AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Division 1 set for grandstand finish

The Ayrshire Scratch League Division 1 is set for an exciting conclusion with just two games remaining and the championship and relegation positions still to be decided.

In their recent crunch match, Ballochmyle kept their hopes of staying in Division 1 next year a chance with a 3.5 – 2.5 home win over Loudoun in their final match of the season.

Loudoun are at home to Turnberry on Sunday 18^th September and need to win the match to overtake Ballochmyle and avoid relegation.

Whilst the match is a must win for Loudoun, Turnberry need at least a draw from the match to maintain their title hopes before facing league leaders Prestwick St Cuthbert in the final match of the season, at St Cuthbert, on Sunday 25^th September.

Present positions in Division 1 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
PR. ST CUTHBERT	9	31.5	22.5	26
TURNBERRY	8	28	20	20
KIL. BARASSIE	10	26.5	33.5	18
IRVINE	10	29.5	30.5	18
BALLOCHMYLE	10	28.5	31.5	16
LOUDOUN	9	24	30	14

West Kilbride are the champions of Division 2, ahead of Irvine Ravenspark at present.

Ayr Belleisle can overtake Ravenspark in second place with a victory in their final match of the season at Troon Welbeck.

Troon Welbeck and Girvan are battling it out at the foot of the table to avoid relegation, with Welbeck due to host Girvan as well as Ayr Belleisle in their remaining two matches.

Present positions in Division 2 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
WEST KILBRIDE	10	37.5	22.5	30
IRV. RAVENSPARK	10	31.5	28.5	24
AYR BELLEISLE	9	29.5	24.5	22
TR. ST MEDDANS	10	26	34	16
TROON WELBECK	8	21	27	10
GIRVAN	9	22.5	31.5	10

In Division 3, Prestwick St Nicholas kept their title hopes alive with a 5 – 1 home win over Largs. 

St Nicholas now face an away match against Largs in their final match of the season, and will be lookinf for a win to overtake Kilbirnie Place, who ended their season with a 5 – 1 home win over Caprington, at the top of the table and further dent Largs’ hopes for the title.

Largs however remain favourites to take the title with two games remaining, at home to  Prestwick St Nicholas and away to Rowallan Castle.

Present positions in Division 3 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
KILBIRNIE PLACE	8	23.5	24.5	18
PR. ST NICHOLAS	7	25.5	16.5	16
LARGS	6	21.5	14.5	16
ROWALLAN CASTLE	7	21	21	14
CAPRINGTON	8	16.5	31.5	8
ARDEER	0	0	0	0

All the matches in Division 4 have been completed with New Cumnock avoiding relegation and signing off with a 3 – 3 home draw against the league champions Troon Portland.

Final positions in Division 4 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
TROON PORTLAND	6	22	14	20
BRUNSTON CASTLE	6	19	17	12
NEW CUMNOCK	6	17	19	10
TAM O SHANTER	6	14	22	6

Division 5 is also complete, with Moorpark taking the title ahead of Crosshouse.

Final positions in Division 5 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
MOORPARK	2	8	4	6
CROSSHOUSE	2	4	8	2
AYR DALMILLING	0	0	0	0
AYR SEAFIELD	0	0	0	0

AYRSHIRE GIRLS GOLF - Alison Malcolm wins St Nicholas Trophy at breezy Barassie

9 Ayrshire girls competed for the St. Nicholas Trophy on Sunday 11th September 2016 at Kilmarnock (Barassie) Links.   

St Nicholas Trophy winner
Alison Malcolm

Playing conditions were exceptionally difficult with cross wind speeds of over 40 miles per hour.

However, the testing conditions did not deter Alison Malcolm (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) who had an excellent round of golf, with her nett 78 (SSS 76) giving her the trophy by 6 shots over West Kilbride's Claire McLaughlin in second place.

Prizewinners at Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Results

Silver:   

1st - Alison Malcolm - 92 (14) 78

2nd - Claire McLaughlin - 95 (11) 84

Bronze:

1st - Zara Mason (Kirkudbright) - 117 (30)  87

2nd - Rebecca Hale (Troon Ladies) - 120 (31) 89

Pre handicap competitors
Katie & Kirsty

Alison Malcolm's scratch score of 92 won the prize in the qualifier for the Telegraph Junior Golf competition, and as scratch winner on the day will go forward to Scottish Golf's Junior Champion of Champions at the Dukes on 22nd October.

