavin by 5 & 4
Adam Porter lost to Euan Henderson by 4 & 2

ARDEER   0   KILMARNOCK (BARASSIE)   4

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - West Kilbride take Under 16 crown in sudden death play off

West Kilbride are the 2012 Ayrshire Junior Golf League Under 16 Knockout Trophy winners for 2012 after an exciting finish in the final against Ayr Belleisle which took place at Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club on Sunday 2nd September.

Under 16 winners West KIlbride
with George Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

(Report by John Nordbo)

 

In the lead tie of the four final pairings, Ayrshire squad players Sean Hedger (West Kilbride) and Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) produced some fine golf in thier tussle. The two 4 handicappers opened brightly, sharing the first in birdies. Fraser was having difficulties with his driving which allowed Hedger to claim the next 2 holes. It took Fraser to the 7^th to respond with a birdie 2 but Hedger replied winning the 8^th and 9^th to turn for home 3 up. Fraser reduced the deficit at the 11^th but Hedger hit back at the 12^th to go 3 up with 6 to play. Fraser, whose game was back in its prime, then won 3 of the next 4 holes to go all square only for Hedger to once again take the lead at the 17^th. On the last both players lay around 12 feet from the hole and whilst Hedger's putt lipped out, Fraser holed his to earn a half match.

The Under 16 finalists
with AJGL Chairman Bobby Caddis (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

In the second tie, Kieran Tumilty (West Kilbride)  won the first and remained 1 up after the 6^th against Jordan Sweeney (Ayr Belleisle). After the steady start, Tumilty pulled away rapidly, winning four of the following five holes before Sweeney managed to reduce the deficit at the 11th. Tumilty was not to be denied however, winning the 12th to restore his five hole advantage en route to a 5 & 4 win.

In the third tie between Johnathon Duncan (West Kilbride) and Andrew Gordon (Ayr Belleisle), Gordon took the early lead by winning the first although Duncan soon bounced back, winning the 3rd and 4th to take the lead. Gordon squared the match again, taking the 9th, and over the following six holes the lead was exchanged a number of times and when the players halved the 16th hole it became apparent that the tie would prove pivotal in the destination of the trophy, the fourth tie already having gone to Belleisle by this stage. Duncan championed the West KIlbride cause, winning the 17th to take a lead down the last hole, but with a calmness that belied his young age, Gordon won the final hole with a fine par to square the match.

Robert Meddings (Ayr Belleisle) had already won the fourth tie against Jack Kerr (West KIlbride), taking the first three holes and maintaining the margin of his lead through the turn to set up a 3 & 2 win, which left the match score as 2 - 2.

With honours even, the first tie, between Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) and Jordan Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) had to out again in a sudden death play-off.

After the opening drives it appeared it may be a short play off as Hedger found trees and heavy rough on the right. However, a concentrated crowd search found his ball and a miraculous second shot put him on the green, 17 feet from the pin resulting in a very unlikely halved 1^st hole. Perhaps buoyed by his unlikely eascape at the opening play off hole, Hedger won the second to give West Kilbride victory in this keenly fought final and one that Belleisle can look back on with a great deal of pride.

At the conclusion of the final, the trophies were presented by George Brown, an official of Prestwick St Cuthbert GC, assisted by  Bobby Caddis the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Chairman.

Match Details (West Kilbride names first)

Shaun Hedger halved with Jordan Fraser
Kieran Tumilty beat Jordan Sweeney by 5 & 4
Johnathon Duncan halved with Andrew Gordon
Jack Kerr lost to Robert Meddings by 3 & 2

WEST KILBRIDE  2  AYR BELLEISLE  2
(West Kilbride won at the second play off hole)

AYRSHIRE GIRLS - Emma paterson wins Centenary Trophy at Turnberry

(Report by ALCGA Junior Convener June Kerr)

Centenary Trophy winner Emma Paterson
with fellow prizewinners and competitors

Ayrshire Girls' Centenary Trophy

10 girls competed in the Centenary Trophy played over the Kintyre Course at Turnberry on Sunday 2nd September.

There was a reasonable wind blowing but plenty of sunshine making conditions lovely for this beautiful part of the Ayrshire coastline.

Emma Paterson (Loudoun) who recently won the Ayrshire Girls' St. Nicholas Trophy, completed the double by taking the Centenary Trophy with 41 points in this stableford competition.

 
Results

Silver
1st Lauren Gilbert (Largs) 39 points
2nd Rachel Irvine (Largs) 35 points
3rd Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 34 points

Bronze
1st Emma Paterson (Loudoun) 41 points - Trophy Winner
2nd Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) 40 points
3rd Fiona Campbell (Bentinck Ladies) 25 points

The Pre Handicap competitors
with winner Rachael Hart at the front

The Pre-Handicap girls played the 9 hole Arran Course.

Results

1st Rachel Hart (Troon Ladies) 48 bih
2nd Emily McAlpine (West Kilbride) 48
3rd Alison Malcolm (Prestwick St. Nicholas) 59

Putting Competition winner was Alison Malcolm

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION AGM - Monday 22nd October

The AGM of the Ayrshire Golf Association will be held at Caprington Golf Club on Monday 22nd October 2012.

Initial information will be distributed to member clubs this week.

Reports will be received at the AGM on Championships and Performance, Finance, Coaching, Course rating, The SGU and The Ayrshire Junior Golf League.

It is likely that there will be up to six vacancies on the Executive committee to be filled at the AGM, and interested individuals are encouraged to consider seeking nomination.

Any individuals interested in becoming involved in the work of The Association should make contact with the Secretary or Executive members for more information. Under the constitution, nominees for The Executive committee must be proposed and seconded by members of clubs affilliated to the Ayrshire Golf Association.

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 nominations for Executive posts require to be in the hands of The Secretary, in writing, by 1st October 2012 at the latest.