Portmarnock's Noel Fox cruised a five shot win in the East of Ireland championship at windswept Baltray yesterday.

The 28-year-old shot a final round of 72 to finish on 14 under par after fending of a great final day challenge from Dunmurry's Darren Crowe.

A 21-year-old student at Queens, Crowe began the day six behind Fox but actually drew level with Fox twice in the course of a roller coaster afternoon.

Four ahead of the field starting the day, Fox carved out a three under par 70 in the morning as Crowe surged up the field with a five under par 68 to begin his afternoon round just four shots adrift.

Then Crowe fired four birdies in his first six holes after lunch to draw level with Fox on 13 under par.

Fox promptly birdied the sixth and seventh to move two clear on 15 under par before finding a bush at the 10th to run up a double bogey six.

Crowe promptly birdied the 11th and 12th to draw level again at 13 under par before his swing deserted him.

A bogey at the 13th started the rot and he eventually finished with three consecutive bogeys as Fox two-putted the 11th to go two clear.

Fox effectively clinched the championship at the 13th when he blasted an eight-iron out of deep rough to 40 feet and holed the putt for an unlikely birdie.

The Portmarnock man could even afford to bogey the par five 18th after his drive caught the lip of the fairway bunker but he was delighted with his victory.

He said: "It's great to win this title for the third time with my brother James on my bag. Winning for the first time in 1996 was special, all wins are special for different reasons but this has been my best course management week of all time."

"Even though I missed a few fairways today I feel that I controlled the ball all week. I think it was a well thought out performance and I'm delighted."

IRISH INDEPENDENT, EAST OF IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP at CO. LOUTH GOLF CLUB

278 N Fox (Portmarnock) 72 64 70 72;
283 D Crowe (Royal Dublin) 72 70 68 73;
287 R McCarthy (The Island) 76 70 70 71;
288 K Bornemann (Douglas) 72 69 72 75, E O'Sullivan (The Island) 71 73 70 74, J Morris (Mullingar) 71 71 73 73;
289 A Morrow (Portmarnock) 72 75 71 71, G Maybin (Ballyclare) 72 69 75 73;
290 M Murphy (Waterville) 68 76 76 70;
291 C Moriarty (Clandeboye) 79 65 71 76, R Leonard (Banbridge) 71 72 75 73;
292 C Montgomery (Malone) 76 71 73 72, S Paul (Tandragee) 70 72 73 77, P Murray (Kinsale) 70 71 76 75, A Morris (Belvoir Park) 69 73 74 76;
293 B McElhinney (North West) 72 75 73 73, R Forsythe (Hilton Templepatrick) 70 73 73 77, R Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 68 75 77 73;
295 N Beirth (Co. Louth) 72 73 77 73;
296 D Dunne (Elm Park) 76 71 76 73, K Kearney (Roscommon) 76 69 73 78, G Bowden (Hermitage) 74 70 77 75, M Sinclair (Knock) 73 67 76 80, G Bohill (Co. Louth) 72 74 75 75, N McGrane (Royal Dublin) 72 72 77 75;
297 D McInerney (Lahinch) 76 68 75 78, C Brown (Royal Portrush) 75 71 74 77, J Moore (Laytown & Bettystown) 72 71 76 78, L Owens (Royal Dublin) 71 69 77 80;
298 P McDonald (Woodbrook) 76 72 74 76, A Dowling (Hermitage) 76 70 76 76, P Wallace (Mullingar) 70 72 76 80;
299 E McCormack (Slieve Russell) 72 72 77 78, C Cunningham (Mullingar) 71 73 79 76, J McGinn (Greenore) 71 73 79 76;
300 P Ring (Boyce Hill) 71 70 77 82;
302 D Rawluk (The Island) 72 75 79 76;
303 P O'Keeffe (Douglas) 74 73 79 77;
304 I Moore (Dunmurry) 76 72 82 74, D Snow (Portmarnock) 74 73 81 76, C Martin (Nenagh) 72 74 83 75, F O'Donoghue (Belvoir Park) 71 75 81 77;
305 J Neary (Donegal) 71 76 83 75;
306 R Cannon (Balbriggan) 74 73 79 80;
308 C Waters (Athenry) 74 73 83 78, E Kennedy (Strabane) 74 69 84 81, P Purdy (Shandon Park) 72 75 81 80;
310 T Cummins (Lurgan) 73 73 80 84

