Tandragee take the 
initiative in the Sam Rutherford cup final

Banbridge had the home advantage for the first leg and their team captain, Shane McCrory, was hoping to get a lead close to or into double figures. That’s not always easy in the greensomes format.

Neil Comiskey, fresh from his success at Dunmurry earlier in the week, partnered Shane Bell in the opening game. They lost by 2 holes against Johnny Quinn and Jeff Gray.

Hugo Downey and Tom Mulholland played Gary Calvert and Philip Irwin in game number two. Hugo admitted that the ball ran kindly for himself and Tom. Hugo sank some incredible putts and Tom ran his putt in from up the bank at the 17th. They won the last 3 holes to win their game by 5 holes up.

Malcolm Russell and young Mark McCoy played Geoff Morehead and Harry Thompson in the third game. The Banbridge pair got off to a flier, winning the first three holes. There were birdies galore from both pairings and, when it finished, Banbridge were only 2 up.

Garreth Moody and Roy Sipson played Stephen Burns and Michael Lyons in what turned out to be a very long drawn-out game.

Garreth and Roy were not in tune with their golf games. They tried really hard but it just wasn’t happening. A dejected Roy and Garreth walked off the last green 5 holes down.

The lead was gone. The match score, after the first leg of the final is all-square.