Tandragee's Stuart Paul clinched the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship with a dramatic winning par at the 18th at Rosses Point yesterday.

Level playing the last against Connemara teenager Derek McNamara, Paul drilled his seven-iron straight over the flag, putting all the pressure on his opponent.

Long hitting McNamara seemed unsure which club to hit before eventually choosing a seven-iron which flew high and right on the wind and plugged in the front right bunker.

He splashed out to 40 feet but couldn't sink the par putt leaving Paul to coax the ball down to the hole side from 35 feet and take his second provincial crown.

McNamara had romped to a shock 6 and 5 win over pre-championship favourite Ken Kearney in his semi-final but he struggled in the afternoon against a very focussed Paul.

Now the 31 year old golf equipment salesman is now aiming to win all four provincial championships against the new breed of fulltime amateurs.

"The ultimate dream now would be to win one of each championship," he said. "But if any more wins come along it will be great. The onus isn't on me. Thankfully I have a good job to go back to and I wouldn't like to have to play golf every day like some of these guys. It's a tough school and I'm happy just to try and beat them."

Paul won his first championship last year when he beat Graeme McDowell in the North of Ireland championship at Portrush.

But now he's keen to win more titles and follow in the footsteps of his friend and mentor Garth McGimpsey.

He added: "I've tried to model myself on him, but I don't think anyone will come close to eclipsing what Garth has done. I've absolutely no aspirations for Walker Cup or anything like that. I'll be very fortunate if I stay with the Irish team because it's a full time game."

Paul was behind in the match until the par three ninth, which he won in par.

But the he then holed from 15 feet at the 11th to go one up before McNamara kept in touch with great par saves at the 12th and 13th.

Said Paul: "He was the one holing all the putts to stay in the game. Tee to green I was the one playing the better golf I hit it closer, hit more greens."

Paul was eventually pegged back to level at the 15th, which he lost to a par four. But drama was to follow at the 216-yard 16th where McNamara appeared to carve his two-iron approach out of bounds.

The ball finished in the dunes and while Paul played a delightful driving iron to 18 feet, McNamara located his ball in a reasonable lie and floated his recovery to 30 feet before holing the putt for an unlikely par.

The 459-yard 17th was halved in bogey, before Paul took the honours with a regulation par four at the last.

Earlier, Paul beat Athlone's Colm Moriarty 2 and 1 in a tight match thanks to winning pars at the 15th and 16th.

Standard Life West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point

First Round

68 - N Lavin (Royal Dublin).

69 - N Fox (Portmarnock), D Kelleher (Portmarnock), S Paul (Tandragee), R Cannon (Balbriggan).

70 - A McKinley (Shandon Park), A McCormick (Scrabo), C Doran (Banbridge), G Wardlow (Shandon Park) R Boal (Scrabo).

71 - K Kearney (Roscommon), T Rice (Limerick), J Foster (Ballyclare), D Dunne (Elm Park), C Moriarty (Clandeboye), J McGinn (Greenore), M Brett (Portmarnock), C Martin (Nenagh), C Montgomery (Malone).

72 - J Kehoe (Birr), A Morris (Belvoir Park), N Goulding (Portmarnock), P Morris (Douglas), D Ryan (Grange), M Rowe (Athlone), M Poucher (Limerick), M Collins (Sutton).

73 - C Moriarty (Athlone), D Finn (Mallow), M McDermott (Stackstown), D O'Donovan (Muskerry), P Dooley (Cork), C Conaty (Royal Dublin), M McGeady (City of Derry), D McNamara (Connemara), G Mallon (North West), E Kennedy (Strabane), J Barton (Ballinasloe), P Murray (Kinsale), R Duggan (Kilkenny).

74 - J Callan (Strabane), F Flynn (L&B), J Moore (L&B), L McDevitt (Rockaway, USA), T Ford (Co Sligo), M Campbell (UCD/Stackstown), S Heavey (Co Sligo), E McMenamin (Ballybofey), M Sinclair (Knock), D Sugrue (Killarney), R Forsythe (Templepatrick), G McNeill (Waterford), T Hayes (The K Club), D Morris (Limerick).

75 - D Mortimor (Connemara), B Cashman (Belvoir Park), B Smyth (Mourne), E McCormack (Slieve Russell), P Killeen (Claremorris), T Spence (Clandeboye), M McTernan (Co Sligo), B Kilgallon (Ballina), P McLaughlin (Ballyliffin), P McGuire (Bantry Bay), D Crowe (Dunmurry), J Timony (Headfort).

