SHANE LOWRY rubbed out the bitter memory of defeat in last year's final of the Magners North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship by storming through to lift the silverware yesterday with a one up defeat of dark-horse Andrew Morris from Belvoir Park in Belfast.
Lowry had to draw on all his youthful experience to get past international colleague Simon Ward in yesterday's semi-finals and then to oust 34-year-old Morris, who also suffered defeat to Paddy Gribben in the 1999 decider.
Morris produced some great golf during the week but got off to a horrible start in the final, being three down after three holes. He won the seventh, the 12th in birdie, and the 17th to leave just one hole in it heading down the straight. Both players had chances in between with Lowry hitting a marvellous lob wedge at the 13th but only got a half.
Morris suffered bunker trouble off the 16th tee and had to blast out sideways and made bogey, while Lowry was on in two for a safe par to open a two-holes gap again. However, it was Lowry in trouble at the 17th as he drove into bushes and had to take a penalty drop and it was down to one
Misfortune struck Morris again as he was bunkered off the last tee and took three to the green, six feet from the pin. Lowry rifled a seven-iron to 20 feet and lagged his put to the lip, conceding a half to Morris and leaving the Esker Hills man a one-hole winner.
"I didn't hole a putt all day, apart from a 20-footer at 10," reflected a very relieved winner who won the West of Ireland at Easter. "Andrew gave me a very tough battle after his bad start but I am delighted to wipe out the memory of defeat last year."
Earlier, Lowry produced one of the great comebacks to reach the final with a 19th hole win over Ward who was four up after 13 holes before Lowry turned the tide.
"I said to my caddie that I better do something and get a few holes back and not make a show of myself," said Lowry. "Standing on the 14th tee I never thought that I would be going up the 19th."
At the 14th, he hit a two-iron just off the green and holed from 20 feet for birdie and added another winning birdie at the 15th with a drive and nine-iron to two feet. At 16 he got up and down for a winning par and when Ward three-putted the 17th the match was all square.
Ward missed from 10 feet for the match on 18 and at the 19th Ward was short, pitched to eight feet and missed, while Lowry holed from 10 feet for victory.
It was all flat between Morris and Kerr at the turn before Morris won the 13th, 14th and 15th to go dormie three. Kerr bounced back to take the 16th hole in regulation and keep the action alive. A half at the 17th was enough to send Morris into his second final.
