Steven McEwan goes close to ending 14 year wait

Aug 8 2008

BRAVE Steven McEwan narrowly failed in his bid to become the first Ayrshire player to win the Scottish Amateur Championship since his Caprington clubmate Hugh McKibbin took the title at Renfrew in 1994.

McEwan went down 5&3 to Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) in the 36 hole final at Carnoustie on Saturday.

All square after the morning round, McEwan took an early lead in the afternoon. Hovever, after a disruption in play due to a thunderstorm, Macaulay, the number one seed, got into a rhythm quickly and overturned McEwan's lead, to eventually take the title.

In the semi-final, McEwan had a 3&2 win over Gordon Yates (Hilton Park).

Chris Harkins (Belleisle) caused one of the shock results to beat second seed and Scottish strokeplay champion Wallace Booth (Comrie) 2&1 in their third round. But he lost in the fourth round 3&2 to Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh).

lAYRSHIRE made it two wins from two in the SGU Area Team Championships when they beat North East at Prestwick St Nicholas on Sunday.

Match details: foursomes: George Robertson (Ravenspark) & David Addison (Barassie) lost to James Byrne & Anthony Bews by 7&6; John Shanks (Irvine) & Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) halved with Mark Halliday & Philip Mclean; John Cairney (Ravenspark) & Stephen McBlain (St C) beat Glenn Taylor & Alan Reith by 2 & 1.

Singles: Stephen McBlain lost to James Byrne by 3 & 2; George Robertson beat Anthony Bews by 2 & 1; David Addison lost to Philip Mclean by 4 & 3; Cameron Gray beat Mark Halliday by 4 & 2; John Shanks beat Alan Reith by 1 hole; John Cairney beat Glenn Taylor by 3 & 2.

An Ayrshire youths side lost 3½-1½ to the Florida State University team on the opening day of their tour of Scotland at Prestwick on Sunday.

Match details: Euan Brown (Barassie) halved with Matt Savage; Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) lost to Drew Kittleston by 6 & 4; Jamie Mackay (Barassie) beat Seath Lauer by 3 & 2; Scott Brown (Turnberry) lost to Cameron Knight by 1 hole; Graeme Gimson (St C) lost to Bradley Ruch by 3 & 1.

lTROON Portland’s Paul Moultrie will meet Brian Moore (Largs) in the final of Ayrshire champion of champions competition at Royal Troon on Friday at 5pm.

In the semi-finals, Moultrie beat George Robertson (Ravenspark) by one hole while Moore beat Alex Gourlay (Irvine) 3&2.

lIRVINE’S Jim McKinnon finished with a 72 for a 290 total in the Glenmuir PGA Professional Tournament at Moportown, Leeds.

In a tournament hampered by heavy rain, Craig Ronald (Carluke) was top Scot, tying for seventh place on 287. After a play-off, the title went to Paul Simpson who beat Andrew Barnett at the second extra hole.