76 - B McElhinney (North West), P Purdy (Shandon Park), E Arthurs (Forrest Little), S Irving (Howth), R Coleman (Tullamore), S Horkan (Walton Heath, Eng), J Neary (Donegal), D Gleeson (Old Conna), L Owens (Royal Dublin), R McDowell (Royal Belfast), T Dunlop (Holywood), S McConnell (Ballyclare), D Morgan (Mullingar), G Massey (Hermitage), M Staunton (Ballinasloe).

77 - R Leonard (Banbridge), G Bohill (Co Louth), C Donovan (Killeen), S McMonagle (Dunfanaghy), S Carter (Mountrath), P Wallace (Mullingar), P O'Keeffe (Douglas), M Owens (Mallow), M King (Galway Bay), L Ryan (Stackstown), G Purtill (Shannon), P Griffith (Castlebar), R McDaid (Co Sligo), .

78 - E O'Sullivan (The Island), C Cunningham (Mullingar), B Reddan (Co Louth), G Bowden (Hermitage), D Brannigan (Seapoint), M Murphy (Waterville), L Brady (Royal Dublin), S Underwood (Co Sligo), P McGrath (Dromoland), D Alderdice (Knock), D Logue (Letterkenny).

79 - L Halpin (Shannon), G McGranaghan (Galway), C Campbell (Warrenpoint), P McNamara (Youghal), J Drummond (Ballyclare), P McDonald (UCD/Woodbrook), D Conway (Mallow), N Turner (Muskerry), A Wynne (Strandhill).

80 - M McGinley (Grange), J Lyons (Birr), J McKinstry (Cairndhu), K McCarthy (Kinsale), H Diamond (Holywood), S Horgan (Monkstown).

81 - P O'Boyle (Athlone), M Horan (Birr), M Moreland (Scrabo), D Gallagher (Limerick).

82 - K O'Neill (Strandhill), I Cooke (Clandeboye), M Collins (Fermoy), G Henry (Lisburn), A Hogan (West Hill, Eng), M Kemmy (Limerick).

83 - D McWilliams (Holywood), G Hall (Edenderry), D Keating (Kinsale).

84 - D Ritchie (Stranrear, Scot).

85 - D O'Donovan (Co Sligo).

87 - D Gallagher (Rye, USA).

N/R - D Basquille (Enniscrone).
Retired - A Maharaj (Bloomingdale, USA).

Second round qualifying
Qualifiers

142 - T Rice (Limerick) 71, 71 (leading qualifier); R Boal (Scrabo) 70, 72

143 - C Martin (Nenagh) 71, 72; G Wardlow (Shandon Park);

144 - N Fox (Portmarnock) 69, 75.

145 - A Morris (Belvoir Park) 72, 73; C Moriarty (Clandeboye) 71, 74;

146 - M McGeady (City of Derry) 73, 73; G Mallon (North West) 73, 73; M Rowe (Athlone) 72, 74; R Cannon (Balbriggan) 69, 77; D Kelleher (Portmarnock) 69, 77.

147 - J Neary (Donegal) 76, 71; P McLaughlin (Ballyliffin) 75, 72; M Campbell (UCD/ Stackstown) 74, 73; T Ford (Co Sligo) 74, 73; D Sugrue (Killarney) 74, 73; R Forsythe (Hilton Templepatrick); D McNamara (Connemara) 73, 74; E Kennedy (Strabane) 73, 74; M Collins (Sutton) 72, 75; C Montgomery (Malone) 71, 76; M Brett (Portmarnock) 71, 76; J McGinn (Greenore) 71, 76; A McCormick (Scrabo) 70, 77.

148 - D Gleeson (Old Conna) 76, 72; J Foster (Ballyclare) 71, 77; K Kearney (Roscommon) 71, 77; C Doran (Banbridge) 70, 78; S Paul (Tandragee) 69, 79.

149 - L Brady (Royal Dublin) 78, 71; D Morris (Limerick) 74, 75; A McKinley (Shandon Park) 70, 79.

150 - M Murphy (Waterville) 78, 72; P O'Keeffe (Douglas) 77, 73; R McDaid (Co Sligo) 77, 73; R McDowell (Royal Belfast) 76, 74; G Massey (Hermitage) 76, 74; D Mortimor (Connemara) 75, 75; G McNeill (Waterford) 74, 76; C Moriarty (Athlone) 73, 77; D O'Donovan (Muskerry) 73, 77; P Dooley (Cork) 73, 77; D Ryan (Grange) 72, 78.