NR C Cassidy (Portmarnock) 72 72 81 NR

Qualifiers
136 N Fox (Portmarnock) 72 64;
140 M Sinclair (Knock) 73 67, L Owens (Royal Dublin) 71 69
141 K Bornemann (Douglas) 72 69, G Maybin (Ballyclare) 72 69, P Ring (Boyce Hill) 71 70, P Murray (Kinsale) 70 71;
142 D Crowe (Royal Dublin) 72 70, J Morris (Mullingar) 71 71, P Wallace (Mullingar) 70 72, S Paul (Tandragee) 70 72, A Morris (Belvoir Park) 69 73;
143 E Kennedy (Strabane) 74 69, J Moore (Laytown & Bettystown) 72 71, R Leonard (Banbridge) 71 72, R Forsythe (Hilton Templepatrick) 70 73, R Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 68 75;
144 C Moriarty (Clandeboye) 79 65, D McInerney (Lahinch) 76 68, G Bowden (Hermitage) 74 70, N McGrane (Royal Dublin) 72 72, C Cassidy (Portmarnock) 72 72, E McCormack (Slieve Russell) 72 72, E O'Sullivan (The Island) 71 73, J McGinn (Greenore) 71 73, C Cunningham (Mullingar) 71 73, M Murphy (Waterville) 68 76;
145 K Kearney (Roscommon) 76 69, N Beirth (Co. Louth) 72 73;
146 R McCarthy (The Island) 76 70, A Dowling (Hermitage) 76 70, M Ryan (Grange) 75 71, C Brown (Royal Portrush) 75 71, T Cummins (Lurgan) 73 73, G Bohill (Co. Louth) 72 74, C Martin (Nenagh) 72 74, F O'Donoghue (Belvoir Park) 71 75;
147 D Dunne (Elm Park) 76 71, C Montgomery (Malone) 76 71, P O'Keeffe (Douglas) 74 73, C Waters (Athenry) 74 73, D Snow (Portmarnock) 74 73, R Cannon (Balbriggan) 74 73, B McElhinney (North West) 72 75, A Morrow (Portmarnock) 72 75, D Rawluk (The Island) 72 75, P Purdy (Shandon Park) 72 75, J Neary (Donegal) 71 76;
148 P McDonald (Woodbrook) 76 72, I Moore (Dunmurry) 76 72.

