TAVISTOCK golfers Graham and James Ruth proved a great sporting partnership when they triumphed in the first ever Father and Son national tournament held at the DeVere Belton Woods Golf Resort, Grantham, Lincolnshire

To triumph they had to beat some stiff competition including the likes of former Ryder Cup golfer Paul Broadhurst and his son Sam.

Graham and James Ruth claimed the British Father and Son Scratch title.

Dad Graham, aged 54, from Tavistock Golf Club and his tour playing son James, aged 27 of St Mellion GC, snatched the Scratch Championship in dramatic fashion in a sudden death playoff over head pro Kevin Hinton and his son Reece (a three handicapper) from Holtye and Nevil GCs.

In the scratch event the Ruths tied on six under to take the championship in dramatic fashion over the Hintons in a sudden death playoff.

Brittany Ferries golf director Graham, a three times Devon County champion who is the secretary of the Devon Professional Golfers Alliance, said: 'Me and James have had a really enjoyable time, really super. We don't get the chance to spend much time together and play golf, so to win is a real bonus! I think this is a super event and I can only see it growing in stature.'

'It was genuinely great fun. I take my hat off to James because he had to make a big effort to get there in the first place as he had to drive down to Lincolnshire from playing in a Euro-Pro event near Troon in Scotland! He didn't even have time to have a practise round and straight after the play-offs and presentation he was off to Scotland again.

Graham and his wife Bev have been sponsoring his son James since he lost his European Tour Card and currently playing Challenge and Europro Tour.

James said: 'I'm going back to tour school in a couple of months and it's great to win this event with my dad, we just came here to spend time together and have some fun, it's a really good tournament.'

The pair receive an invitation to the Grand European Final in October at the Troon managed Lumine Golf Resort, Costa Dorada Spain. They also won a clothing outfit from Sponsors Glenmuir.