AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - latest league positions

The Ayrshire Scratch League fixtures continue, as the clubs move towards the conclusion of the league fixtures by the 31st of August, and the subsequent promotion and relegation play offs which will be due to be completed by the 17th of September.

In DIVISION 1, Prestwick St Cuthbert lead the way following a 4 – 2 home win over Ballochmyle in their penultimate fixture of the campaign.

Irvine boosted their title hopes with a 4 – 2 away win at Ballochmyle in their latest fixture.

Present positions in Division 1 are:

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Prestwick St Cuthbert	9	5	2	2	32	22	10	24
Loudoun	8	4	3	1	29	19	10	22
Irvine	7	4	2	1	24	18	6	20
Kilmarnock (Barassie)	8	2	3	3	22	26	-4	14
Turnberry	5	1	2	2	13	18	-5	8
Ballochmyle	9	0	2	7	19	36	-17	4

The remaining fixtures in Division 1 are:-

Loudoun Vs Irvine

Irvine Vs Loudoun

Turnberry Vs Irvine

Turnberry Vs Prestwick St Cuthbert

Turnberry Vs Ballochmyle

Turnberry Vs Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Kilmarnock (Barassie) Vs Turnberry

In DIVISION 2, only the result of the Troon St Meddans vs Largs result is outstanding, before final placings can be confirmed.

Present positions in Division 2 are:-

 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Royal Troon	8	6	0	2	28	20	8	24
Largs	7	4	1	2	25	17	8	18
Caprington	8	3	1	4	26	22	4	14
Troon Portland	8	3	0	5	20	28	-8	12
Troon St Meddans	7	2	0	5	15	27	-12	8

 

In DIVISION 3a, Ayr Belleisle secured a 3 -3 draw away to West Kilbride, to maintain their slim advantage at the top of the table.

Present positions in Division 3a are:-

 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Ayr Belleisle	7	4	1	2	22	20	2	18
West Kilbride	6	3	2	1	21	16	5	16
Girvan	6	2	1	3	19	17	2	10
Prestwick St Nicholas	5	2	1	2	14	16	-2	10
Redburn	6	1	1	4	15	22	-7	6

The outstanding fixture result in Division 3a are:-

Ayr Belleise Vs Girvan

West Kilbride vs Prestwick St Nicholas

Prestwick St Nicholas Vs Redburn

Girvan Vs Prestwick St Nicholas

Redburn Vs West Kilbride

 

In DIVISION 3b, only the fixture result between Irvine Ravenspark and Ardeer remains outstanding.

Present positions in Division 3B are:-

 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Rowallan Castle	6	5	0	1	24	13	11	20
Routenburn	6	3	0	3	15	21	-6	12
Irvine Ravenspark	5	1	1	3	15	15	0	6
Ardeer	5	1	1	3	13	18	-5	6

 

AYRSHIRE HANDICAP LEAGUE - Knockout stages under way

The first two ties in the 2021 Ayrshire Handicap League Championship competition have been played, as the remaining eight teams bid for a place in the final, to be played at Kilmarnock (Barassie) on Sunday the 5th of September.

In the first leg of their quarter final, Troon Welbeck took a 4.5 - 1.5 advantage over Loudoun, whilst Auchenharvie 88 hold a 4 - 2 lead over Ballochmyle after the first leg of their tie in the last eight.

All four quarter finals are due to be completed by the 15th of August.  

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - Three quarter finals decided

Three of the four quarter finals in the 2021 Ayrshire Fourball Championship have been concluded with the remaining tie to be completed this week.

Jordan Kelly & Stuart Watt (Drongan) had crushing 7 & 5 win over their visitors Robert Nairn & Alan Chesney (Kilbirnie Place), and are now at home to Alan Stewart and Alan Stewart Jr (Stewarton)  in the semi finals, after the Stewarton pair had a 4&3 home win over Frank Grant & Hugh Wales (Ardeer) in the last eight.

Stuart Craig & Andy McConnell (Crosshouse) won there quarter final match away to John Cairney & Mick Savage (Malletsheugh) and now face another away tie in the semi final against either Aidan Long & John Tanner (Prestwick Centre) or Stuart & Sean Thorburn (Ayr Dalmilling) whose tie recently finished all square after eighteen holes, but will be concluded this week after bad light prevented the players continuing up the ninteenth hole.

The semi finals are due to be completed by the 29th of August, with the final scheduled to take palce during Finals Day at Kilmarnock (Barassie) on Sunday the 5th of September.  

GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER - Royal Troon through to final in title defence

Royal Troon continued their bid for a third successive win in the scratch club team knockout competition for the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver with a win in their recent semi final match.

Playing host to Ardeer in the semi finals, the Royal Troon team won the match 2 - 1 to go through to the final, where they will play either Irvine Ravenspark or Prestwick St Cuthbert.

The final is due to take place on Sunday the 5th of September at Kilmarnock (Barassie) during Finals Day.