Pre-handicap girls Katie Ronnie (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Kirsty Shaw (Ayr Dalmilling) played 9 holes, Katie finishing just ahead of Kirsty.

AYRSHIRE CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - Triumph for Loudoun and Brunston Castle in inaugural finals day

The inaugural finals of the two Ayrshire Club Team Championship competitions, introduced this year, were played at Ballochmyle Golf Club on Sunday 11th September, with Brunston castle and Loudoun taking the honours.

Both championships were played throughout the season on a knockout basis, with each match consisting of  two singles and one foursomes tie, with ties to be played to a finish with the use of extra holes if need be.

In the Club Team Handicap Championship Brunston Castle GC faced Moorpark GC for the honour of winning the President's Putter trophy for the first time.

The winning Brunston Castle team with The President's Putter
with the Moorpark amd Brunston Castle teams above, prior to the start of the final. 

The opening singles tie was between David McCulloch of Brunston Castle and Stewart Lusby of Moorpark, and it was McCulloch who secured the first point for his team with a 5 & 4 win.

The second singles tie featured mark Smith from Brunston castle and Andrew Armstrong of Moorpark and again it was the Brunston Castle player who came out on top with a 5 & 3 victory to secure a winning 2 - 0 lead for Brunston Castle.

With the destiny of the trophy decided, the remaining foursomes match between George McCulloch and Brian Jamieson of Brunston Castle and John Hargreves and Bryan King of Moorpark was agreed as a half to give Brunston Castle the title by 2.5 - 0.5.

The Club Team Scratch Championship final, for the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver featured two very strong teams from Loudoun and Preastwick St Cuthbert, with seven of the eight players involved featuring regularly in County teams.

The winning Loudoun team with the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver
Steven McEwan is missing from the picture.
Team manager Scott Gilchrist is on the left whilst caddy Ryan Kennedy is on the front right
The finalists, Prestwick St Cuthbert and Loudoun are pictured above

The opening singles tie featured Tommy McInally of Loudoun and Craig Telfer of Prestwick St Cuthbert, with McInally winning the tie by 4 & 3 to put the first point on the board for Loudoun.

At the same time, Greg Telfer was closing out his tie against Steven McEwan by 5 & 4 to leave the match score at 1 - 1 and ensuring that the destination of the title, and the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver in the inaugural year would lie with the result of the foursomes tie.

In the foursomes tie, featuring John Haggarty and Paul Kennedy of  Loudoun against Stuart Robin and Graeme Gimson of Prestwick St Cuthbert, the players approached the final tee with Loudoun one hole up.

Both pairings were on the green in three at the last and Paul Kennedy's 15 foot birdie putt ran eighteen inches past the hole, leaving Stuart Robin with a chance from just slightly less distance, for a birdie four to take the tie into extra holes. Despite a good attempt, Robin's downhill right to left putt passed the right hand side of the hole and ran three feet past. Graeme Gimson holed the return for a par five to keep the pressure on the Loudoun pair, but John Haggarty was equal to the task in and, holing his eighteen inch par put to half the hole, win the tie by one hole and take the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver for the first time.

Ayrshire Golf Association President James McMurdo presented both the new trophies to the successful teams at the end of play. 

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Final wins for Ayr Belleisle and KIlmarnock (Barassie)

The first two of the 2016 Ayrshire Junior Golf League competition finals took place at Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC on Sunday 11th September.

In the Under 16 Knockout Trophy Ayr Belleisle faced newcomers Turnberry in the final, which resulted in a win by the Belleisle team by 3 - 1.

In the lead tie, county team members Jack Broun and Euan Ferguson met and it ws Broun who won the first point for Belleisle with a 4 & 2 victory. Sean Addie made it 2 - 0 with a 2 & 1 win over Kyle Brown and the trophy was clinched for Belleisle by John Lomas when he defeated Kieran Beauchamp by 3 & 1.

2016 Under 16 winners
Ayr Belleisle

There was some consolation for Turnberry in the final tie which Daniel Long won by 6 & 4 against John Kelly to make the final match score 3 - 1.

