a Meet the new Scottish champions! Ayrshire's team and officials (back row, left to right) Brian Moore, John Shanks, Ronnie Potts (team captain), Tommy McInally, Rickie McGee (county president) and George Robertson, with Steven McEwan and John Cairney on their haunches, with the splendid national trophy (Image by Robin Wilson).

Ayrshire beat Renfrewshire 5-4
in Scottish area team final

By ROBIN WILSON
Ayrshire won the Scottish Golf Union's area team championship final at Tain Golf Club today.
Once again - as it was in both the Saturday semi-finals - it was a 5-4 result with Renfrewshire the beaten finalists.
Ayrshire last won the title in 1986 when the semi-finals and final were played at Murcar Links. There must be something about the air north of Perth that brings the best of of the Men from Ayrshire.

It took a birdie on the last green by Ayrshire third pair, Brian Moore and John Shanks to give their team a 2-1 lunchtime lead. As in both the semi-finals, a foursomes lead was decisive in the final analysis.

Ayrshire will want to take Tain's par-5 13th hole home with them. John Cairney, an eagle 3, and and Tommy McInally, an albatross 2 (with a four iron), both won this hole on their way to individual wins that in the final reckoning took the trophy to Ayrshire.

Cairmey won his game 2 and 1 against Matthew Clark to level up the singles scores at 2-2, Ayrshire's Steven McEwan having beaten Gordon Stevenson 3 and 2 in the top singles and David Miller and Craig Watson have countered for Renfrewshire by beating George Robetson (2 and 1) and John Shanks (4 and 3) respectively.

With Renfrewshire's Ronnie Clark putting his side ahead 3-2 in the singles with a 5 and 3 win over Brian Moore, the overall score was tied up at 4-4, everything hinged on the outcome of the McInally v Mudro Carmichael tie.

After winning the 13th with his albatroos, McInally lost the 14th to Carmichael's par 4 to go back to only one ahead. Carmichael then put a ball into the river from the tee at the 16th to go dormie two down but won back the 17th with a par 3.

Going to the wire at the final hole still one up Mcinally holed a winning 5ft putt to which gave Ayrshire their 5-4 victory.

Details:
RENFREWSHIRE 4, AYRSHIRE 5
Foursomes (2-1):
Matthew Clark & Ronnie Clark lost to Steven McEwan & George Robertson 2 and 1.
Gordon Stevenson & David Miller bt John Cairney & Tommy McInally 3 and 2.
Murdo Carmichael & Craig Waston lost to Brian Moore & John Shanks 1 hole.
Singles (3-3):
Stevenson lost to McEwan 3 and 2.
Miller bt Robertson 2 and 1.
Watson bt Shanks 4 and 3.
Matthew Clark lost to Cairney 2 and 1.
Carmichael lost to McInally 1 hole.
Ronnie Clark bt Moore 5 and 3.