Walker’s Majors dream is dashed
Goal ace Doolan back with his old boss
He was within touching distance of a dream place in the big three – The Open, US Open and The Masters.
But Euan Walker, a 23- year- old from Kilmarnock Barassie, was left to rue what might have been when he suffered agonising defeat in the final of the Amateur Championship.
Walker was five down after just nine holes of the 36- hole showdown at Portmarnock against Irish opponent James Sugrue.
But he battled back to take the tie to the final hole which he needed to force a play- off .
However, there was no fairytale finish and Walker was pipped by the narrowest of margins.
Walker had been looking to emulate Barassie colleague Gordon Sherry who won the Amateur crown in 1995.
He was the first Ayrshire player to make it to the final since Michael Stewart in 2011.
Kris Doolan insists the lure of playing for his old mentor was too good to resist as he joined Ayr this week.
United boss Ian McCall ended a sixweek pursuit of the former Partick Thistle hitman by bagging his top summer target.
And Doolan immediately pledged to deliver goals.
The striker, who spurned a host of other offers to sign a one- year deal at Somerset Park, said: “The gaffer is someone I have a lot of respect for.
“He gets people playing for him and has already done so much for my career.”
Dools, 32, was taken to Firhill by McCall 10 years ago when playing Junior football for Auchinleck.
He went on to become a Maryhill legend before being released by Jags’ boss Gary Caldwell in the summer.
Now he’s ready to follow in the footsteps of a Somerset hero.
But he said: “I’m not Lawrence Shankland – there will only be one of him.
“He was an excellent servant for this club and achieved so much.
“But I’ll try to help Ayr back to where they deserve to be.
“It doesn’t matter where I am, I will score goals at any level.
“I’m an Ayrshire boy and this move just feels like the right fit.
“I’ve still got a lot to give. I look after myself well off the pitch so there’s plenty of years to come on it.”
Thrilled boss McCall said: “I had to be very patient, Kris could easily have gone elsewhere. But he’s just the type of boy we need.”
• McCall on Dools page 68