Tain Four-Day Tournament Double

by brother & sister Jimmy, Anne

By ROBIN WILSON
Brother and sister Jimmy Russell and Anne Ryan pulled off a double act at the end of the Whyte & Mackay/Bellhaven Tain four-day tournament in this week's men's and women's scratch finals at the Ross-shire venue.
Locally born Russell, now aged 48, left Tain when a teenager but has always remembered his roots, returning home annually to play the highlight tournament of the club's season each August and winning the scratch final for the first time 25 years ago in 1984.
Now living and working in Aberdeen and a member of Murcar Links, he won again in 2006 and completed his hat-trick of McVitie & Price Cup triumphs this week by beating David Pearson (Kilmacolm) in the final on the 17th green.
With good quality golf both finalists won and lost three of the outward holes to stand level after nine, but when they turned for home their golf became a bit scrappy. There was never more than a hole between them, Russell taking the lead from a eagle 3 on the long 13th hole.
The break point came at the short 16th hole across the river. Both missed the green and their identical chips had to be measured by the referee. Russell was judged the closer by a whisker. Pearson missed and Russell holed to go dormie.
Both also missed the 17th green but Russell got the half from his bunker recovery to win by 2 and 1.
Jimmy's three sisters, Mary Smith, Anne Ryan and Magi Vass, are synonymous with Tain women's' golf but only Anne was able to take part in this year's first-ever women's four -day event, not only becoming the event's first winner but adding the icing to the double celebratory cake by doing so on her 50th birthday when beating teenager Hannah McCook (Abernethy) on the 18th green in the final.
The introduction of a women's qualifying and match-play competition alongside the men's event came from a suggestion last year from the golfing widows left watching from the clubhouse - and very successful it proved.
Seizing the opportunity of sponsorship to promote their business was the local Flower Shop and the first year entry topped 50 ladies. More is expected next year as word spreads of its success especially amongst the younger players.
Magi Vass's daughter Julie was a semi-finalist, beaten by her aunt, Anne Ryan. Local teenager Hannah Mackay (18) enters Robert Gordon's University, Aberdeen next month with a barrow load of A exam results ... and the Handicap Winner's Trophy.
Hannah McCook's place in the final was almost a miracle. Playing against local Claire Ross, she had a nightmare outward half and was six down at the turn. The Abernethy protege turned her game around over the next nine holes with four birdies to win at the 19th.
In the final against Anne Ryan, young Hannah birdied the par 3 17th hole to square the tie but bunkered her approach to the final green and Ryan enjoyed a two-putt par 4 win one up.

+Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk to see Robin Wilson's picture of Anne Ryan and Jimmy Russell with their trophies..