Fox outwits Lyons in trophy hunt

Before a ball was struck in anger, the surnames of the combatants hinted at some form of blood-thirsty hunt; and the duel perpetrated by Noel Fox and Pat Lyons in the final of the West of Ireland Amateur Championship, sponsored by Ulster Bank, at Enniscrone yesterday proved to be as vigorously contested as any previous showdown in the event's distant past.

Ultimately, the day belonged to Fox, a 24-year-old Dubliner who aspires to further international honours. Fox, a member of Portmarnock, defeated Cork's Lyons by a 2 and 1 margin in the final which was played in a stiff, persistent wind that blew in off the Atlantic ocean. Mercifully, however, the sleet and hail that had accompanied the wind in the morning semi-finals stayed away.

For Fox, it was a case of savouring his second amateur `major'. Two years ago, he won the East of Ireland title but, on that occasion, he "backed into it" in that he was first out in the final round and shot a low round that was never bettered. "There wasn't too much pressure on me that time, so it's nice to see that I stood up under pressure here," said Fox. Indeed, an indication of the topsy-turvy nature of the final was that just five holes out of the 17 played were halved.

Fox, who is on the British and Irish Walker Cup panel, has set himself a target for the season of making the team to play the continent of Europe in the St Andrews Links Trophy in August. "That's my goal for the year," he insisted. This `West' victory constitutes a good start to the game-plan. However, he twice had to show his mettle in yesterday's match: firstly, in beating Jody Fanagan at the 19th in the semi-final, and then by overcoming the stubborn resistance of Lyons, who'd disposed of Eddie Power in his semi-final.

In fact, Fox admitted he was a little fortunate to get by Fanagan. "I really struggled," he said, "I didn't feel good over the ball and my swing didn't feel right. I think it was because it was just so cold, I couldn't warm up at all and I don't know how many layers of clothing I had on." It was a good deal milder, though, for the ultimate battle, although Fox got an early fright when Lyons birdied three of the opening four holes, to lead by one.

Lyons's touch on the greens deserted him, however, at the clutch of holes around the Valley of Diamonds, the ring duneland that encompasses the meandering stretch from the eighth to the 12th. "I made too many errors on the greens," admitted Lyons, a former international who last played for Ireland in 1986. In fact, Lyons had three three-putts in those five holes, and was two down standing on the 13th tee-box.

By the time he was walking off the 15th green, Lyons had managed to level the match again. He won the 14th after Fox, again launching a huge drive off the tee, measuring some 360 yards, was bunkered, played a poor shot out of the sand and ended up with a bogey five; and, at the next, Lyons played a lovely six iron approach in to 10 feet and sank the birdie putt.

As so often happens, matches - and particularly finals - are won with the assistance of a lucky break. Fox's came at the 16th, the hole which has caused more heartbreak than any other in this championship. Lyons was stuck in the gully in front of the green in two when Fox hit his five iron approach. It hit the left bank and threatened to stay in the thick rough there but, after some hesitation, eventually struggled down onto the green. "Psychologically, that was hugely important for Noel and made my shot much harder," professed Lyons.

And, indeed, Lyons was faced with a difficult chip up the bank. He negotiated it safely, but the ball barely made the green and he failed to make the 20-foot putt. Fox won the hole in par four. Then, at the short 17th, a hole which had been kind to Fox all week, his five iron evaded the wind's efforts to move it off line and he safely found the green. In contrast, Lyons's six iron tee-shot finished in the hollow to the right; he played a chip like a "bunker shot" but was left with a 12-footer to save par. The blade stayed cold, and Fox made three to win the title.

"It'll come as a nice surprise for my dad," remarked Noel, of Noel Snr, the former Dublin footballer, who only arrived back in the country yesterday after a week spent watching the US Masters. However, the win hasn't tempted Fox to pursue a professional career, at least not in the immediate future. "I played on the Florida mini-tour for a little while and it was frightening to see how good those guys, who can't even get on the Nike Tour, were. I reckon I need to improve by at least a couple of shots to even contemplate such a move and, as I've said, my goal is to make the St Andrews Trophy team."

As if to confirm that the top amateurs play almost full-time anyway, Fox has an itinerary over the next few months which will take in the major championships in Ireland and also in Britain. It promises to be a busy time for the newly-crowned West of Ireland champion, who has made the best possible start to the new season.

Semi-finals: P Lyons (Cork) bt E Power (Kilkenny) 4 and 2; N Fox (Portmarnock) bt J Fanagan (Milltown) at 19th. Final: Fox bt Lyons 2 and 1.