TENNANT CUP:
GRAHAM Rankin yesterday confirmed at the extreme limit the old familiar warning, to be wary of the ailing golfer. At Killermont, in weather more appropriate for February than June, the 30-year-old Walker Cup player won the venerable Tennant Cup by two strokes despite the increasingly painful effects of a kidney infection.
Rankin, who began the final 36 holes four strokes behind Graham Davidson, the overnight leader, after two rounds at the Glasgow club's Gailes course had scores of 67 and 69 for a 72-hole total of 280 to beat his fellow internationalist, Michael Brooks, into second place.
After Saturday's play, Rankin spent two hours in hospital where he had a morphine injection, a side-effect of which was to seriously upset his stomach. During the third round, the Palacerigg player took pain-killing tablets, but by the tenth hole in the afternoon their influence had worn off.
Rankin said afterwards: ``From then on I was in so much pain I don't quite know how I got round. I couldn't finish my swing properly and I must be very doubtful to play in the Scottish Open Strokeplay championship this weekend.
Accordingly, in gaining his second victory in the event in three years, was obliged to show considerable resolution. He began the process by taking a three-stroke lead after 54 holes over Alastair Forsyth and Neil MacRae, although his holing out, as it did throughout, continually frustrated him.
But Rankin frequently bending from the knee instead of the waist to mark and tee the ball, stuck to his task and his finish was stronger than in the circumstances might have been expected. A No.4-iron shot home at the 476-yard fifteenth into a snell breeze and a wedge to 18 inches at the last earned decisive birdies.
Brooks, winner of the season's inaugural event, the Champion of Champions Tournament, had not formally entered and gained a place only by turning up on spec at Gailes. He made six birdies from six feet or less in the final round, not quite enough to offset three bogeys or his three three putts in the morning.
Forsyth, winner of the club's Edward Trophy in April, shared third place on 283 with MacRae, who was three under for the round playing the seventy-second and would have set Rankin a more intimidating target had he not then had a double-bogey 6, bunkering his drive and then missing the green in three. Leading scores:
280 - G Rankin (Palacerigg) 72, 72, 67, 69.
282 - M Brooks (Carluke) 74, 71, 70, 67.
283 - N MacRae (Cawder) 73, 72, 69, 69; A Forsyth (Ralston) 72, 71, 71, 69.
284 - D Patrick (Mortonhall) 75, 68, 72, 69.
285 - D Blair (Bothwell Castle) 71, 78, 70, 66.
286 - M Donaldson (Kirkcaldy) 72, 77, 68, 69.
287 - D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 72, 73, 74, 68; D B Howard (Cochrane Castle) 72, 73, 73, 69.
288 - C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 77, 71, 71, 69; C Barrowman (Glasgow) 78, 69, 69, 72; G Davidson (Langholm) 72, 68, 75, 73.
289 - D Summers (Carrickvale) 72, 74, 74, 69; S Roberts (Gullane) 71, 75, 75, 68; L Kelly (Cowal) 74, 71, 73, 71.
290 - G Crawford (Williamwood) 72, 78, 69, 71; J J Smith (Strathclyde Park) 72, 76, 72, 70; S Armstrong (Ratho Park) 76, 71, 70, 73; B Smith (Hamilton) 74, 71, 72, 73.
q NORMAN Forsyth, of Peebles, posted a 71, three over the standard scratch, to win the Borders Summer Meeting at Duns yesterday. Leading scores:
Scratch: 71 - N Forsyth (Peebles). Handicap: 67 - A Aitchieson (Duns, 8). 68 - P Riley (Hawick, 4). 69 - A Massie (Duns, 3); I Wilson (Torwoodlee, 5).
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