PAT SMYTH will have particularly happy memories of his spell as a seven-handicapper. It brought him success in a Links Society outing at Baltray two months ago and delivered a repeat performance yesterday in the Guinness sponsored event at the same venue. Even his net score was the same - a four under par 69.

On this occasion, however, the older brother of Des Smyth, had to endure the tension of a countback with tournament, professional Jimmy Heggarty. As it happened, only half a stroke separated them on the back nine but the Ulsterman's 69 gave him the consolation of the gross prize.

For the immediate future, the 44-year-old Killiney member will be playing off six, but the change of status should be well within his capabilities. He was level par gross for the first 15 holes, after which he finished, with three bogeys but retained sufficient composure not to squander his victory chance.

Though he has again lost his player's card after a surprise return to the European Tour, Heggarty remains a formidable, competitor.

A sparkling score in cold, but dry conditions was dominated by his play of the par threes. Putts of six feet, 10 feet and 18 inches gave him birdies at the short fifth, seventh and 15th, but a clean sweep was to be denied him, emphatically, at the difficult 17th.

In attempting to draw a four-iron onto a tight pin placement, Heggarty found the right front, trap Then, in trying to finesse a difficult recovery, he took two to escape and ran up a double-bogey five. But there was partial compensation in a finishing birdie as he chipped to six feet at the last.