Golf South Ayrshire

Tuesday 1st August 2006 marked the ninth anniversary of the Troon Junior Golf Open for the Tom Lehman Trophies. The hugely successful, and reputedly World’s largest, one-day junior golf tournament is played over the Troon Darley, Lochgreen and Fullarton Golf Courses and the 2006 event boasted 480 entries across all handicap and pre-handicap categories of girls and boys.

For the third year in succession, the Ayrshire Golf Association nominated the Darley competition to count as an Order of Merit event for the Ayrshire Boys. With 153 scratch to twelve handicap boys participating, the numbers were slightly up on last year. Euan Brown of Kilmarnock Barassie, scored a 72,2 under the CSS of 74 to lift the Tom Lehman Trophy for the lowest boys’ gross score. Euan obviously enjoys this competition having finished 5th in 2005. Second, third, fourth and fifth scratch prizes were awarded to Jamie Lynch, Falkirk (73), Stuart Fulton, Cathcart Castle (75 last 6), Adam Foley, Belleisle(75) and Graeme Currie, Gullane (76 bih). Angus Ritchie of Welbeck won best net (77 -10 = 67; BIH) with prizes for second to fifth net awarded to Robbie Wilson, Ballochmyle (78 - 11 = 67), Callum Stewart, Belleisle (78 - 10 = 68; BIH), Kieran Johnston, Dalmilling (80-12 = 68) and Craig Hessett, Loudoun (79 – 10 = 69).
 
Lochgreen hosted 110 boys in the 13 to 20-handicap category. Whilst Paul Hainey of Prestwick St Cuthbert returned the best gross score of 77, best net was awarded to Andrew Bolster, Kilmarnock Barassie (79 - 16 = 63;). Prizes for second to fifth net boys were awarded to Morgan Reid, Routenburn (82 - 17 = 65), Alasdair Berry, Ravenspark (83 - 17 = 66), Alexander McGregor, Greenock (80-13=67BIH) and Charles Linton, Dunblane (85-18=67BIH).

Twenty girls in handicap categories one to four competed over Lochgreen. Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), unable to defend her 2004 title last year as she had earned a place in the Scottish Team at the Girls Home Internationals returned to lift the trophy she also won in 2002 with a best gross score of one under par 73. Eilidh Briggs, Megan’s younger sister, ensured that she was not out done by her sister and fired a 74 – 7= 67 to lift the girls’ first handicap prize.  Second handicap prize was taken by Hannah Gaunt, Bentinck (88-14=74BIH) with Nicola McCluckie, Wishaw (91-17=74BIH) claiming third spot.

Fullarton afforded competition to 128 boys and girls with handicaps over twenty-one and twenty-eight respectively. Robbie Edwards of Hayston won best gross boys prize (70).  Best net boy was John Ross Turnbull of Airdrie (76-26=50BIH)) and second to fifth places were awarded to Kyle Menzies, Muirkirk  (78-28=50), Stephen Hill, St Cuthbert (74-23=51BIH), Aaron Gray, Welbeck (73-22=51BIH) and Declan Flood, Caprington (75-24=51).  Mhaori McKay  of West Kilbride won best net girls prize with a score of 95 –36 =59 with second net girls awarded to Heather Conejo, Williamwood 95 – 31= 64.

Winners of the spot prizes on each golf course are listed as follows.

Competition Scratch Scores were:   Darley Golf Course – 74

Lochgreen Golf Course (Boys) 71
Lochgreen Golf Course (Girls)74
Fullarton Golf Course (Boys) 61
Fullarton Golf Course (Girls) 65

As in previous years, the 2006 Troon Junior Golf Open for the Tom Lehman Trophies was a thoroughly enjoyable day of golf competition with a few scattered showers, but that didn’t stop hundreds of enthusiastic young golfers taking part.  Golf South Ayrshire congratulates all the girls and boys who participated in this year’s event and will begin preparations soon for the 2007 Troon Junior Golf Open (Tom Lehman Trophies), which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 7th August 2007.