Ayrshire golfers finish third in Scottish Area Team Championship

May 20 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYRSHIRE bounced back to finish third in the Moneygate Scottish Area Team Championship at Prestwick on Sunday.

After a 4½-½ defeat by defending champions and top qualifiers North East in the morning semi-finals, Ayrshire refound their form with a3-2 win over Lothians for bronze.

Results: Gary Bryden and Euan Brown beat Stephen Simants and Myles Cunningham by one hole; Michael Smyth lost to Allyn Dick by two holes; Jack McDonald beat Graham Robertson by two holes; John Haggarty beat Malcolm Campbell by 2&1; Jamie Mackay lost to Grant Forrest by 4&3.

Fife took the title for the first time with a 3½-1½ win over North East.

lTHE Ayrshire Golf Association will vote yes to amalgamate the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association when the 16 SGU areas meet at a special general meeting on Thursday, May 26.

Clubs were overwhelmingly in favour when they met at Caprington. It now remains to be seen if the other area associations in Scotland will endorse the proposals.

lTHE race for the Ayrshire Fourball Championship is hotting up.

James Graham and Marc Wallace (Doon Valley) beat Derek Brown and David Low (Ayr Belleisle) 7&6 to set up another home tie against Craig Gilmour and Alex Watson (Kilmarnock Barassie).

David Muir and Craig Young (Loudoun) beat Alec Cairns and Michael Hedberg (Routenburn) 5&4 and now travel to meet Kevin McCormack and Robert Payne (Ardeer).

Iain and David MacDonald (Largs) beat Stephen Tait and Scott McCabe (Crosshouse) 2&1 and travel to meet Frank Henderson & Walter Meiklem (Welbeck).

Steven McKnight and Gary Gorman (Troon Portland) won by one hole away to Gerald Reid and Mick McGowan (Alton) and now host Billy Thomson and Neil McPherson (Tam O’Shanter).

Second round ties, due to be completed by June 12, are: Skelmorlie v Maybole; Doon Valley v Kilmarnock Barassie; Ardeer v Loudoun; Seafield v Ayr Dalmilling; Welbeck v Largs; Troon Portland v Tam O’Shanter; Abbotsford v Beith; Caprington v Brunston; Ravenspark v Prestwick St Cuthbert; Ballochmyle v Auchenharvie; Ayr Carrick v West Kilbride; Annanhill v Stewarton; North Beach v Troon St Meddans; Saxone v Glacier; Irvine v Malletsheugh; Kilbirnie Place v Wallacetown.

lAYRSHIRE have named the four man team who will bid for the Dunfermline Building Society Scottish Boys’ Area Team Championshipe at Hayston on Sunday, June 5. Scotland boys’ internationalist Jack McDonald of Kilmarnock (Barassie) will be joined by clubmate and Scotland under 16 player Euan Walker.

Also in the team is Scottish boys champion David Wilson of Troon Welbeck who will be joined by clubmate and reigning Ayrshire boys champion Charlie Macneal, who will both bid to return the Niagra Cup, for the best individual scratch score to Welbeck after Marc Smith's success at Peebles last year.

lTHE Golf Datalab Scottish Youths Championship at Paisley was reduced to 54 holes due to adverse weather.

Winner was Lyle McAlpine (Royal Dornoch) with a three under par total of 210.

Best placed Ayrshire players were Scott Brown (Turnberry) and Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) who tied 20th place with a three round total of 218.

The only other Ayrshire player to make the 36 hole cut was David McLellan (Largs) who finished tied 45th on 225.

Missing the cut were Welbeck trio David Wilson (80, 74), Marc Smith (82, 72), Callum Beveridge (78, 79) and Ciar Porciani (Ayr Belleisle) (78, 80).

lTHREE members of the Ayrshire girls team starred in the West of Scotland Ladies Championship at Lanark.

Seven handicapper Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride), with a net aggregate of 143 (72,71) won the individual handicap trophy as well as combining with Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) and Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) to win the junior team title as well.

The individual scratch trophy went to Eilidh Briggs of Kilmacolm with rounds of 74 and 73. Best placed Ayrshire player was county champion Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) who fired rounds of 77 and 79 to finish eight shots adrift.