Match details :-

Ayr Belleisle 3 Turnberry 1

Jack Broun beat Euan Ferguson 4&2

Sean Addie beat Kyle Brown 2&1

John Lomas beat Kieran Beauchamp 3&1

John Kelly lost to Daniel Long 6&4

In the scratch team competition for the Wallace Thornton Trophy, host club Kilmarnock (Barassie) faced near neighbours Troon Welbeck.

2016 Wallace Thornton Trophy winners
Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Robbie Muir put the first point on the board for the host club with a 4 & 3 win over campbell Mathieson  and Fraser Rigby added a second point with a 5 & 4 win over Murray McCrone.

Blair Fleming kept the Welbeck hopes alive with a 3 & 1 win over Andrew Bogle and the match score was levelled when Alyx Murray edged out Euan Milligan in the anchor tie by a single hole.

Robbie Muir from Kilmanrock (Barassie) was nominated to contest the play off with Alyx Murray from Troon Welbeck.

At the first hole of the play off Robbie Muir was on the par five hole in two with Alyx Murray on in three. Alyx Murray missed his birdie putt and when Robbie Muir's eagle attempt pulled up just short of the hole, the next shot was conceded for a four to give Kilmanrock (Barassie) the wallace Thornton trophy for 2015.

Match details :-

Kilmarnock Barassie 2 Troon Welbeck 2

Robbie Muir beat Campbell Mathieson 4&3

Frazer Rigby beat Murray McCrone 5&4

Andrew Bogle lost to Blair Fleming 3&1

Ewan Milligan lost to Alyx Murray 1Up

WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUES -Under 18 team win final match of the series

The Ayrshire Under 18 team played their final match of the season in the West Of Scotland Inter County League on Sunday 11^th September when they entertained Dumbartonshire at Kilmarnock Annanhill.

After suffering their first defeat of the season against Lanarkshire last month, the Ayrshire team bounced back with a 4.5 – 3.5 victory in the latest match.

Elliot Spence (Loudoun) lost heavily to Euan McBride (Lenzie) but his defeat was countered by Declan Chalmers (Ballochmyle) who recorded a 7 & 6 win to level the match.

Liam Kirkham (Troon Welbeck) lost out to Kieran Hughes (Hilton Park) but again the match was levelled when Greg Hampshire (Loudoun) won by 5 & 4 against Lauchlan Reynolds (Hilton Park).

Lewis McMillan (Ballochmyle) lost to Jack Pike (Clober) which put Dumbartonshire 3 – 2 ahead with only three ties remaining on the course but Charlie Cameron (Ayr Belleisle) levelled the match with a 5 & 4 win over Murray McVicar (Hilton Park).

One up with one to play in the lead tie, Callum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) was unfortunate to lose the last hole to Rhys Thomson (Palacerigg) for a halved match, which left the match score as 3.5 – 3.5 with only the tie between Rob Yorston (Loudoun) and Scott Souter (Douglas Park) to finish. 

Rob Yorston ensured a t least a draw for Ayrshire by winning the seventeenth to go dormie one, and he secured a crucial half at the final hole for a one hole victory in his tie and a 4.5 – 3.5 win for Ayrshire.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Liam Kirkham (Troon Welbeck) lost to Kieran Hughes (Hilton Park) by 5 & 4

Greg Hampshire (Loudoun) beat Lauchlan Reynolds (Hilton Park) by 5 & 4

Roy Yorston (Loudoun) beat Scott Souter (Douglas Park) by 1 hole

Lewis Macmillan (Ballochmyle) lost to Jack Pike (Clober) by 3 & 2

Callum Irving (Ayr Belleisle) halved with Rhys Thomson (Palacerigg)

Charlie Cameron (Ayr Belleisle) beat Murray McVicar (Hilton Park) by 5 & 4

Declan Chalmers (Ballochmyle) beat Blair Rodger (Clober) by 7 & 6

Elliot Spence (Loudoun) lost to Euan McBride (Lenzie) by 7 & 5

AYRSHIRE    4.5   DUMBARTONSHIRE   3.5

In the other remaining match in the 2016 Under 18 West League, also played on Sunday 11 September, Renfrewshire beat Glasgow by 6.5 – 1.5 to finish the season unbeaten and retain the league championship and Wishart Trophy as a result.

Ayrshire finished the season in third place, just behind Lanarkshire in the runners up place.

