Lowry’s amateur dramatics

IT will be today at the earliestbefore the sensational new 3 Irish Open champion, Shane Lowry,decides whether to turn professional immediately or to wait until after the Walker Cup match between Europe and the USA in September.

Emotions ran high in the Co Louth village of Baltray last night as the 22-year-old from Clara, Co Offaly, became the first amateur to capture the coveted title, when he added a round of 71 to his earlier scores of 67, 62 and 71 for a 17 under par total of 271. He tied after the regulation 18 holes with the 32-year-old English man Robert Rock before eventually getting home at the third tie hole.

“I was delighted to get the invite to play my first Tour event and would have been happy to make the cut”, said the son of Brendan, a member of Offaly’s All-Ireland football winning side in 1982. “And then I went and shot 62 on Friday and after that, I thought, right, this is my week, I can win it.