OWEN CASEY, the Irish number one, took less than an hour to master the brave challenge of Tommy Hamilton 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the Carlsberg South Leinster Open championships at Greystones yesterday.

A closer match seemed in prospect when Hamilton, who played fine tennis throughout, took the first 14 point game on serve. Casey, however, powered his way through the following five games, before taking the set.

Hamilton, one of a group of young Irish players on the verge of Davis Cup squad recognition, again took the first game of the second set and led 3-2, but Casey reeled off the sixth, seventh and eighth games.