The final League positions were :-

Area                             Played       Won      Lost        Drawn           For         Against Points

Renfewshire                      5              3              0              2              26           14           8

Lanarkshire                      5              3              1              1              26.5        13.5        7

Ayrshire                            5              2              1              2              21.5        18.5        6

Glasgow                            5              2              2              1              19           21           5

Stirlingshire                      5              1              4              0              13.5        26.5        2

Dumbartonshire               5              1              4              0              13.5        26.5        2

SCHOOLS GOLF - Louise Duncan named in Scotland team to face England

Louise Duncan

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) has been named in the Scottish Schools Golf Association team to play English schools at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham St Annes in Lancashire on Monday, 12 September.

The full team is :-

BOYS
Callum Bruce (Banff Academy)
Greg Dalziel (Caldervale HS, Airdrie)
Graeme Greer (Carluke HS)
Darren Howie (Peebles HS)
Craig Leith (Hazlehead Academy)
Sam Locke (Mackie Academy)
Andrew Moir (Elgin Academy)
John Paterson (Madras College, St Andrews)
Kyle Reid (Bearsden Academy)
Robert Watson (Dollar Academy)
Marc Watt (Fraserburgh Academy) capt.
Connor Wilson (Knox Academy), Haddington

GIRLS
Kirsty Brodie (Webster's HS, Kirriemuir)
Louise Duncan (Largs Academy)
Jillian Farrell (Dumbarton Academy) capt.
Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead Academy)
Jennifer Rankine (Govan HS, Glasgow).
Molly Richmond (Strathaven Academy). 

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - Final date set

The date for the final of the 2016 Ayrshire Fourball Championship has been set.

The final, between David & Iain Macdonald (Largs) and David Sloan & John Barr Jr (Doon Valley) will take place on Friday 23rd September at Ballochmyle GC, teeing off at 2.30 p.m.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Final line ups confirmed as first two competition finals take place on Sunday

The line ups for all four Ayrshire Junior Golf League competition finals have now been confirmed, with the first two finals scheduled to be played this Sunday, 11th September, at Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC.

This week sees the final of the Under 16 Knockout Trophy between Ayr Belleisle and Turnberry. Belleisle reached the final with a 2.5 - 1.5 home win over Kilmarnock (Barassie) whilst Turnberry were 3 - 1 winners at Ardeer in their semi final clash.

Also this week, Troon Welbeck and Kilmarnock (Barassie) contest the final of the scratch knockout competition for the Wallace Thornton Trophy.

In the two leg semi finals Troon Welbeck won 4 - 0 at Turnberry and 2.5 - 1.5 in the return match at home to go through by 6.5 - 1.5, whilst Kilmanrock Barassie overturned a 2.5 - 1.5 defeat away to Ayr Belleisle, winning the home tie by 3 - 1 to book their place in the final by 4.5 - 3.5 overall.

The remaining two finals will also be played at Kilmarnock (Barassie), in two weeks time on Sunday 25th September.

In the Champion Of Champions Trophy competition Graeme Greer (Prestwick St Nicholas) will play Euan Ferguson (Turnberry) in the final match.

Greer had a one hole win at home against 2015 Ayrshire Boys Champion Craig McKenzie (Troon Welbeck) in their semi final tie whilst Euan Ferguson came from behind to record a 2 hole win away from home against Andrew Shaw (Prestwick St Cuthbert) in their semi final tie.

The final of the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship, also scheduled to take place on Sunday 25th September will be between the winners of the two league sections contested this year, with Kilmarnock (Barassie) contesting their third successive final following their title win in 2014 and their runners up place last year alongside league newcomers Turnberry who will be bidding to win the championship in their first season in the competition.

AYRSHIRE CLUB TEAM KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS - Two new trophies to be played for on Sunday

The new Ayrshire Club Team Knockout competitions have reached the final stage, with both the scratch and handicap finals taking place this Sunday, 11th September, at Ballochmyle.

The finals tee off at 1.00 p.m., and the finalists in both competitions will be playing for new trophies, introduced this year following the positive feedback from competing clubs, which has ensured that the events will be continued next season.

In the scratch competition, Loudoun will play Prestwick St Cuthbert in the final, with the winners taking custody of the Gary Bryden Memorial salver for the year. 



The trophy was introduced, at the suggestion of some county players, in memory of former Champion Of Champions Trophy winner and county team stalwart Gary Bryden, who passed away suddenly at the age of 44 in 2015, and is a fitting award for what is likely to prove to be one of the highlights of the Ayrshire season for the scratch teams of member clubs.

