Morrow lifts title with age-defying display

FORTY THREE year old Adrian Morrow, whose first championship victory was recorded as a 22 year old when he won the East of Ireland title in 1975 and whose most recent success was recorded 13 years ago when he did the East and South double, swept aside the years at Lahinch yesterday.

Revealing single minded application and concentration in the cold and blustery wind, Morrow bridged the 13 year gap to in ascribe his name on the championship roll of honour yet again when he won the Bank of Ireland sponsored South of Ireland title, defeating the defending champion Jody Fanagan 2 and 1 in the final.

Morrow, who was effectively ruled out of competitive golf for over three years when he got hepatitis in 1985 and who still by his own admission has to be careful about his diet, never gave up hope that he could again win a major title. He proved his point and his faith was rewarded yesterday.

After clinching his win on the 17th green, Morrow said. "I came here in a very positive frame of mind and felt I could win the title."

He then gave credit to a very beneficial three hour visit to Harry Wallace, a mind management consultant.

Throughout the week, Morrow has revealed his capacity to hold a steady nerve, especially when he beat the East of Ireland champion Noel Fox at the 22nd in the fourth round.

"That win and the manner of it gave me real confidence and I felt then I could win this championship," he said. And he demonstrated his ability to keep cool in a crisis in the final when he saw the three hole lead he had built by the fifth turned into a one hole deficit at the 11th as Fanagan won four holes in the stretch from the seventh to the 11th. But a brilliant hat trick of birdies between the 14th and 16th saw Morrow regain the initiative and take the title.

Fanagan won the first hole in par but then lost four in a row as Morrow birdied the second, won the next two in par and then birdied the fifth. Fanagan cut the deficit at the seventh with a great chip to four feet and won the ninth through a birdie with a 12 foot putt. It was all square at the 10th when Morrow was just short of the green in two and then saw his recovery blown back down the hill in the wind and Fanagan won the hole in a regulation four.

Fanagan won the short 11th in three to go one up when Morrow missed the green, and Morrow might well have lost the 12th also when he three putted. Fanagan had been bunkered off his tee, but after Morrow's putting lapse, Fanagan had a five foot putt to win the hole but missed, and it was halved. "Had I gone two down there might not have been a way back," said Morrow.

After the 13th was halved, Morrow birdied the long 14th when he pitched dead and Fanagan took three from the edge. At the next Morrow went ahead when he produced a superb three iron second which he left two feet from the pin to win the hole in three.

Now one up he went dormie two when he holed from 35 feet for a bride two at the short 16th and it was all over at the next when Morrow got the half he required after reaching the green in two. He was one under par for the 17 holes played.

Morrow had been two under par in his semi final in the morning when he beat Ricky Elliott by two holes. Fanagan had ended the title hopes of 45 year old Arthur Pierse in the other semifinal, winning 3 and 2.

Fanagan defended his title in the most commendable manner, but Morrow emerged as a most worthy champion.