McGimpsey the main man again

Garth McGimpsey, the premier amateur player in Ireland over the past two decades, embellished an already impressive golfing curriculum vitae by claiming a third AIB East of Ireland title at Co Louth yesterday.

Twice beaten in a play-off and runner-up last year, the Irish international completed a hat-trick of victories in this tournament in a regal manner, replete with excellent golf, illustrated by his level par 292 total for the four rounds.

The latest success provides the 42-year-old Bangor man with his 14th championship success, dating back to his first triumph in the North of Ireland at Royal Portrush in 1978. That was merely an opening salvo in a remarkable career: five Norths, four West of Irelands, three Easts, an Irish Close and the British Amateur Championship in 1985.

Three appearances on the Walker Cup team appears paltry when one considers his record, but while he continues to languish outside the training panel, it is not a topic on which he wishes to dwell.

McGimpsey preferred to relish his latest triumph. "I'm still competitive, still trying," he smiled. "I am very pleased, especially as I was out for five months earlier this year with a recurrence of an old shoulder injury. I have been having physiotherapy since just after the Home Internationals."

The magnificent Baltray links, beneath blue skies and with a prevailing easterly wind, offered a testing backdrop to the final 36 holes.

McGimpsey's morning was transformed from mediocre to excellent by a blistering finish, with birdies on the 17th and 18th.

A seven-iron to six feet on 17 was dispatched authoritatively, and then a fine drive and three-wood propelled the Ulsterman's ball to the front edge of the par five 18th. He lagged up to four feet and completed the journey with a superb birdie for a level par 73, ensuring his lead going into the afternoon.

His cushion was a single shot from ex-international and former professional Enda McMenamin, who had produced a magnificent two-under par 71. One stroke further back was another golfer chasing a third success in the East of Ireland, Portmarnock's Adrian Morrow. Overnight leader and Leinster interprovincial, Gary Cullen shot a 79, but was still within touching distance, three shots behind.

Morrow was the first to challenge McGimpsey in earnest, clawing back to within a shot by playing the first eight holes in two under. The ninth arrested the Portmarnock golfer's momentum when a noise on the tee caused him to drive into a bunker from which he took three shots to emerge. The result was a triple bogey seven.

Three putts on the 13th and 14th effectively scuppered his ambition.

In the interim, McGimpsey bogeyed the second and fifth, but birdies on the third and sixth ensured measured progress.

"I was very pleased with the way that I played down the stretch," he said. "I was a little bit tense but kept it together well. I knew that Enda (McMenamin) was in on four over, so I could not afford too many mistakes."

The champion was a model of consistency, completing his journey to the 18th tee in regulation figures.

To manage the day's 36 holes in one under par was a truly remarkable achievement and one worthy of any championship honour.

McMenamin, twice a runner-up in the West and once in the Irish Close, all at Rosses Point, had to settle for second best once again despite a fine performance.

North West's Conor Mallon completed the day's golf in level par to finish two shots adrift of McMenamin, with Morrow and overnight leader Cullen one stroke further back. The Beaverstown player could only manage closing rounds of 79 and 75. The unfortunate Jim Mulready, well placed at the beginning of play, suffered something of a nightmare. Playing alongside McGimpsey, he slumped to an 82 in the morning, and compounded his misery with an even worse 15over par 88 to drop right down to the tail of the field.

McGimpsey has set his sights on the Irish Close Championship and the South of Ireland, a championship he has yet to win. On the evidence of this weekend, it is a situation that he may redress.