The finalists in the handicap event are Brunston Castle and Moorpark, who will contest another new trophy, The Presidents Putter. 

An unusual annual award, the trophy takes the form of a replica long nose hickory shafted putter, which will remain in the custody of the winning club for the year.

MENS SCOTTISH AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire's reign ended by Glasgow in quarter finals

Ayrshire's reign as Mens Scottish Area team Champions was ended on Saturday 3rd September 2016, with defeat by Glasgow in the quarter finals at Dalmahoy.

In the lead foursomes tie, John Shanks (Irvine) and Charlie Macneal (Prestwick) were in control throughout against Blair Dalgleish (Ralston) & Craig Morrison (Haggs castle) running out winners by 6 & 5 to put the first point on the board for Ayrshire.

In the lead singles tie, Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) was up against the in form Barry Hume (Haggs Castle), losing out eventually by 5 & 4.

In the anchor tie, Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) faced Andrew Fairbairn (Cawder). Three down with four to play, Steven foungt back before eventually losing the tie by 3 & 1.

The remaining two ties were close throughout and the result of the match remained unclear right to the end.

Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) had a late surge to beat Darren Christie (Cathkin Braes) by 3 & 1 to level the match, leaving the tie between Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) and Calum Fyfe (Cawder) to decide who would progress to the semi finals. malcolm was one down with four holes to play and despite his best efforts, could not claw back the one hole needed to take the tie into extra holes, eventually losing the last hole to his opponent to lose out by two holes in the tie, which gave Glasgow victory by 3 - 2.

In Saturday afternoon's semi finals, Glasgow face top qualifiers Lothians who cruised into the last four with a 4.5 - 0.5 win over the North area, whilst the other semi final features the North East, who beat Perth & Kinross 3 - 2 in their quarter final, and Lanarkshire, who overcame second placed qualifiers Fife by 3.5 - 1.5 in their quarter final tie.

SCOTTISH MENS AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire play Glasgow in quarter finals

The Ayrshire team
with team manager John Rushbury

Ayrshire's bid to retain the Mens Scottish Area Team Championship continues on Saturday morning, 3rd September, when they face Glasgow in the quarter finals.

John Shanks (Irvine) and Charlie Macneal (Prestwick) form the opening foursomes duo, with Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle), Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay), Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) and Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) contesting the four singles ties.

The quarter final ties are :-

J Shanks & C Macneal Vs B Dalgleish & W Morrison

K Hamilton Vs B Hume
M Pennycott Vs C Fyfe
M Smyth Vs D Christie
S Wallace Vs A fairbairn

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - West Kilbride are Division 2 champions

West Kilbride are 2016 Ayrshire Scratch League Division Two champions.

In their outstanding fixture, West Kilbride defeated Troon St Meddans by 3.5 – 2.5 at Troon to overtake Irvine Ravenspark at the top of the league.

Only two fixtures remain to be played in Division two, with Troon Welbeck facing crunch home ties against Ayr Belleisle and Girvan as they bid to secure their place in Division two next year.

Present positions in the division are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
WEST KILBRIDE	10	37.5	22.5	30
IRV. RAVENSPARK	10	34	26	28
AYR BELLEISLE	9	29.5	24.5	22
TR. ST MEDDANS	10	23.5	36.5	12
TROON WELBECK	8	21	27	10
GIRVAN	9	22.5	31.5	10

SCOTTISH AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - Keith Hamilton leads Ayrshire to fourth place qualification for matchplay rounds in title defence

Ayrshire comfortable qualified for the Matchplay stages of the 2016 Scottish Area Team Championships on Friday 2^nd September at Dalmahoy, in their bid to retain the title they won last year.

With the best five of the six scores from each course being added to give the team score, Ayrshire’s four over par total of 709 saw them through as the fourth of the eight qualifiers.

Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) led the way for Ayrshire with an excellent three under par score of 70 in the morning over the longer East course, with no dropped shots and birdies at the third, ninth and seventeenth. Keith followed his morning round with a two under par 66 in the afternoon over the West Course. After carding three bogeys in the opening five holes, Keith birdied the sixth and seventh, bogeyed the eighth and closed out the outward half with a further birdie at the ninth to be one over par at the turn. A bogey at the tenth was then followed by four birdies in five holes from the twelfth to give him a round of 66.