CURTIS CUP - Louise Duncan named in GB & I side and Hazel MacGarvie travels as reserve

Ayrshire’s Louise Duncan (West Kilbride), is one of two Scots selected for the Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team for the 2021 match against the USA, which takes place Conwyn Golf Club in Wales from the 26th to the 28th of August, whilst Hazel MacGarvie (Royal Troon) has been named as a travelling reserve.

Twenty one year old Louise, a student at The University of Stirling, won the Woman’s Amateur Championship at Kilmarnock Barassie in June and finished in the top ten at the Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay and has represented Scotland in the European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championship and at the Home Internationals this year. She will be joined in the Curtis Cup team by fellow Scot Hannah Darling from Broomieknowe Golf Club.

Also in the team are Annabell Fuller, Charlotte Heath, Caley McGinty and Emily Toy from England and Lauren Walsh and Annabel Wilson from Ireland.

Along with Hazel MacGarvie, Julie McCarthy from Ireland will be a travelling reserve.

AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Quarter finals at Prestwick Golf Club

The quarter finals of the 2021 Ayrshire Boys' Matchplay Championship were played in fine, but increasingly windy conditions, on the evening of Tuesday the 10th of August over the links of Prestwick Golf Club. 

First match on the course was between Cameron McGarvie (Prestwick St Nicholas) and John Jack (West Kilbride). The match was close throughout but by the fourteenth hole Cameron had established a two hole advantage. By the time the match reached the eighteenth tee, John had reduced the deficit to a single hole. At the last John was left of the green from the tee and Cameron was bunkered, short right. Both players found the green in two, but leaving very long birdie putts. John putted first and his effort drifted narrowly past the left of the hole, coming to rest four feet away. Cameron's effort, with a left to right swing, also missed the left of the hole and ran five feet past. Despite the pressure, Cameron bravely holed his putt for par, and the match, with a one hole victory.

Second out was the tie between the new Ayrshire Boys Champion, and leading qualifier, Harvey Broadfoot (Troon Welbeck) and Jack Ramsay (Kilmarnock Barassie). Harvey was on top during most of the match and a second shot from him to five feet at the fourteenth set up a winning birdie three to go dormie four in the match. Jack pulled one back at the fifteenth but only delayed the ultimate outcome, Harvey winning the sixteenth for a 4 & 2 victory.

The third tie on the course was the match between Jack Allan (Ballochmyle) and Noah O'Brien (Royal Troon), who had been first reserve and was a late replacement for the injured David Blyth (Ballochmyle). Despite Noah's best efforts it was Jack who dominated the tie, running out the eventual winner by 8 & 6

The final tie to play off on Tuesday evening saw Leo Wright (Kilmarnock Barassie) up against West of Scotland Boys' Matchplay runner up Max Barclay (Ayr Belleisle). Like Cameron McGarvie, Max forged a two hole lead after fourteen, having two putted for a winning par after Leo failed to get up and down from the front left greenside bunker. Having doubled his advantage going into the final loop of four holes, max maintained the pressure which saw him win the fifteenth and sixteenth for a 4 & 2 victory.

The line up for the semi finals, scheduled to take place back at Prestwick Golf Club on the evening of Wednesday the 11th of August, is:-

HARVEY BROADFOOT (Troon Welbeck) 

Vs. 

JACK ALLAN (Ballochmyle)

MAX BARCLAY (Ayr Belleisle) 

Vs. 

CAMERON McGARVIE (Prestwick St Nicholas)

COMBINED HOME INTERNATIONALS EVENT - Scotland thwarted by England for two titles on final day at Woodthall Spa

Two of the three Scotland teams playing in the combined Home Internationals event at Woodhall Spa were thwarted by England on the final day, on Friday the 6^th of August, in their bids to secure the Home International titles this year.

The Scotland boys’ and girls’ team were narrowly defeated by England in the championship decider, on the final day of the combined Home Internationals event at Woodhall Spa on Friday the 6^th of August. The Scottish team wend town 11 – 10 to England in a tense deciding match.

In the morning foursomes Ruben Lindsay (Turnberry) lost by 4&2 whilst Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas) earned a half point, as the points were shared 3 – 3 going into the afternoon singles.

In the lead singles tie, Rachel Foster lost out by 7&5 whilst Ruben Lindsay lost by 5&3, as the Scottish team fell just short of the points needed to take the Home Internationals title.

It was a similar story in the Seniors Home International event, with Scotland losing out 6.5 – 5.5 to England in the championship decider on Friday.

In the morning foursomes Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) lost his tie by 5&4 win as England took a 2.5 – 1.5 lead into the afternoon singles. The morning advantage proved decisive as the afternoon singles were shared 4 – 4, Paul Moultrie winning his tie by one hole, which gave England victory in the match and the Home Internationals title for 2021.

The Scotland Woman’s team signed off this years championship with an emphatic 8.5 – 0.5 win over Wales to take third place overall in the 2021 Home International series.

Scotland won the foursomes by 2.5 – 0.5, Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) contributing a  2&1 win and Hazel MacGarvie (Royal Troon) halving her foursomes tie, whilst in the singles Scotland had a whitewash, taking all six ties, with Hazel MacGarvie winning by 4&3 and Louise Duncan securing a single hole victory in her tie.

