Ayrshire golfers tee up a double

Oct 24 2008

AYRSHIRE youths and full teams opened their bids for the West of Scotland Inter County Leagues with wins over their counterparts from Lanarkshire in the first of five matches to be played.

The youths won 5½-4½ at Airdrie, winning three of the last four games to ensure victory.

Scores: Jamie Mackay (Barassie) lost to P. Shields by 4 & 3; Kyle Smith (Barassie) lost to R. Robertson by 4 & 3; Michael Smyth (Roy Troon) beat C. Kelly by 4 & 3; Craig McLaughlin (Largs) halved with C. Bell; Scott Brown (Tbrry) beat S. Shevill by 3 & 1; Scott Clark (Belleisle) lost to M. Russo by 3 & 2; Jamie Acheson (Routenburn) beat R. Corrigan by 3 & 2; Rory Acheson (Routneburn) beat I. Anderson by 2 & 1; Stuart Henderson (Barassie) lost to A. Steven by 2 holes; Graeme Gimson (St C) beat A. Welsh by 4 & 3.

The full team beat Lanarkshire 7½-2½ at West Kilbride, winning the last five ties after a slow start.

Scores: Steven McEwan (Caprgtn) lost to Paul O'Hara by 3 & 1; George Robertson (Rvnspk) halved with Alan Dick; John Shanks (Irvine) beat Andy Fairbairn by 2 & 1; John Cairney (Rvnspk) beat Stuart Williamson by 2 & 1; Brian Moore (Largs) lost to Grant Beaton by 2 & 1; Tommy McInally (Loudoun) beat David Henderson by 7 & 6; Darren Mallinson (Rvnspk) beat Kevin Loughrie by 1 hole; Gary Bryden (Tbrry) beat Stuart Rennie by 4 & 3; Gareth Lamb (Irvine) beat Derek Loudoun by 2 holes; Steven Spence (Irvine) beat Keith Turnbull by 2 & 1.

Meanwhile, the youths made it two straight wins when they beat Dunbartonshire 7½-2½ win over Dunbartonshire at Kilmarnock (Barassie) on Saturday.

Scores: Kyle Smith (Barassie) beat G Minnes by 6&5; Jamie Mackay (Barassie) beat T Sharkey by 5&3; Michael Smyth (Roy Troon) beat S Darras by 3&2; Scott Brown (Turnberry) beat J Henry by 2&1; Craig McLaughlin (Largs) beat G Meechan by 3&2; Jamie Acheson (Rtnburn) lost to S Moore by 2&1; Rory Acheson (Rtnburn) lost to C Nelson by 2&1; Stuart Henderson (Barassie) halved with E Grimes; Graeme Gimson (St C) beat I Stewart by 2 holes; Scott Clark (Belleisle) beat R Coll by 4&3.

lJOHN CAIRNEY (Irvine Ravenspark) has won the Ayrshire Order Of Merit for the Doc Thom salver for the second time in three years.

Cairney secured the title with a win in the Largs and Millport Trophy event at Largs Routenburn and a top four finish in the final counting event, the Arrol Cup at Prestwick St Nicholas.

Runner-up was Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) with Cairney's clubmate and fellow Area Team Championship winning team member George Robertson in third place, edging SGU national Order Of Merit winner Steven McEwan (Caprington) into fourth place by two points.

lSCOTT BROWN (Turnberry) has won the Ayrshire Junior Order Of Merit, which is sponsored by Ping golf and The Ping Collection clothing.

The Ayrshire Boys' Championship and Boys' Matchplay champion finished with a points total of 967½ which was almost double that of his nearest rival, Scott Clark of Belleisle.

Leading points: 967.50: Scott Brown (Turnberry); 523.45: Scott Clark (Belleisle); 445: Jack McDonald (Barassie); 387.20: Andrew Wright (Barassie); 370: Michael Stewart (Welbeck); 286.70: Fraser Lawrie (West Kilbride); 280: Sam Findlater (Welbeck); 265: David Wilson (Welbeck); 212.50: Marc Smith (Barassie); 189.80: Chris Butler (Ravenspark); 185.60: Craig Telfer (St C); 172.10: Adam Foley (Belleisle).

lTHREE Ayrshire girls were well placed in the final of the Dunfermline Junior Masters at the Queens Course at Gleneagles.

Rachel Irvine (Ayrshire ladies) was third overall, with Katie McGarva (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Mhairi McKay (Ayrshire ladies) fifth and seventh respectively.