Boys Team Milton Murray returned to manage the boys team in 2016. Despite only losing one of their five fixtures in the 2016 West of Scotland Boys League, Ayrshire finished in third place behind Renfrewshire, who retained the league itle, and Lanarkshire. The campaign began with a draw away to Glasgow at Cathkin Braes and a draw at home to Renfrewshire at Ayr Belleisle before the boys recorded their first win with a 6 – 2 defeat of Sirlingshire at Largs. Defeat followed in the penulimate match of the series with a 3 – 5 reverse against Lanarkshire at Colville Park and although the team closed with a 4.5 – 3.5 home win over Dumbartonshire at Annanhill the Wishart Trophy eluded Ayrshire again in 2016. Ayrshire were well adrit of winners Lanarkshire in the Scoish Boys Area Team Championship, played at Grangemouth on Sunday 5th June, the team of Jack Broun, Callum Irving and Jordan Sweeney from Ayr Belleisle and Euan Ferguson from Turnberry finishing in 13th place in the compeiion. Scot Gilchrist will take over the administraion of the boys’ team in 2017, with Milton Murray remaining to assist.
County A Team John Rushbury coninued to manage the A team in 2016 and was again assisted by Allan Muir and Gordon Boyle. The Scoish Area Team Championships took place in early September at Dalmahoy and the team of Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle), Malcolm Pennycot (Whiing Bay), John Shanks (Irvine), Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert), Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) and Charlie Macneal (Prestwick) ensured the that defending champions Ayrshire qualified comfortably in fourth place for the Matchplay stages. In the first round of the Matchplay, Ayrshire faced Glasgow but despite John Shanks & Charlie Macneal winning the lead foursomes match, defeat in three of the four singles ies saw Ayrshire relinquish their itle at the quarter final stage. Lanarkshire won the itle in 2016, beaing Lothians in the final. In September, the Ayrshire team began their defence of the West of Scotland Inter County League itle, which they had won for the first ime in 27 years in 2015. The team opened their itle defence with a 6 – 2 win over Glasgow at Troon Portland but the itle hopes suffered a setback in the second match of the series when the team went down by 3.5 – 4.5 to Sirlingshire at Glenbervie. The team got back on track in the third match with a 4.5 – 3.5 win over Lanarkshire at West Kilbride and a 5 – 3 defeat of Renfrewshire at Irvine set up a winner takes all clash with Dumbartonshire at Cardross in the final match of the series. In a nail-biing conclusion, the result of the match was in doubt unil the last few holes of the remaining three ies on the course, but eventually Ayrshire won the match 6 – 2 to retain the West League itle. The fourteen players used by Ayrshire during the successful 2016 campaign were: Steven Wallace, Greg Telfer & Stuart Robin (all Prestwick St Cuthbert), Keith Hamilton & Jim Johnstone (both Ayr Belleisle), Scot Brown & Steven Stamper (both Turnberry), John Shanks (Irvine), Tommy McInally (Loudoun), Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle), Malcolm Pennycot (Whiing Bay), Michael Smyth (Royal Troon), Charlie Macneal (Prestwick) and Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) James McMurdo will take over the administraion of the A team in 2017, assisted by Gordon Boyle and Allan Coulter West of Scotland Champions
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