Morrow turns back the years

Adrian Morrow will be seeking a rare distinction as leader of the Irish Independent-sponsored East of Ireland Championship, going into the final 36 holes at Baltray today. The 47-year-old Portmarnock international is challenging for a title which he captured for the first time, 25 years ago.

Formidable standards of longevity, however, have been set at this celebrated venue, where Joe Carr, the inaugural champion of 1941, went on to win the last of his 12 titles 28 years later, in 1969. But Morrow, whose last win here was in 1983, seemed satisfied simply to top the leaderboard after a second-round 71 for a halfway total of 143 - three under par.

It placed him a stroke clear of Tandragee's Stuart Paul and three-times winner Garth McGimpsey. And when the cut was made on 153 - seven-over-par - the qualifiers included the unlikely figure of Morrow's Portmarnock colleague, Colm Cassidy, who produced the most dramatic round of the championship so far.

From an apparently hopeless position overnight, after a first-round 85, the 29-year-old improved by no fewer than 18 strokes in carding a sparkling 67 to be a stroke inside the limit on 152. And he could have surpassed the amateur course -record of 66, set by Raymond Burns in the first round in defence of the title in 1993.

Indicative of a remarkable turnabout in Cassidy's form, was that his figures for the first six holes yesterday were cumulatively seven strokes better than Saturday. And they included an eagle three at the long second, which he reached with a six iron second shot before sinking a 15-foot putt. Later, birdies at the 10th, 11th, 14th and 15th brought him to eight under par, but the magic was shattered by a three-putt bogey at the 16th, from a treacherous position, 15 feet above the hole.

"Obviously I'm delighted: this is my best score around here," said Cassidy, who went on to bogey the 18th where he was twice in trouble on the left. In the event, it was a notable day for the Portmarnock club insofar as Noel Fox, the 1996 winner, followed a moderate 78 with a 69 to move into contention on 147.

McGimpsey, who won the last of three titles here in 1998, knew he was losing ground on the way to a 71 in ideal conditions. He three-putted the first for a bogey and failed to make an expected birdie at the long second. Yet he did well to remain in contention, given a recurrence of shoulder damage which has troubled him in recent years.

Paul, who had the distinction of qualifying for the British Open at Royal Birkdale two years ago, emphasised his status as a fine stroke-player. He was two strokes better off than McGimpsey after the second, where he went within a foot of carding an albatross with a six-iron second shot.

Morrow, who had three birdies and a lone bogey in a typically solid 71, said: "I'm a better player now than when I first won this title in 1975. My technique is better and I'm generally hitting the ball far more solidly than I did back then." He would have found few dissenters from that view, after a round characterised by accurate striking of fairways and greens.