AYRSHIRE FIXTURES 2013 - Provisional list for the new season

The provisional fixture list, subject to venue confirmation, for the 2013 Ayrshire Golf Association competitons is now available.

The provisional list for 2013 is as follows :-

MONTH	DATE	FIXTURE	VENUE
MARCH	24	AYRSHIRE v SOUTH of SCOTLAND	tba
APRIL	21	AYRSHIRE BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS	KILBIRNIE
	28	AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP	PRESTWICK
MAY	6 to 9	AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP	PRESTWICK ST. NICHOLAS
	18 - 19	AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS	CRAIL
		AYRSHIRE U18  v STIRLING U18	AWAY
JUNE	9	SCOTTISH BOYS AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP	PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT
	16	AYRSHIRE U18 v LANARK U18	CAPRINGTON
JULY	7	AYRSHIRE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP	KILMARNOCK BARASSIE
	16	AYRSHIRE SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP	LOUDOUN
		AYRSHIRE U18 v DUMBARTON U18	AWAY
AUGUST	1	AYRSHIRE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP	BALLOCHMYLE
	2	CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS SEMI FINALS	ROYAL TROON
	6 to 8	AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP	PRESTWICK
	9	CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS FINAL	ROYAL TROON
	18	AYRSHIRE U18  v GLASGOW U18	LOUDOUN
SEPTEMBER		AYRSHIRE U18  v RENFREW U18	AWAY
	15	AYRSHIRE A v LANARK A	AWAY
	15	AYRSHIRE Y v LANARK Y	TROON PORTLAND
	22	AYRSHIRE A v DUMBARTON A	TROON LOCHGREEN
	22	AYRSHIRE Y v DUMBARTON Y	AWAY
	29	AYRSHIRE A v GLASGOW A	AWAY
	29	AYRSHIRE Y v GLASGOW Y	IRVINE RAVENSPARK
OCTOBER	6	AYRSHIRE A v RENFREW A	AWAY
.	6	AYRSHIRE Y v RENFREW Y	AYR SEAFIELD
	13	AYRSHIRE A v STIRLING A	IRVINE
	13	AYRSHIRE Y v STIRLING Y	AWAY

ALPS TOUR - Top 20 finish for Michael Stewart in final qualifying event

By COLIN FARQUHARSONColin@scottishgolfview.com

Michael Stewart

Michael Stewart and Ross Cameron assured themselves of regular starts on next year's Alps Tour by finishing within the top 20 on the last day of the Final Qualifying School at La Cala Golf Resort, Marbella on the Costa del Sol this week.

But John Henry, after a 67 in the second round, ran up an 80 and a final placing of joint 62nd puts him well down the pecking order for starts on the 2013 Tour.

Troon's Stewart, whose pro career has never got out of the starting blocks since the Walker Cup in September 2011, at last showed he could still string three good rounds together as he used to do as an amateur on a regular basis.

He shot 70, 72 and 69 for five-under-par 211 and a share of 12th place. He had seven birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey 7 at the long 11th in halves of 33-36.

Cameron, from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, finished joint 18th on 212 with scores of 68, 72 and 72. He had one birdie and one bogey in a so-steady final round.

Henry, from the Clydebank and District GC, shot 75-67-80 or six-over 222. He had a triple bogey 7 at the 15th and a double bogey 6 at the second.

Winner of the Alps Tour Q School was Spain's Carols Pigem with a 13-under-par total of 203 (72-64-67).

Joint runners-up were Alex Christie (England) and Walker Cup Welshman Rhys Enoch on 204.

Former Stirling University student David Booth, winner of the Scottish youths championship in 2008 - and Englishman from Rotherham, finished in joint ninth place on 209.
ALPS TOUR FINAL QUALIFYNG SCHOOL
La Cala Golf Resort, Marbella, Spain
LEADING TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
203 Carlos Pigem (Spa) 72 64 67
204 Alex Christie (Eng) 68 68 68, Rhys Enoch (Wal) 71 64 69
205 Ben Evans (Eng) 69 73 73, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 69 68 68

SELECTED TOTALS
209 David Booth (Eng) 71 71 67 (T9)
211 Michael Stewart (Sco) 70 72 69 (T12)
212 Ross Cameron (Sco) 68 72 72 (T18)
222 John Henry (Sco) 75 67 80 (T62)

JOHN PANTON AWARD - Frank Rennie honoured by PGA

Frank Rennie

Long-serving Prestwick PGA professional Frank Rennie received the John Panton Award at the annual Scottish PGA luncheon, held in Glasgow on Wednesday 19th December, for his services to the game.

From the PGA Scottish Region website)

It was a poignant moment for the 75-year-old as the late, great John Panton had given Rennie his first ever golf lesson more than half a century ago.

"It's quite an achievement to receive this award and it was John Panton who was my inspiration to become a professional," said Rennie.

"He also gave me my first ever golf lessons at Glenbervie. It was quite emotional receiving this honour because we were good friends. It was also nice that many of my members from Prestwick were here as well."