151 - S McConnell (Ballyclare) 76, 75; D Crowe (Dunmurry) 75, 76; M McTernan (Co Sligo) 75, 76; J Moore (Laytown and Bettystown) 74, 77; R Duggan (Kilkenny) 73, 78; M McDermott (Stackstown) 73, 78; D Dunne (Elm Park) 71, 80.

152 - D Brannigan (Seapoint) 78, 74; M Owens (Mallow) 77, 75; E McMenamin (Ballybofey/Stranorlar) 74, 78; D Finn (Mallow) 73, 79.

153 - P McDonald (UCD/Woodbrook) 79, 74; E O'Sullivan (The Island) 78, 75; T Dunlop (Holywood) 76, 77; J Timmony (Headfort) 75, 78; L McDevitt (Rockaway/USA) 74, 79; T Hayes (K Club) 74, 79; N Goulding (Portmarnock) 72, 81; N Lavin (Royal Dublin) 68, 85.

154 - M Moreland (Scrabo) 81, 73.

Non-qualifiers
154 - D Conway (Mallow) 79, 75; S McMonagle (Elm Park) 77, 77; D Morgan (Mullingar) 76, 78; M Staunton (Ballinasloe) 76, 78; B McElhinney (North West) 76, 78; P Killeen (Claremorris) 75, 79; T Spence (Clandeboye) 75, 79; S Heavey (Co Sligo) 74, 80; J Barton (Ballinasloe) 73, 81; J Kehoe (Birr) 72, 82.

155 - G Bohill (Co Louth) 77, 78; G Purthill (Shannon) 77, 78; S Irving (Howth) 76, 79; J Callan (Strabane) 74, 81; P Murray (Kinsale) 73, 82; M Poucher (Limerick) 72, 83;

156 - C Cunningham (Mullingar) 78, 78; P McGrath (Dromoland) 78, 78; P Wallace (Mullingar) 77, 79; B Kilgallon (Ballina) 75, 81; E McCormack (Slieve Russell) 75, 81;

157 - G Hall (Edenderry) 83, 74; M McGinley (Grange) 80, 77; J Drummond (Ballyclare) 79, 78; D Alderdice (Knock) 78, 79; B Reddan (Co Louth) 78, 79; L Ryan (Stackstown) 77, 80; P Griffith (Castlebar) 77, 80; R Coleman (Tullamore) 76, 81; L Owens (Royal Dublin) 76, 81; P Purdy (Shandon Park) 76, 81.

158 - J Lyons (Birr) 80, 78; H Diamond (Holywood) 80, 78; J McKinstry (Cairndhu) 80, 78; A Wynne (Strandhill) 79, 79; P McGuire (Bantry Bay) 75, 83; P Morris (Douglas) 72, 86.

159 - G Henry (Lisburn) 82, 77; D Gallagher (Limerick) 81, 78; M Horan (Birr) 81, 78; L Halpin (Shannon) 79, 80; R Leonard (Banbridge) 77, 82.

160 - I Cooke (Clandeboye) 82, 78; P O'Boyle (Athlone) 81, 79; E Arthurs (Forrest Little) 76, 84; C Conaty (Royal Dublin) 73, 87;

161 - N Turner (Muskerry) 79, 82; C Donovan (Killeen) 77, 84; S Horkan (Walton Heath) 76, 85; B Cashman (Belvoir Park) 75, 86.

162 - S Underwood (Co Sligo) 78, 84; G Bowden (Hermitage) 78, 84; B Smyth (Mourne) 75, 87;

164 - D O'Donovan (Co Sligo) 85, 79; K O'Neill (Strandhill) 82, 82; D Logan (Letterkenny) 78, 86; S Carter (Mountrath) 77, 87;

165 - M Collins (Fermoy) 82, 83; M Kemmy (Limerick) 82, 83; A Hogan (West Hill/UK) 82, 83.

166 - D Ritchie (Stranrear, UK) 84, 82; G McGranaghan (Galway) 79, 87.

168 - K McCarthy (Kinsale) 80, 88;

NR - M King (Galway Bay) 77, NR; C Campbell (Warrenpoint) 79, NR

WD - D Gallagher (Rye/USA) 87, WD; D Keating (Kinsale) 83, WD; D Basquill (Enniscrone) WD; D McWilliams (Hollywood) 83, WD.