Non qualifiers
148 S Crowe (Dunmurry) 75 73, N Crawford (Mourne) 75 73, P O'Brien (Lucan) 74 74, M Burton (Powerscourt) 74 74, E Haugh (Westmanstown) 74 74, D Gannon (Co. Louth) 72 76;
149 D Carroll (Grange) 78 71, J Mulready (Castle) 76 73, M O'Kelly (Limerick) 76 73, G Hall (Edenderry) 76 73, D Sugrue (Killarney) 76 73, D Morgan (Mullingar) 76 73, H Hanley (Grange) 76 73, G Mallon (North West) 75 74, S McParland (Greenore) 75 74, V Smyth (Co. Louth) 75 74, R Walsh (Tralee) 75 74, A Hogan (West Hill) 74 75, D Branigan (Seapoint) 73 76, A McKinley (Shandon Park) 73 76, W Kelly (Killeen) 73 76;
150 M Morris (Portmarnock) 79 71, D Cunningham (Galway) 78 72, F Whelan (Laytown & Bettystown) 77 73, M Moreland (Scrabo) 75 75, A Smith (The Island) 75 75, J McDowell (Royal Belfast) 74 76, L Brady (Royal Dublin) 74 76, M McTernan (Co. Sligo) 74 76, R Boal (Scrabo) 74 76, D Turner (Killarney) 74 76, N Goulding (Portmarnock) 72 78, S McVey (Banbridge) 71 79;
151 S Irving (Howth) 78 73, S Adamson (Royal Belfast) 78 73, P McCabrey (Lurgan) 76 75, P Higgins (Mullingar) 76 75, B Kilgallon (Ballina) 76 75, G Massey (Hermitage) 75 76, D McWilliams (Holywood) 74 77, D Ryan (Grange) 74 77;
152 J Clynch (Laytown & Bettystown) 79 73, M Rowe (Athlone) 78 74, R McDonnell (Seapoint) 74 78, F Flynn (Laytown & Bettystown) 74 78;
153 R Williams (Baltinglass) 78 75, P Williamson (Elm Green) 78 75, M O'Sullivan (Galway) 76 77, T Hayes (K Club) 76 77, J Hutchinson (Royal Dublin) 75 78, P McLaughlin (Ballyliffin) 74 79;
154 D Kyle (Royal Belfast) 83 71, D Heather (Sutton) 83 71, B Trainor (Warrenpoint) 81 73, D Moran (The Island) 81 73, M Collins (Sutton) 80 74, E Power (Kilkenny) 78 76, D Finn (Mallow) 78 76, B Todd (Kirkistown Castle) 78 76, G Purtill (Shannon) 75 79;
155 L Halpin (Shannon) 81 74, H Mackeown (Portmarnock) 79 76, B Hobson (Shandon Park) 78 77, M McGinley (Grange) 77 78, B Cashman (Belvoir) 76 79, P Murphy (Killarney) 75 80, J McWilliams (Belvoir Park) 72 83;
156 J Callan (Dunfanaghy) 81 75, R Maher (Nenagh) 81 75, P Killeen (Claremorris) 79 77, G Lynas (Shandon Park) 77 79, E Arthurs (Forrest Little) 77 79, C Conaty (Royal Dublin) 77 79, R O'SÌoch·in (Royal Dublin) 75 81, C Doran (Banbridge) 74 82;
157 S Miskelly (Knock) 79 78, D O'Brien (Laytown & Bettystown) 77 80, D Glynn (Roscommon) 77 80, M Brett (Portmarnock) 75 82;
158 G McAuley (Dunmurry) 84 74, D Smith (Howth) 81 77, N Kavanagh (Westport) 79 79;
159 S McMonagle (Dunfanaghy) 84 75, D Gleeson (Old Conna) 79 80, B Galway (Cairndhu) 78 81;
160 E Barton (Ballinasloe) 80 80, D Mortimer (Connemara) 78 82;
161 M Windebank (Royal Portrush) 81 80;
162 D O'Donovan (Muskerry) 79 83;
166 S Magee (Lurgan) 82 84;
168 I Cooke (Clandeboye) 84 84;
170 G Morgan (Turvey) 82 88;
NR P McGrath (Dromoland) 78 NR
RT N Lavin (Royal Dublin) RT, C Donovan (Killeen) RT, J Murray (Tipperary) RT, J Lyons (Birr) RT, J Lyons (Birr) 0 RT, C Daly (Castletroy) 81 RT, J Murray (Tipperary) 0 RT, B Reddan (Co. Louth) 73 RT.

First round
68 M Murphy (Waterville), R Kilpatrick (Banbridge);

69 A Morris (Belvoir Park);

70 R Forsythe (Hilton Templepatrick), S Paul (Tandragee), P Murray (Kinsale), P Wallace (Mullingar);

71 R Leonard (Banbridge), P Ring (Boyce Hill), L Owens (Royal Dublin), J McGinn (Greenore), C Cunningham (Mullingar), J Morris (Mullingar), F O'Donoghue (Belvoir Park), E O'Sullivan (The Island), S McVey (Banbridge), J Neary (Donegal);