Rennie grew up in a small village called Alva near Sterling and began his career at Gleneagles in 1958 before moving to Prestwick in 1962, becoming only the fifth pro since Old Tom Morris and where he stayed for 42 years.

He won the Northern Open in 1971 and played in a couple of Open Championships including at Muirfield in 1966 when he played the last two rounds with Panton.

Also receiving recognition at the luncheon, which raises vital money for the PGA Benevolent Fund, was former Walker Cup player, David Patrick, who received the Stewart Thom Award for the leading third-year young professional on the PGA Foundation Degree.

Respected golf writer and broadcaster Renton Laidlaw received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to the golfing media.

Guest speaker at the lunch was Colin Montgomerie

AYRSHIRE COMPETITIONS - Entry date reminder.

Clubs are reminded that the closing date for entries to the 2013 Ayrshire Champion Of Champions, Ayrshire Fourball and Ayrshire Scratch Leagues competitions is 31st January 2013.

Entry forms for all three competitions were forwarded by email to club secretaries in Early November.

If any club has not received the forms they can obtain copies by contacting the Association Secretary.
To date, the undernoted clubs have submitted entries for the events :-

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY
Prestwick St Cuthbert
Malletsheugh
Glacier
Prestwick St Nicholas
Wallacetown
Auchenharvie
Irvine
Alton
Ballochmyle
Ayr Dalmilling
West Kilbride

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL TROPHY
Prestwick St Cuthbert
Malletsheugh
Glacier
Prestwick St Nicholas
Wallacetown
Irvine
Alton
Ballochmyle
Ayr Dalmilling
West Kilbride

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES
Prestwick St Cuthbert
Prestwick St Nicholas
Irvine
Ballochmyle
Ayr Dalmilling
West Kilbride

MERRY CHRISTMAS !! - Some Christmas fun (back by popular demand ??)

For those who didn't see this last years, here's a little Christmas fun, sending best wishes to all our member clubs and golfers throughout Ayrshire this Christmas

(Click on the link below to view)

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/0Ay7KnXK7gg4ZEBV?cmpid=fb_nc

 

AMALGAMATION - Re-established group heralds new hope for positive progress

The process for exploring the possible amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) has moved forward with the re-establishment of a Joint Group tasked with developing an amalgamation proposal.

Substantive discussions on the formation of a single governing body for amateur golf in Scotland can now resume in a positive atmosphere.

Alastair Thornton, a Sheriff (Kirkcaldy) and former solicitor, has been appointed as Independent Chairman of the Joint Group. Thornton, a keen golfer, was for many years a partner in the Edinburgh solicitor practice, A & W M Urquhart, where he specialised in litigation and mediation.  He is also Past President of the Law Society of Scotland.

The SGU chairman, Tom Craig, said: “The SGU, in partnership with the SLGA, is committed to working towards a unified body in the Home of Golf.

“There is a great deal of common ground, and both bodies are ready to re-commence detailed consideration by means of a Joint Group. Alastair Thornton’s credentials are impressive and we look forward to working with him.”


Shona Malcolm, SLGA Chairman, added: “Alastair expressed an enthusiasm for being involved in the process. He is an excellent choice for this role and we are confident that our discussions, as a Joint Group, will enable us to progress this already lengthy amalgamation process to a conclusion which is in the best interests of Scottish amateur golf.”

MID AMATEUR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP OF SCOTLAND - Turnberry selected as 2013 venue

Mid Amateur Golf are pleased to announce that The Scottish Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship will take place at The Turnberry Resort (Kintyre course) on Tuesday 13^th and Wednesday 14^th August 2013.

 

The tournament will be held over 54 holes with the winner being the player who returns the lowest gross score for the 54 holes.  There will be numerous scratch and handicap prizes with an expected prize fund of over £1,000.  The event will be open to all male golfers over the age of 35 and who are in possession of an active handicap of 12 or less.  Entry into this event will also be on a first come first served basis and forms part of the R&A USGA World Amateur Golf Ranking events.

“Following on from the success of our first events in 2011 & 2012, and also the strong support we had for the event at Dundonald this year, we decided that we would continue the hosting of the event and next year we will be playing over the Kintyre course at The Turnberry Resort.  We have also changed the format to 54 holes with 36 holes on day one and then a cut, with the leading 32 players competing on day 2 over a further 18 holes.” Commented Jason Morris, director of golf at Mid Amateur Golf. 

“Our events allow players the opportunity of competing against the best Mid-Amateurs in the UK whilst having the opportunity of playing for some great prizes.  We are expecting entrants from all over the United Kingdom and Europe and we are proud to offer the mid-amateur golfers of Scotland a chance to compete in a national event in their country.”

The Scottish event is part of a national Order of Merit that includes courses such as West Lancashire, Hunstanton, Sunningdale, Chart Hills and many more.

Anyone who would like to register their interest to play in this event is asked to visit www.midamgolf.co.uk and email their details to the Tournament Secretary.