North of Ireland: Brian McElhinney wrote a page of history into the North West Golf Club story when he became the first Donegal person to win the North of Ireland amateur championship at Royal Portrush yesterday.
After a fabulous final to the Magners-sponsored tournament he defeated Johnny Foster by one hole.
Holes were continuously swapped and only five, including the last two, were halved. It was a storming birdie-eagle-birdie from Calamity Corner that eventually turned the title in 20-year-old McElhinney's favour.
The Burnfoot youth got off to a the perfect start being two up after two holes - chipping in for eagle from 50 yards at the second. The pair exchanged the next four holes before Foster made back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth to turn two up.
He was two up again after 12 holes before the new champion turned on the powerplay.
At the short 14th, McElhinney, a plus-two handicapper, rifled a four iron to 15 feet and holed the putt. At the downhill 15th he drove the green and rolled in a tramline 30-footer for a rare eagle two and completed the barrage with another 30-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole to go one up.
The long 17th was halved in par. Off the 18th tee, McElhinney drove into sand, blasted out only 30 yards and from 180 yards rifled a four iron to two feet from the flag.
Foster was in the rough and then five feet from the pin in three. The Ballyclare man shook hands - a magnanimous gesture.
"My chipping and putting was good and that's what won the title for me," reflected a rather subdued winner who next heads to the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch.
"It was a great final and both of us played well," added McElhinney, who earlier in the season won the Connacht Youths' title at Connemara and will attempt to add the Ulster Youths' crown next month.
Foster is a former "South" winner and will aim to regain that title. First, however, he will caddie next week for Michael Hoey in the Nissan Irish Open at Portmarnock.
Both finalists had pretty easy morning rounds as they coasted to comprehensive victories. Foster, who dashed the back-to-back hopes of holder Gareth Maybin, raced to a massive 8 and 6 win over Warrenpoint's Barrie Trainor while McElhinney carved out a 4 and 2 victory over Waterford teenager Clancy Bowe.
Bowe was one up after seven holes but had to concede the next hole to McElhinney and also conceded a birdie putt at the ninth to leave the North West youth one up at the turn.
McElhinney went two up with a birdie at the 10th and three up with another birdie at the 13th.
Both players were in trouble on the right at the par-four 16th hole, which Bowe finally conceded to his opponent.
Foster's putting was again hot as he dominated the other semi-final. He won the first, the fourth (where his putt dropped into the cup for birdie after dangling on the lip) and every hole - bar the seventh, which was halved - from the sixth to the 12th.
"I still had a great week and if anyone had told me on Monday that I was certain to reach the semi-finals I would have been delighted," enthused Trainor, who plays off scratch.
SEMI-FINALS - B McElhinney (North West) bt C Bowe (Tramore) 4 and 2; J Foster (Ballyclare) bt B Trainor (Warrenpoint) 8 and 6.
FINAL - McElhinney bt Foster 1 hole.
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