Ayrshire will have a new champion

It's been a great week at Dundonald Links for the ALCGA championship.

On Monday 121 ladies were treated to some dry weather and great playing conditions in the strokeplay stage of the event.

Coming out on top was Jenny Linklater, Largs, with a great scratch score of 79 and she will take home the prize for top qualifier.

This year our junior members put up a great show in the strokeplay with 3 of them finishing in the top 5 qualifiers. Alyssa Gillies (Ballochmyle) was second with an excellent 82, Mya Wilson (Royal Troon) was 4th with an equally impressive 83 - both of these girls playing under their handicaps. The other Junior to qualify for the matchplay stages was Orla Moran (Irvine) with an 86. 

As always a full list of all the scores can be found on Howdidido

The first 2 rounds of matchplay took place today and again the golfers were treated to some great weather, a delight after some of the past ALCGA championship weather! Only one of our Juniors (Orla) has progressed to the second day of matchplay but I'm sure that Mya and Alyssa will have gained a lot from the experience and have enjoyed their first of many championships.

The only past champion playing today, Lorna Ronnie (KBGC) lost out to Pauline Patrick (Irvine) therefore the stage is set for ALCGA to welcome a new champion.

The semi finals will tee off at 0930 with Jenny Linklater taking on Orla Moran followed by Joanne Sharp (Lenzie) facing 3 time finalist Audrey Thompson (Loudoun)

Good luck ladies

Winter Foursomes Final

The Winter 4s Final was played on Thursday at West Kilbride.

It started our with waterproofs on, pretty windy, but finished with a few less layers! There was always going to be a Skelmorlie win and Grace Kennedy and Angela Lynden beat Janet Harkness and Alyson Hutton at the 16th.

Brave spectators

Bunkers were unfortunately a problem for both but on the back 9 Janet and Alyson also had some poor lies which caused more problems for them.

A good spirited final from 4 good friends. 

Winning Duo

Thanks to Sara Ann Bottomley for the report and to Gillian Pollock for the pictures

AGM and Prize Giving

There was an excellent turn out of members at Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club on Tuesday evening for our Annual General Meeting and prize giving.

As always, fixtures for the new year are eagerly awaited and the Captain was very happy to announce the following -

Championship, Dundonald Links, April 28, 29, 30

Foursomes, Ballochmyle, May 19

Eleanor Taylor Trophy, McCall Salver qualifier, Irvine, June 17

Summer Meeting (Stableford), East Renfrewshire, July 16

Coronation Medals, Largs, August 12

Tri-am, Darley, September 9

The Captain was also delighted to confirm that retiring committee member Jean Capes (Largs) has agreed to take on the vacant role of Secretary.

Our Junior winners joined us after the meeting for the prize giving. 

Junior Champion and winner of the Centenary Trophy this year was Orla Moran (Irvine)

Spring Salver winner Kirsty Howe (Irvine)

 St Nicholas Trophy Mya Wilson (Royal Troon)

Our very talented up and coming Juniors

2024 Ayrshire Ladies County Champion, Sarah Ramsay (West Kilbride)

McCall Salver winner, Sheena Stewart, (Irvine)

Cairo Cup (Winter foursomes) winners, Janet Harkness and Elspeth Howie, (Skelmorlie)

Silver Quaich winner, Alison Jarvie, (Prestwick St Nicholas)

Bronze Quaich winner, Annette Toal, (Loudoun)

Coronation Medal silver winner, Colette Maule (West Kilbride)

Eleanor Taylor Trophy, JM Turner Scratch cup and Jean McCulloch Trophy, Gillian Pollock (Skelmorlie)

Dalmilling results

Sixty seven ladies braved the elements at Dalmilling yesterday, a difficult day but perhaps not quite as bad as forecast.

Winners of coronation medals -

Colette Maule (West Kilbride) 86 - 13 = 73

Maggie Johnston (Caprington) 106 - 27 = 79

Best Scratch - 

Alison Jarvie (Prestwick St Nicholas) 82

Well done ladies!

Full list of scores can be found, as always, on HowdidIdo

Congratulations Orla

Orla Moran, Irvine, is one of our up and coming Juniors. She recently took part in the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Under 15 Championship at Kingsknowe Golf Club.

This was a three round event and Orla won the girls section with rounds of 76, 80 and 73 giving her a +13 total and a win by one shot over Holly McKenzie from Murcar.

Well done Orla

Freya pipped at the post

After rounds of 71 and 72 Freya tied for second place in qualifying for the match play stages of the Scottish Girls' Amateur Championship. 

She made her way through the match play stages to set up a final against Arianna Virik the 9th qualifier who plays for Warwickshire.

It was a very close final, Freya had been in the driving seat but Arianna squared the match on the 18th and eventually won at the 20th hole.

Well done Freya another great tournament

Freya looking to finish on a high

Freya Russell (Royal Troon) will compete in her final Junior event in Scotland tomorrow when she tees it up at Forfar golf club tomorrow in the Scottish Girls Amateur Championship.

Starting tomorrow there are 36 holes of stroke play and the top 16 will go forward to compete in the match play on Thursday with the final being played on Friday.

Freya, who turned 18 earlier this year, will also be competing at the British Girls' Amateur Championship next month before heading to continue her studies at Florida State University.

Good luck Freya.

An interesting article can be read by clicking on the link below -

Read Scottish Golf article here