72 G Maybin (Ballyclare), D Rawluk (The Island), A Morrow (Portmarnock), J Moore (Laytown & Bettystown), D Gannon (Co. Louth), N Beirth (Co. Louth), N McGrane (Royal Dublin), K Bornemann (Douglas), C Martin (Nenagh), N Fox (Portmarnock), G Bohill (Co. Louth), B McElhinney (North West), C Cassidy (Portmarnock), P Purdy (Shandon Park), N Goulding (Portmarnock), D Crowe (Royal Dublin), J McWilliams (Belvoir Park), E McCormack (Slieve Russell);

73 A McKinley (Shandon Park), T Cummins (Lurgan), B Reddan (Co. Louth), W Kelly (Killeen), M Sinclair (Knock), D Branigan (Seapoint);

74 D Turner (Killarney), E Haugh (Westmanstown), M McTernan (Co. Sligo), E Kennedy (Strabane), C Doran (Banbridge), J McDowell (Royal Belfast), C Waters (Athenry), L Brady (Royal Dublin), P O'Keeffe (Douglas), A Hogan (West Hill), P O'Brien (Lucan), R Boal (Scrabo), G Bowden (Hermitage), D Snow (Portmarnock), D Ryan (Grange), F Flynn (Laytown & Bettystown), R Cannon (Balbriggan), P McLaughlin (Ballyliffin), R McDonnell (Seapoint), D McWilliams (Holywood), M Burton (Powerscourt);

75 P Murphy (Killarney), R O'SÌoch·in (Royal Dublin), S Crowe (Dunmurry), G Purtill (Shannon), M Moreland (Scrabo), R Walsh (Tralee), A Smith (The Island), G Mallon (North West), V Smyth (Co. Louth), J Hutchinson (Royal Dublin), N Crawford (Mourne), C Brown (Royal Portrush), S McParland (Greenore), G Massey (Hermitage), M Brett (Portmarnock), M Ryan (Grange);

76 P Higgins (Mullingar), H Hanley (Grange), J Mulready (Castle), P McDonald (Woodbrook), A Dowling (Hermitage), D McInerney (Lahinch), D Dunne (Elm Park), B Cashman (Belvoir), G Hall (Edenderry), P McCabrey (Lurgan), C Montgomery (Malone), M O'Sullivan (Galway), R McCarthy (The Island), I Moore (Dunmurry), M O'Kelly (Limerick), K Kearney (Roscommon), D Morgan (Mullingar), B Kilgallon (Ballina), D Sugrue (Killarney), T Hayes (K Club);

77 C Conaty (Royal Dublin), F Whelan (Laytown & Bettystown), D O'Brien (Laytown & Bettystown), M McGinley (Grange), G Lynas (Shandon Park), E Arthurs (Forrest Little), D Glynn (Roscommon);

78 P Williamson (Elm Green), M Rowe (Athlone), E Power (Kilkenny), S Irving (Howth), D Mortimer (Connemara), D Cunningham (Galway), B Todd (Kirkistown Castle), D Carroll (Grange), S Adamson (Royal Belfast), B Galway (Cairndhu), R Williams (Baltinglass), D Finn (Mallow), P McGrath (Dromoland), B Hobson (Shandon Park);

79 J Clynch (Laytown & Bettystown), P Killeen (Claremorris), D Gleeson (Old Conna), M Morris (Portmarnock), N Kavanagh (Westport), H Mackeown (Portmarnock), D O'Donovan (Muskerry), C Moriarty (Clandeboye), S Miskelly (Knock);

80 I Froggat (Edenmore), E Barton (Ballinasloe), M Collins (Sutton);

81 B Trainor (Warrenpoint), R Maher (Nenagh), L Halpin (Shannon), D Moran (The Island), M Windebank (Royal Portrush), J Callan (Dunfanaghy), C Daly (Castletroy), D Smith (Howth);

82 S Magee (Lurgan), G Morgan (Turvey);

83 J Crangle (Fortwilliam), D Heather (Sutton), D Kyle (Royal Belfast);

84 I Cooke (Clandeboye), G McAuley (Dunmurry), S McMonagle (Dunfanaghy)

RT N Lavin (Royal Dublin), C Donovan (Killeen), J Murray (Tipperary), J Lyons (Birr)

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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