Keith Hamilton
Led the way for Ayrshire
with 5 under par total

Keith’s five under par total of 136 for his two rounds was joint fifth best individual effort of the day, behind Connor Syme (Drumoig) on 131 (-10)

The other players on the longer East course in the morning were Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) and John Shanks (Irvine)

Malcolm went to the turn in the morning in one under par with birdies at the third and eighth and a bogey at the seventh but the inward half proved more of a struggle, four bogeys being carded for an eventual score of three over par 76.

 Two bogeys on the outward half  and a double bogey at the thirteenth from John Shanks put him four over par with five to play. Things looked brighter for him with a birdie at the sixteenth but a bogey, double bogey finish laft John on 79 (+6) for his morning round.

Over the shorter West course in the morning, Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) and Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) both returned level par 68’s, whilst Charlie Macneal (Prestwick) was one further back on 69.

Steven had a bogey, birdie start and a double bogey six at the fourth followed by a bogey at the ninth saw him out in three over par 37. Steven turned things around in the inward half with no dropped shots and birdies at the eleventh, thirteenth and fourteenth to finish on level par for the round.

Michael had a very solid round with birdies at the second and sixth being offset by bogeys at the fourth and fourteenth to match Steven’s level par total of 68.

Charlie birdied both the sixth and seventh on his outward nine in  the morning and despite a bogey at the fifteenth he was on course to match his teammates until a double bogey at the par three seventeenth pushed him to one over par for the round.

After the morning rounds, Ayrshire lay in fifth place, with the top eight qualifying to progress to the Matchplay rounds.

  

Playing the longer east course in the afternoon, Michael Smyth carded a four over par 77. All the damage was done early on with five bogeys in the opening eight holes, but Michael dug deep and covered the remaining holes in one under par, recording birdies at the ninth and fourteenth and dropping just a single shot at the sixteenth.

Steven Wallace added a two over par 75 in the afternoon, an opening eagle three and a closing birdie at the ninth being offset by four successive bogeys from the fifth for a one over par 37 in the outward half, with further bogeys at the eleventh and thirteenth and a birdie four at the final hole adding up to a very useful 75 for the team score.

An opening birdie four from Charlie Macneal in the afternoon was spoiled by a double bogey seven at the ninth but a birdie four at the tenth got Charlie back to level par befoe bogeys at the twelfth, thirteenth and sixteenth took his score up to a creditable three over par 76.

Malcolm Pennycott
Best for Ayrshire
over West Course

Over on the shorter West course in the afternoon Keith Hamilton’s excellent two under par effort was overshadowed by Malcolm Pennycott’s display, an opening run of bogey, birdie, bogey beign followed by birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth to give Malcolm a two under par outward nine, which he followed with three birdies and a single bogey at the thirteenth in the inward half for a four under par return of 64.

John Shanks had a solid afternoon round on the West course, birdies at the fourth and ninth and a bogey at the seventh seeing him to the turn in one under par. Successive bogeys at the eleventh and twelfth in the inward half gave John a score of 69, one over par, for his afternoon round.

In the defence of their title, Ayrshire ultimately qualified comfortably for the Matchplay stages in fourth place of the eight qualifiers, behind Lothians, North east and Fife.

The full list of team scores is :-

Qualifiers

692 (-13) – Lothians

698 (- 8) – North East

705 (par) – Fife

709 (+4) – Ayrshire

710 (+5) – Glasgow

711 (+6) – Lanarkshire

713 (+8) – North

713 (+8) – Perth & Kinross

Non Qualifiers

715 (+10) – Angus

725 (+20)- Renfrewshire

727 (+22) – Borders

738 (+33) – South

738 (+33) – Argyll & Bute

739 (+34) – Dumbartonshire

747 (+42) – Stirlingshire

753 (+48) – Clackmannanshire

The Matchplay stages commence on Saturday morning with the quarter finals.

Each match comprises four singles ties and one foursomes, all ties to be played to a finish.

The semi finals are played on Saturday afternoon under the same format whilst the final is scheduled to take place on Sunday with three foursomes in the morning and six singles in the afternoon.

The draw for Saturday morning’s quarter finals is:-

Lothians Vs North

Ayrshire Vs Glasgow

North East Vs Perth & Kinross

Fife Vs Lanarkshire