Ayrshire amateur golfers head to championships

Jul 25 2008

FIFTEEN players from Ayrshire are among the field of 256 for the Scottish Amateur Championship which starts at Carnoustie on Monday.

The challenge is headed by boys’ champion and senior internationalist Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) who is seeded number six for the event.

First round matches involving Ayrshire players are: Monday: 0857: Iain Thomson (Powfoot) v John Sloan (Doon Valley); 1053: Scott Henry (Cardross) v David Addison (Barassie); 1117: John McMahon (Cardross) v George Robertson (Ravenspark); 1345: John Gallagher (Swanston New) v Keith Hamilton (Belleisle); 1533: Michael Stewart (Welbeck) v. Gordon Miller (Cawder).

Tuesday: 0653: John Duff (Newmacher) v John Cairney (Ravenspark); 0701: Ewan McKinnon (Corrie) v. Mike MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie); 0725: Steven McEwan (Caprington) v. Ralph Wardlaw (Carnoustie); 0733: Allan McKie (Glencruitten) v Jamie Mackay (Barassie); 0741: John Shanks (Irvine) v Mark Hyslop (Glenbervie); 0813: Ewan Brown (Barassie) v Frank McCarron (Stonehaven); 1117: Ross Kellett (Colville Park) v Cameron Gray (West Kilbride); 1133: Ross McGuire (Dalmahoy) v Michael Smyth (Royal Troon); 1305: Chris Harkins (Belleisle) v. Malcolm Davidson (Craigie Hill); 1401: Neil McBride (Cowglen) v Ross Dixon (Barassie).

l TURNBERRY’S Ronnie McLellan was third for a second successive tournament on the Scottish Seniors circuit with a good show in the North of Scotland Seniors Championship. That followed his performance at Dumfries and County a week ago.

An eagle three at the 16th helped Colin Christy from Kilmacolm win the event after McLellan had led the field of 94 overnight. McLellan had rounds of 70 and 75.

David Miller (Barassie) and Keith Howie (West Kilbride) also finished well up the field on 152, both scoring successive 76s over the two rounds.

The next event on the Scottish seniors’ amateur circuit is the West of Scotland seniors championship at Hamilton in three weeks.

l SCOTTISH boys’ champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) is one of eight Ayrshire players teeing off in the Scottish Boys Open Strokeplay Championship at Blairgowrie (Lansdowne) this week.

Stewart is bidding to capture a second national title of the season, in the event in which he lost in a play off for the title 12 months ago.

Also in the field are Kyle Smith (Barassie), Scott Brown (Turnberry), Scott Clark (Belleisle), Andrew Wright (Barassie), Fraser Lawrie (West Kilbride), Adam Foley (Belleisle) and Colin Robinson (Largs).

l SCOTT BROWN (Turnberry) is the new leader of the Ayrshire Junior Order of merit, after a recent win at Largs and runners-up spots at Annanhill and West Kilbride. Eleven counting events have now been completed with a further 12 before mid August.

Points: 490: Scott Brown (Turnberry); 262½: Scott Clark (Belleisle); 250: Michael Stewart (Welbeck); 241½: Fraser Lawrie (West Kilbride); 197½: Jack McDonald (Barassie); 165: Sam Findlater (Welbeck); 153½: Andrew Wright (Barassie); 130: David Wilson (Welbeck); 108½: Adam Foley (Belleisle); 107½: Callum Stewart (Belleisle); 100: Marc Smith (Welbeck); 70: Michael Roos (West Kilbride); 62½: Ciar Porciani (Turnberry), Andrew Abercrombie (Largs); 50: Ciaran Byrne (New Cumnock), Craig Goodwin (Loudoun); 45: Alan Bruce (Barassie); 42½: Scott Johnston (St C); 35: Craig Telfer (St C), Gregor Mackintosh (Girvan), Jared Williams (St Meddans), Chris Butler (Ravenspark); 20½: Neil Hamilton (Barassie); 20: Kieran Howie (West Kilbride); 15: Sean Thorburn (Belleisle), Declan Flood (Caprington); 11½: Fraser McKay (West Kilbride), Jonathon Nicol (Largs); 5: David Brown (St C).

l BUDDING young golfers will tee off in the Junior Golf Pre-handicap Open at Troon Fullarton on Monday, August 4.

The competition was introduced a few years ago and is open to all boys and girls aged eight years and over and under 18 who have not yet achieved an official golf handicap.

It is played from specially installed forward junior tees on Troon Fullarton, with boys and girls playing from the same tees.

The emphasis is participation and a goody bag will be given to each competitor rather than having a prize list.

The pre handicap Junior open will be held on the day before the Tom Lehman Trophy competition, which takes place on Tuesday.

The Tom Lehman Trophy competition is thought to be the largest single day junior open in the country, if not the world, and will be played at the Lochgreen, Darley and Fullarton courses.