Owens’ ‘simple’ philosophy pays off

MALLOW’S Mervyn Owens lived up to his intention to “keep everything simple” as he captured the Shell South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch yesterday.

Not only did he defeat Walker Cup certainty Colm Moriarty by one hole but he did so with considerable style, playing the new look and formidable links in two under par in conditions which were a long way better than on the previous few days but which were still a thorough examination of golfing skills.

"I'm usually a laid back and calm kind of guy and I certainly felt very comfortable out there," said Owens, who also played some beautiful golf in disposing of Michael McGeady from Derry in the semi-final at the 15th.

"I am really delighted. This is the biggest thing to happen to me in golf. I have put in a lot of hard work and there were some hard times, missing cuts and so on in championships, so I don't think it will sink in for some time."

Having studied quantity surveying at Limerick Institute of Technology, Owens, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Sunday, embarked on a construction course at South Eastern Louisiana University last year and this clearly had a lot to do with his rejuvenation on the golf course.

"We practised and played so much over there that I became a lot more consistent. My shots were more repetitive.

"I lost to Gareth Maybin in the last 16 of the Close and would have done a lot better had I putted any way well. I went over to England and played two tournaments, the St Georges Trophy and the Prince of Wales Cup at Royal St Georges and Royal Cinque Ports just three weeks before the Open and finished fourth in both.

"I just practised away for the summer and kept everything simple. That's what I do."

And Owen does it very nicely, too. You can't help noticing a similarity between his natural, languid swing and that of Ernie Els.

He certainly generates great club head speed through the ball which meant he was consistently well outside McGeady, who himself is a powerful striker, and Moriarty off the tee.

That's a priceless asset and even more so was the fast start he got to the final against a man bidding to become the first player since Killarney's Michael Guerin completed a hat-trick in 1961/63 to retain the title.

"I hit an average enough drive up the first but played a pretty good second with a nine iron and holed a 20-footer down the hill for birdie that you could easily knock six or eight feet past," Owens said. "I hit a drive and two on to the second for a two putt birdie. On the third I holed a 12-footer for a half and that was crucial because I would have been giving away a hole from the middle of the fairway.

"I three-putted the sixth, I was probably pumped up with adrenalin, and knocked the first one 20 feet past, it went off the green altogether."

The battle was really joined when Moriarty birdied the 12th and although pulled back to level pegging for the first time since the first, Owens insisted he wasn't unduly upset.

"To be honest, I was playing stroke play more than anything else. I wasn't really conscious of what he was doing unless I made a mistake and had to go for something."

The contest was back in the Mallow golfer's control after the 15th. Halves in par followed at 16 (where Moriarty got up and down in fine style from the right hand trap) and 17 (where Moriarty failed with an eight footer for a birdie) before the most suitable climax on the home green.

Owens was bunkered to the right of the green, Moriarty was short. Both pitched to about 15 feet, Owens putted first and rolled a beauty into the centre of the cup.

He was round in 70 shots to emerge as the most worthy of champions.

Owen's success was warmly received by his many supporters in the gallery, including his parents Des and Marguerite.

For 24-year-old Moriarty, defeat was a big disappointment for he dearly wanted to retain the title.

But early next week he will have confirmation of his inclusion in the British & Irish Walker Cup side and he will later head off into the paid ranks with happy memories of some great times at Lahinch.

Owens dreams some day of following in Moriarty's footsteps but is sensible enough to appreciate that there is still a long road to travel.