Sparkie scoops 'cheekie double'
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A YOUNG Portessie golfer has scored a unique double by winning open titles at both the clubs he represents.
Ryan Bain, a member of Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth and his home town Strathlene club in Buckie, romped to victory in their respective open tournaments within the space of only a few days.
He won the scratch section at Moray’s 108th five day open on Friday, beating fellow district youth star Jordan Milne 3 & 1 in the final. The following day he teed off his challenge in the Strathlene 4-day open, and by Tuesday was celebrating a second trophy triumph in quick succession.
Offshore electrician Bain (21) was even keen to add to his winning streak at forthcoming opens in Spey Bay, Buckpool and Cullen, but a call from his North Sea employers later this week ruled him out of entering.
“It was a cheeky wee double,” said Bain, who plays off plus 1 handicap and has starred in Scottish golf’s youth ranks over the years. “I’m happy because I’m playing pretty well at the moment.”
It was the first time Ryan had played in the Moray Open, having only joined the Lossie club two years ago.
Most of his golf has been played at Strathlene, which, being only a stone’s throw away from his Portessie home, means he can even play golf for a spare hour or two in his day.
He became the first Strathlene golfer to win the Moray Open scratch event in 41 years, since Jocky Farquhar – a friend of Ryan’s grandfather – lifted the trophy back in 1972.
Bain also became possibly the youngest winner of the competition, though he admits he had to endure a rough ride and some narrow scrapes to go all the way in the tournament.
He scored a 79 in the first qualifying round over Lossie’s Old Course, and could have been set for an early exit until he pulled a four-under 67 out of the bag over the more familiar New Course to comfortably make the matchplay stage.
In the first round, he faced Moray’s match and handicap convener, Kevin Thomson and edged victory at the 20th after being five holes up with five to play.
Kevin’s brother, Gary, was his opponent in the quarter-finals, and family revenge looked on the cards when Bain found himself three down with five to play. However, in a reverse of his earlier Thomson clash, he levelled the tie and claimed victory at the third extra hole.
In the semis, previous champions Robbie Sheils (Moray) and John Forbes (Inverness) were hoping to meet in the final, but it was young ‘upstarts’ Bain and Milne who claimed victory, with Bain beating Sheils 6 & 5 to go through.
After polishing off Milne on Friday, Bain headed west for the Strathlene tourney, where he defeated Steven Herd in Tuesday’s final to claim the silverware.
It was another feather in the cap for the youngster, who represented Strathlene in the Grampian – Houston Junior Golf Exchange in 2009, enjoying a dream 10-day trip to Texas.
Meanwhile, Moray’s handicap sections were won by visitors.
Section 1 was claimed by James Booth from Cruden Bay, while Shaun Blackburn from Hemitage GC near Dublin, emerged as the Section 2 champion.
