Royal Troon Golf Club holds inaugural Byrne Howard Junior Open

Mar 18 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

TOMMY MCINALLY (Loudoun Gowf Club) took the plaudits at the Ayrshire Golf Association annual dinner and presentation of prizes at Prestwick St Nicholas.

A capacity audience at the 29th annual event paid tribute to the winners from the 2010 season.

McInally received the Ayrshire strokeplay and champion of champions trophies and, for the first time in his career, The Doc Thom Ayrshire Order of Merit Salver.

Guest speakers were broadcaster Bill McFarlan and golf pro and former Scottish boys’ champion Alan Tait, originally of Irvine (Bogside).

The company saw the three national trophies won by Ayrshire players in 2010. Michael Stewart (Welbeck) arranged for both the Scottish Amateur and SGU Order of Merit trophies won by him to be displayed while Scottish Mid Amateur champion Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) also had his national trophy on view.

President David Miller made a presentation to former AGA executive member and competitions convenor Sandy Provan (Kilmarnock Barassie) who retired from his post in late 2010 after 11 years service.

Roll of honour: Ayrshire Fourball Trophy: Maybole (Scott McCahill and David Wallace); Ayrshire club champions: Loudoun; Summer (Scratch) League: Kilmarnock Barassie; Ayrshire seniors champion: George Millard (Ravenspark);

Ayrshire matchplay champion: Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie).

Ayrshire strokeplay champion, champion of champions and Doc Thom Ayrshire Order of Merit: Tommy McInally (Loudoun Gowf).

lROYAL Troon Golf Club will hold an inaugural junior open in July.

The 18 hole competition, which will be a counting event in the Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit, will be played over the Portland course on Sunday, July 3. Entries are invited from boys and girls aged 12 and under 18 on January 1 who hold an official handicap.

The boy and girl returning the lowest scratch score in their respective competitions will be awarded the Byrne Howard Trophy along with a voucher for £150.

Entry is £5 to Royal Troon Golf Club by Wednesday, June 22.

lSOME of Scotland's top university golfers will tee up on Dundonald Links for the third round of the Scottish Universities Order of Merit competition on Thursday and Friday, March 17 and 18.

lTHERE will be 18 counting events in the Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit.

The new Royal Troon Junior Open event, scheduled to be played over the Portland course in early July, is included as a counting event. Events marked (*) are Junior Order of merit counting competitions.

March: Sat-Sun 26-27: SGU Junior tour event one at Arbroath.

April: Mon to Sat 11-16:* Scottish Boys' Championships at Dunbar; Sun 17: Ayrshire Boys' Team Championship at Annanhill.

May: Sat-Sun 21-22: SGU junior tour event two at Rowallan Castle; Sun 29: Ayrshire U18 v Dunbartonshire U18 at Largs.

June: Sun 5: SGU Boys' Area Team Championship at Hayston; Sat-Sun 11-12: SGU junior tour event three at Cardrona; Sun 19: Ayrshire U18 v Renfrewshire U18 at Ranfurly Castle; Thur 30:*Largs Junior Open.

July: Sun 3:*Byrne Howard Junior Open at Royal Troon (Portland); Mon 4:*Pollock Trophy Kilmarnock (Barassie); Tues 5: *Prestwick Boys' Open at St Cuthbert; Wed-Fri 6-8: Scottish Boys' Under 16 strokeplay at Forfar; Fri 8:*Welbeck Junior Open at Darley; Sun 10: Ayrshire U18 v Stirlingshire at Falkirk; Tue 12: *Harris Boys' Open at West Kilbride; Thur 14: *Annanhill Boys' Open; Mon 18: *Loudoun Boys' Open; Tues 20: *Ardeer Junior Open; Tue-Thu 19-21: *Scottish Boys' Strokeplay at Nairn Dunbar; Mon 25: *St Nicholas Junior Open.

August: Tue 2: Tom Lehman Junior Open at Troon Municipal; Tue-Thu 2-4: Boys' Home Internationals at Royal St Davids; Thu 4: *Ayrshire Boys' Championship at St Nicholas; Mon 8: *Ballochmyle Junior Open; Mon-Sat 9-14:*British Boys' Championship at Burnhan & Berrow/Enmore Pk; Thur-Fri 11-12: Scottish Boys' U14 Strokeplay at Aberdour; Thur 11:*North Ayrshire Boys' Open at Ravenspark and *Belleisle Junior Open; Tue-Thu 9-11: *Ayrshire Boys' Strokeplay Matchplay at Prestwick; Sun 21: Ayrshire U18 v Lanarkshire U18 at Skelmorlie; Sun 28: *Kilbirnie Place Junior Open.

September: Sun 4: Wallace Thornton and U16 trophy finals at Loudoun; Sun 11: Ayrshire U18 v Dunbartonshire U18 at Lenzie, AJGL champion of champions final and league championship finals at Loudoun.

November: Monday 7: AJGL annual dinner at Loudoun.

lTHE counting events for the Ayrshire Order of Merit, for the Doc Thom Salver, have been announced.

The 14 event series, including club, county and national events, begins with the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship in April and concludes with the Arrol Cup at Prestwick St Nicholas in September.

Counting events: April: Sun 24: Ayrshire strokeplay at West Kilbride.

May: Mon-Thur 2-5: Ayrshire matchplay at Troon Portland; Sun 22: Hillhouse Cup at Royal Troon; Fri-Sun 27-29: Sxottish strokeplay championship at Blairgowrie.

June: Sat 4: Loudoun Open; Sun 5: Belleisle Cup; Sat 11: Ayr Seafield Open at Ballochmyle Open; Mon–Sat 13-18: The Amateur Championship at Hillside/Hesketh; Sat 18: McGilchrist Cup at Ardeer.

July: Mon-Sat 25-30: Scottish Amateur Championship at Western Gailes.

August: Sun 21: Viking Krus at Largs Kelburn; Sun 28: Welbeck Links at Troon Municipal.

September: Sat 17: Arrol Cup at St Nicholas.