OLD TOM MORRIS
Golfers at Prestwick St Nicholas held a unique strokeplay competition to celebrate the 200th birthday of Old Tom Morris – who helped start the club in 1851.
The event gave members to chance to play with hickory-shafted clubs and gutta percha balls – replicas of the equipment used by Morris when he won four Open Championship titles in the 1860s.
To add to the occasion many of the players wore period dress and some of the rules from golf ’s early days, including stymies, were in operation.
The competition was played over 12 holes, which was common at that time.
The winner of the inaugural Tom Morris Memorial was Neil Jones with a score of 41.
John Ashton was runner-up and Neil’s young son Luke was third.
The hickory clubs were supplied by Jack White Golf of Gullane.
COUNTY STROKEPLAY CHAMPION
Jack Broun (Turnberry) is the 2021 Ayrshire Strokeplay Champion following his victory over Daniel Forbes (Irvine) on the fourth play-off hole after the pair tied on 135 over the two rounds of the championship, held at Loudoun Gowf Club on Sunday.
Turnberry members Steven Stamper and Ruben Lindsay led after the opening round with scores of 66, but the highlight of the opening round came from host club member John Haggarty, who recorded a hole in one on the 156 yard 11th hole.
Alan McLean (Largs) and Daniel Forbes (Irvine) were a shot further back at the half way stage, with Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert), Christopher Hunter (Ballochmyle) and Barry O’Rourke (Loudoun) on 68 and a group of 5 players on 69, including Broun, Blair Morton (Royal Troon), Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie), Haggarty and Mark Watt (Prestwick St Cuthbert).
Out in the first game, Barry O’Rourke set the early pace, a second round score of 70 giving him a 138 total, and ultimately 5th place in the championship.
A second round score of 67 saw John Shanks (Irvine) match O’Rourke’s 138 total and 4th place overall by virtue of the better second round.
Steven Stamper secured third place overall, on 137, after a second round of 71, before Daniel Forbes added a 68 to his morning round for a total of 135 and the leader’s position in the clubhouse.
With only a few players in the field remaining with a realistic chance of matching or beating Daniel Forbes’ score, it fell to Broun to post a second round of 66, the best of the afternoon alongside Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert), which left Broun and Forbes tied on 135.
The only realistic challenger still on the course was Scottish Internationalist Lindsay (Turnberry) but he faltered over the closing few holes and could do no better than 73 in the afternoon.
Broun lost to Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) in a play-off for the title the last time the championship was hosted by Loudoun Gowf Club, in 2019, which undoubtedly was at the back of his mind as he made another play-off bid for his first men’s county title.
A three hole play off took place over the 13th, 11th and 12th holes.
At the opening hole of the play-off both players found the green in two and after Daniel’s 20 foot putt pulled up short, Jack’s 15 foot putt for a birdie missed on the left, leaving the hole halved in par fours.
At the par three 11th hole both players hit nine iron with Daniel finding a bunker on the left of the green and lipping out with a 40 foot putt for par, en route to a bogey four.
Broun successfully two putted for par to take a one stroke lead going to the final play off hole.
At the final hole, the 12th on the course, Jack’s approach was too strong and went through the back and into the burn behind the green.
Daniel pitched to 25 feet en route to securing his par 4.
Jack took a penalty drop, chipped on and bravely holed his putt for a bogey five to take the championship decider into sudden death play off holes.
The players continued onto the 4th play off hole, the first on the course and both players were well positions from the tee, with Daniel’s tee shot some distance beyond Jack’s.
Playing first, Broun struck an excellent approach to within just a few feet of the hole, whilst Daniel followed him in, safely reaching the green with his ball finishing some 20 feet from the hole, but with a difficult left to right putt to negotiate for his birdie three.
Despite an excellent effort, Daniel’s putt stayed above ground and he had to settle for a par 4, and he could only watch on as Broun bravely holed his put for a winning birdie three to take the 2021 Ayrshire Strokeplay title.
The Ayrshire Golf Association are very grateful to the committee and members of Loudoun Gowf Club for hosting the championship this year, and their ongoing support of The Association’s activities year on year.