Morgan's title as home challenge fades

Ten years ago, as yet another step in a colourful career, John Morgan was plying his craft on the desert sands of Dubai. The Englishman felt decidedly more comfortable, however, when taking top prize of £33,300 in the AIB Irish Seniors Open in the pastoral beauty of Mount Juliet yesterday.

After a final round of 72, which included a bogey at the 18th, Morgan finished with a seven-under-par aggregate of 209 for a one-shot margin over Noel Ratcliffe and Brian Barnes. Which meant disappointment for the home challengers of whom Eddie Polland was best in a share of fifth place.

"It's really great to have won again in Ireland after my victory at East Clare last August," said Morgan afterwards. "Like everyone else, I made mistakes out there, but the key was my determination with the putter. When I needed to, I simply willed the ball into the hole."

Much was expected of Christy O'Connor Jnr, who was strongly positioned, only two strokes off the lead overnight. The strain of recent transatlantic travel clearly took its toll on the Galwayman, however, and even the enthusiastic support of a large gallery failed to lift him from a disappointing 74.

But the uncle did well. Indeed 74-year-old Christy Senior performed remarkably, even by his formidable standards, when shooting a final round of 75 for an aggregate of 224 - eight over par. And he made no attempt to conceal his delight.

"That's not bad for an oul' fella, is it," he said afterwards. "To be perfectly honest, I feel magnificent - on top of the world. I came here a little lame because of a soreness in my hip but I'm really pleased with the way I played. I have always loved this course from the time I played Jack Nicklaus here." (He beat the Bear in an exhibition to mark the official opening in 1991).

Then, he articulated the thoughts of many of those present, by saying: "I'm very pleased to see Junior playing so well after the terrible tragedy of losing his son. It's just a pity he couldn't have gone all the way and won it."

O'Connor Jnr was undone by successive bogeys at the 13th, where his second was in water and the 14th and 15th, which he three-putted. Similarly, the impetus was knocked out of Denis O'Sullivan's challenge by a bogey at the long eighth, where he three-putted from only nine feet. And he compounded the problem with a poor drive at the next, leading to another bogey.

Most spectacular golf of the day came from Brian Barnes, who responded to a bogey at the short 11th by covering the next six holes in 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4 - birdie, birdie, par, birdie, birdie, birdie. The run of five birdies in six holes lifted him from the role of hopeful observer to a share of second place on six under par.

But he may be forced to quit the European Seniors' Tour because of worsening rheumatoid arthritis in his feet. Limping noticeably during his final round, he said afterwards: "They let me ride in a buggy in the States but I can't do that over here. So, the British Seniors at Royal Portrush this summer could be my European swansong."

Had Polland the fourth hole to play over again, he might have won the tournament. "It did me - no doubt about it," he said with some emphasis about the treacherous, 404-yard hole where he ran up a seven on Friday and a six on Saturday.

Yesterday, he played it as he had meant to do on the two previous occasions, hitting a three wood off the tee and a nine iron second into the heart of the green for a two-putt par.

"Sometimes you can accept defeat when you're not playing so well, but I've been hitting the ball super since my arrival here."

Morgan was tied for the lead overnight with Craig Defoy. But as the Welshman faded, his rival covered the first eight holes in one under par. And he refused to become discouraged by a double-bogey at the ninth where he drove into a bunker and recovered poorly.

Indeed his response was to remember the left to right action he had practised prior to the tournament so as to cope with a Jack Nicklaus course. And he proceeded to reel off three steady pars before hitting a brilliant nine iron of 130 yards to four feet for a birdie at the 13th. Another birdie at the 16th effectively secured victory.

Morgan got his start in golf as a 14-year-old by borrowing his mother's clubs. She was a latecomer to the game but after being bitten by the bug at 40, she went on to have a thriving "senior" career and had the distinction of shooting her age with an 83, two years ago.