 

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - McEwan and Denim through to the final.

The 2021 Ayrshire Champion of Championsh Trophy final will be between two former winners, after Steven McEwan (Caprington) and Paul Denim (Loudoun) woun through their semi final matches on Friday the 6th of August at Royal Troon.

The semi finals wee not blessed with the fine weather that has prevailed recently, with both matches benig played in wet and testing conditions.

In the first semi final, Steven McEwan, who previously won the title in 2012 and 2013, was up against the title holder, 2019 winner Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle).

Steven took the lead at the first with a conceded birdie three and increased his advantage with a birdie two at the 194 yard, par three, fifth hole. When Craig bogeyed the long sixth, Steven went three ahead but he returned the compliment by bogeying the seventh to let Craig reduce the deficit to two, before Steven then birdied the par four ninth hole to establish a three hole lead at the turn. Steven extended his lead further at the eleventh, the Railway Hole, with a conceded birdie three and although Craig took the twelfth with a birdie three, Steven restored his four hole lead by winning the thirteenth with a par. Craig was not going to let his title slip without a fight and despite the deficit he delayed the eventual outcome by halving the fourteenth in birdies twos, before a par four at the fifteenth was enough for Steven to take the hole and secure a 5&3 victory in the match.

The second semi final featured the 2018 winner Paul Denim (Loudoun) and Gordon Munro (Caprington), who was appearing at this stage of the championship for the first time.

Paul took the lead with a birdie at the first and pars at the fourth and fifth were sufficient to allow him to establish a three hole advantage. A birdie four at the sixth hole saw Gordon reduce the deficit to two holes, and the players matched each other in the closing three holes of the outward half to turn for home with Paul two holes ahead. Gordon won the tenth to reduce Paul's lead to one and a conceded birdie three at the twelfth for Gordon brought the match back to all square.Paul went behind for the first, and only, time in the match at the fifteenth when a par four was good enough to put Gordon ahead but par figures at both the sixteenth and seventeenth were enough for Paul to take both, and turn a one hole deficit into a one hole lead with one hole to play. At the final hole, a conceded birdie three was enough to establish a two hole win in the match and  secure a place in the final for the second time in the last three championships

The final takes place, back at at Royal Troon, on Friday the 13th of August with a 5.00 p.m. tee off.

COMBINED HOME INTERNATIONAL EVENT - Mixed fortunes for Scotland on day two at Woodhall Spa

Scotland had mixed fortunes on day two of the combined Home Internationals event being staged at Woodhall Spa this week, with a win, a draw and a defeat in the three competitions.

The combined Boys’ and Girls’ team had a second successive win on day two, beating Ireland by 12.5 – 8.5 to set up a final day showdown with England for the title.

In Thursday’s match against Ireland both Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas) and Ruben Lindsay (Turnberry) lost their morning foursomes ties, by 3&2 and 2&1 respectively, as Scotland trailed by 4 – 3 going into the afternoon singles, but both bounced back, with Rachel winning her singles tie by 2&1 and Ruben securing a 5&4 victory.

The Scotland Woman’s Team lost out by 7.5 – 1.5 to England on day two.

Hazel MacGarvie (Royal Troon) lost her foursomes tie by 3&2 whilst Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) secured a half in her foursomes encounter, as Scotland trailed 2.5 – 0.5 going into the afternoon singles.

There was no joy in the singles for the Ayrshire players, Louise Duncan losing by 2&1 and Hazel MacGarvie going down by 3&2.

On the final day on Friday, the Scotland Woman’s Team face Wales.

In the Senior Men’s and Woman’s match, Scotland drew 6 – 6 with Ireland.

Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) lost by a single hole in his morning foursomes but secured a half in his afternoon singles.

The Scotland Seniors’ team play England on the final day.

AYRSHIRE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - Harvey Broadfoot victorious at Ballochmyle

Harvey Broadfoot (Troon Welbeck) is the 2021 Ayrshire Boys Champion, with succesive rounds of 72 giving him the title by three shots.

38 competitors teed off in the championship on Thursday the 5th of August, in testing conditions, with a breeze which strengthened throughout the day.

Playing off a +1 handicap, Broadfoot jointly led the field after the opening round, with Leo Wright (Kilmarnock Barassie), on two over par, 72.

The best nett score of the opening round was posted by Leo Wright with a nett 71, playing off 1.

In the afternoon, Harvey Broadfoot's second successive round of 72 was only matched by John Jack (West Kilbride). 

Luke Jones (Prestwick St Nicholas) posted the best nett round of the day in the afternoon with a 68 off his 12 handicap.

At the conclusion of the championship, the prizewinners were:-

The full list of scores in the 2021 Ayrshire Boys Championship are:-

The qualifying aggregate scratch score for the 2021 Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Championship, to be held at Prestwick Golf Club from the 10th to the 12th of August was 164, with one from two players qualifying on that score.

The draw for the Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Championship at Prestwick Golf Club next week, is:-