Persistence brought a rich reward for Martin Wilson and Michael Wilson when they provided the first home victory for five years in the Father and Son Open Foursomes, sponsored by Guardian Life, at the Castle. It was their sixth time playing in the event and last year they were only beaten when eventual winners Mick Whelan and Michael Whelan (Edmondstown) holed a monster putt on the final green in their semi-final. No such heroics were required last Sunday as the Wilsons were always in control of the final against Frank Gannon and Ronan Gannon (Skerries), winning on the 15th.

The Gannons weren't complaining, however. Frank, a former interprovincial who still plays off scratch, previously competed in the event with his late father Jack in 1962. When he read in this column a fortnight ago that a few vacancies were left on the timesheet he sent a late entry and with 15-year-old Ronan, who plays off 16, won the best gross in the qualifying round. Their run to the final made it a very enjoyable week and left Frank Gannon promising to leave it only 12 months rather than 37 years before returning for a third tilt at the title.