Record entry chase Ayrshire club title at Prestwick

Jul 2 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A RECORD entry of 22 clubs will contest the Ayrshire Club Championship at Prestwick Golf Club on Sunday with a place in the Scottish Club Championship for the winners.

Prestwick GC, who won the championship 12 months ago at Loudoun and went on to win the Scottish Club Championship at St Nicholas, will field a strong team over their home course in their bid to retain the R.L. Crawford trophy.

For the first time, organisers will be using a two tee start with players starting from first and tenth tees.

Order of play: 1st tee start: 3pm: Gavin Lawrie (Pwk), Bert Ferguson (Welb), Alan Connery (Irvine); 3.08: Jonathan King (Pwk), Del Chamberlain (Welb), Stephen Spence (Irvine); 3.15: James Bunch (Pwk), Stephen Murray (Welb), Alex Gourlay (Irvine); 3.23: Lee Jenkins (Beith), Mark Tait (Annhill), Neil McCormack (New Cum); 3.30: Rab Marshall (Beith), Tony Fraser (Annhill), Tommy Keddie (New Cum); 3.38: Brian Gray (Beith), Gary McTaggart (Annhill), Martin Riddall (New Cum); 3.45: Barry o'Rourke (Kilbirnie), Mark Stewart (St Medd), Dominic Booth (Tberry); 3.53: Robert Nairn (Kilbirnie), Ian Fraser (St Medd), Graham Rowan (Ballmyle); 4.00: George Robertson (Rvnspk), Craig Hamilton (Ballmyle), Scott Brown (Tberry); 4.08: Kenny Milliken (St Medd), Grant Mcivor (Tberry), Darren Mallinson (Rvnspk); 4.15: Alan McLean (Kilbirnie), William Fleming (Ballmyle), Gary Cochran (Rvnspk).

Tenth tee start: 3.00: Graeme Gimson (St C), iain McDonald (Largs), Euan Brown (Bar); 3.08: Kevin Fergusson (St C), Gregor Dickson (Largs), Jamie Mackay (Bar); 3.15: David Glass (St C), Craig McLaughlin (Largs), Jack McDonald (Bar); 3.23: Peter Gossman (West Kilb), Billy McCulloch (Brunston), Nicholas Tindall (ToS); 3.30: John Duff (West Kilb), Steven Capstick (Brunston), John Sloan (ToS); 3.38: Sandy Wilson (West Kilbride), Frank Murdoch (Brunston), Joseph Gillon (ToS); 3.45: Gordon Boyle (Dalmilling), Kevin Brock (St N), John Haggerty (Loudoun); 3.53: James McCormack (Dalmilling), Alastair Belford (St N), Kevin Ottley (Bell); 4.00: Scott Gilchrist (Loudoun), Lee Hughes (Belleisle), Kirk Russell (Doon Valley); 4.08: Steven Corrigan (Dalmilling), James Graham (Doon Vall), Adam Foley (Belleisle); 4.15: Stuart Peters (Doon Vall), Gary Tierney (St N), Chris Bone (Loudoun).

The winning team will go forward to represent Ayrshire in the Scottish Club Championship finals at Fortrose & Rosemarkie in September.

lALAN POOLE won the Prestwick St Nicholas club championship, beating Scott Mitchell in Sunday’s final.

The Coila Cup (handicap) went to Brian McRobert who beat Chris Rigby.

lSCOTTISH Boys' Strokeplay champion Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) is the only player from last year’s line-up to retain his place for the European Amateur Boys' Team Championship.

He heads to Istanbul from July 6 to 10. Scotland are aiming to become the first Scottish side in ten years to lift the European title.

lIRVINE lead the way from Ravenspark in section one of the Ayrshire Summer League after a 6-0 home win over Maybole. Ravenspark kept up the pressure on their neighbours with a 5.5-0.5 win at Maybole in their last fixture.

Games and points: Irvine 4-14, Ravenspark 3-8, Maybole 4-4, Caprington 3-2.

Loudoun lead section two after a 3.5-2.5 win away to Ballochmyle and a 5-1 home win over St Cuthbert. Welbeck beat Ballochmyle 3.5-2.5 a home fpr their first win.

Games and points: Loudoun 3-12, St Cuthbert 3-8, Welbeck 3-4, Ballochmyle 3-0.

Belleisle are just ahead of Turnberry in section three after a 6-0 home win over New Cumnock and a 3-3 draw at St Meddans. Turnberry maintained their hopes with a 3.5-2.5 win at home to St Meddans.

Games and points: Belleisle 5-12, Turnberry 4-10, St Meddans 5-8, New Cumnock 4-6.

In section four, the two teams remaining will play the return match to decide the qualifier on July 2. Kilbirnie Place lead West Kilbride 3.5-2.5 after the first leg.

Largs lead section five after successive 5-1 home wins over Tam O'Shanter and Beith.

Games and points: Largs 3-10, Tam O'Shanter 3-4, Beith 3-2.

Kilmarnock (Barassie) head section six after a 5-1 home win over Ardeer.

Games and points: Kilmarnock (Barassie) 3-12, Annanhill 2-2, Ardeer 3-2.