THE air of predictability which had hung around Gleneagles for much of
last week, blew over to Haggs Castle yesterday where Raymond Russell
sauntered to victory in the Cameron Corbett Vase with seven strokes in
hand over joint runners-up Barclay Howard and Dean Robertson.
As with Jesper Parnevik, Russell was not pushed throughout his final
two rounds. He was steady if unspectacular and by building such a wall
of consistency around himself, the newest addition to Scotland's Walker
Cup club became virtually impossible to assault.
Russell did not three-putt a green in 72 holes. Leading by three
strokes at the halfway stage, thanks to a second round 67, which
featured half a dozen birdies, he then went on to match regulation on
his third circuit.
And this effort was good enough to extend his lead to five strokes.
When a player as competent as Russell takes that sort of advantage
into a final round, it is safe to commence the engraving process on the
trophy.
Further confirmation was provided by three birdies in his first four
holes.
Ahead of him, the Cochrane Castle duo of Howard and Robertson were
trying to remain in step with closing 68s, but it was too late merely to
bekeeping up.
While they had the consolation of carving up the minor places, Russell
posted a 69 which gave him a 10-under par total of 278, one of the best
on record.
''I felt I had a point to prove after Scotland's disappointing
performance at the European Championship last week,'' said Russell after
racking up his third 72-hole Scottish title of the year.
He now turns his sights on Europe again today when he heads to Breda
to compete in the Dutch Youths Championship. Final aggregates:
278 -- R Russell (Longniddry) 70, 67, 72, 69.
285 -- D B Howard (Cochrane Castle) 74, 71, 72, 68; D Robertson
(Cochrane Castle) 71, 73, 73, 68.
288 -- C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 74, 73, 70, 71.
289 -- C Elliott (Carrickvale) 72, 70, 74, 73; G Rankin (Palacerigg)
75, 67, 75, 72.
290 -- J Milligan (Barassie) 75, 71, 73, 71; R Clark (Erskine) 71, 73,
70, 76.
291 -- C Hislop (Powfoot) 76, 72, 72, 71.
292 -- S Mackenzie (West Linton) 71, 74, 72, 75; D Kirkpatrick
(Tantallon) 76, 69, 71, 76; D Downie (Ladybank ) 72, 68, 78, 74; R
Jenkins (Crow Wood) 73, 74, 73, 72; G Lowson (Crieff) 73, 71, 72, 76.
* TOMMY Cochrane won the Fife match-play championship for the fourth
time yesterday at Dunfermline, by beating home member Robert Pennycook 4
and 3 in the final.
Cochrane, from Dunnikier Park, had advanced to the final at the
expense of East of Scotland Open champion Stuart Meiklejohn, whom he
defeated on the final green. Pennycook was taken to the nineteenth
before shaking off Leven's Gary Beveridge. Results:
Semi-finals -- T Cochrane (Dunnikier Park) beat S Meiklejohn
(Aberdour) one hole; R Pennycook (Dunfermline) beat G Beveridge (Leven)
at the nineteenth.
Final -- Cochrane beat Pennycook 4 and 3.
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