A tip from his club professional and a new set of clubs has helped Paddy Gribben to the greatest victory of his life. The Warrenpoint 29-year-old yesterday won the Carlsberg North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush in impressive style, dismissing Garth McGimpsey in the semi-finals then tossing aside the challenge of David Gibson in the final, both matches ending on the 14th green.

"This takes me out of a rough few years," Gribben said. "You could say that I have emerged from the darkness of my three years as a professional when the best I achieved was third in the Chilean Open.

"Since I returned to the amateur ranks last year I have reached the semi-finals of the Irish Close and the West and was third last year in the East. Now I have had the greatest win of my golfing career.

"Life is now good and all I want is a decent job. I have got a new baby daughter, Tara, and the North of Ireland title."

The former Munster youth champion never allowed Gibson, a Downpatrick electrician and hockey player, and a semi-finalist in the Irish Close two years ago, a sniff at the title.

Gribben's short game has been fantastic all week. "I got a tip on my stance from our club professional Nigel Shaw before coming up here and I have played this week with a new set of Titleist clubs."

He took control with winning birdies at the sixth and seventh holes after birdies had been swopped over the opening stretch. Another birdie by Gribben at the long ninth, where he pitched to five feet, left the plus-two handicapper four up and the screws were turned when he won the 12th and 13th holes in par.

Gibson failed to get out of a bunker at the first attempt at the 12th and Calamity Corner - the infamous short 14th - settled the issue, as the best Gibson could do was half the hole in par three.

It was also at Calamity Corner that Garth McGimpsey's high hopes of stretching his record of North wins to six went down the Swanee. Gribben was five up then, too, after hammering the Walker Cup man all the way. Gribben had birdies at the third, eighth and 11th holes while McGimpsey failed to make a birdie, after 10 on Thursday.

Irish Youth international Ricky Elliott was the local hope to close a 21-year gap since a Royal Portrush player has won the title but he came unstuck over the final furlong. Elliott had been three up on Gibson after eight holes but the match was all flat at the 15th. Elliott then put a ball out-of-bounds and visited sand twice on his way to the long 17th, losing both holes and sending Gibson through to the final.