Matchplay, first round
(First quarter)
D Dunne (Elm Park) bt G Massey (Hermitage) 3/2;
G Wardlow (Shandon Park) bt R McDowell (Royal Belfast) 3/2;
M Owens (Mallow) bt J Timoney (Headfort) 5/4;
C Moriarty (Athlone) bt R Boal (Scrabo) 4/3;
J McGinn (Greenore) bt D Morris (Limerick) 3/2;
D Mortimer (Connemara) bt M Moreland (Scrabo) 3/2;
P Dooley (Cork) bt L McDevitt (Rockaway/USA) 4/3;
T Rice (Limerick) bt C Montgomery (Malone) 5/4.

(Second quarter)
D Finn (Mallow) bt P McDonald (UCD/Woodbrook) 3/2;
C Moriarty (Clandeboye) bt R Cannon (Balbriggan) 3/2;
L Brady (Royal Dublin) bt T Dunlop (Holywood) disq.;
D Crowe (Dunmurry) bt M Murphy (Waterville) 4/3;
E McMenamin (Ballybofey) bt D Gleeson (Old Conna) 19th;
S Paul (Tandragee) bt N Goulding (Portmarnock) 2/1;
G Mallon (North West) bt J Neary (Donegal) 1 up;
G McNeill (Waterford) bt D Brannigan (Seapoint) 4/3.

(Third quarter)
M McDermott (Stackstown) bt M McTernan (Co Sligo) 1 up;
M Rowe (Athlone) bt D O'Donovan (Muskerry) 1 up;
K Kearney (Roscommon) bt T Ford (Co Sligo) 4/3;
P McLaughlin (Ballyliffin) bt N Lavin (Royal Dublin) 2/1;
A McCormick (Scrabo) bt E O'Sullivan (The Island) 4/3;
M Collins (Sutton) bt J Moore (Laytown and Bettystown) 19th;
E Kennedy (Strabane) bt A Morris (Belvoir Park) 3/2;
P O'Keeffe (Douglas) bt C Doran (Banbridge) 3/1.

(Fourth quarter)
N Fox (Portmarnock) bt S McConnell (Ballyclare) 2/1;
R Forsythe (Hilton Templepatrick) bt R McDaid (Co Sligo) 1 hole;
D Sugrue (Killarney) bt M McGeady (City of Derry) 3/1;
M Brett (Portmarnock) bt C Martin (Nenagh) 4/2;
D Kelleher (Portmarnock) bt J Foster (Ballyclare) 1 up;
A McKinley (Shandon Park) bt D Ryan (Grange) 2/1;
M Campbell (UCD/Stackstown) bt T Hayes (K Club) 8/6;
D McNamara (Connemara) bt R Duggan (Kilkenny) 5/4.

Second round
(First quarter)

Wardlow bt Dunne 1 up
Moriarty (Athlone) bt Owens 6/4;
Mortimer bt McGinn 3/2
Rice bt Dooley 5/4.

(Second quarter)
Finn bt Moriarty (Clandeboye) 22nd;
Brady bt Crowe 1 hole;
Paul bt McMenamin 3/2;
McNeill bt Mallon 2/1.

(Third quarter)
McDermott bt Rowe 2/1
Kearney bt McLaughlin 5/4
McCormick bt Collins 4/3
Kennedy bt O'Keeffe 1 hole.

(Fourth quarter)
Forsythe bt Fox 1 up;
Sugrue bt Brett 20th;
Kelleher bt McKinley 2/1;
McNamara bt Campbell at 20th.

Third round
C Moriarty (Athlone) bt G Wardlow (Shandon Park) 3/2;
T Rice (Limerick) bt D Mortimor (Connemara) 1 hole;
S. Paul (Tandragee) bt G McNeill (Waterford) 1 up;
K Kearney (Roscommon) bt M McDermott (Stackstown) 3/2;
D Finn (Mallow) bt L Brady (Royal Dublin) 3/2;
A McCormick (Scrabo) bt E Kennedy (Strabane) 19th;
R Forsythe (Hilton Templepatrick) bt D Sugrue (Killarney) 2/1;
D McNamara (Connemara) bt D Kelleher (Portmarnock) 3/2.

Quarter-finals
Moriarty bt Rice 3/2
Paul bt Finn 6/5
Kearney bt McCormick 19th
McNamara bt Forsythe 2/1.

Semi-finals
S Paul (Tangragee) bt C Moriarty (Athlone) 2 and 1.
D McNamara (Connemara) bt K Kearney (Roscommon) 6 and 5.

Final - Paul bt McNamara 1 up.

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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