Walsh enjoys perfect pick-me-up

TWENTY-ONE year-old Stephen Walsh from the Baltinglass club in Wicklow staged a magnificent recovery at Lahinch yesterday to become the new South of Ireland champion.

Walsh, whose previous main claim to fame was victory in last year’s Ulster Youths Championship, was two down after nine but played some outstanding golf on the way home and, helped by an unfortunate error on the part of 23-year-old Andrew Hogan at the 11th, stormed home 3&2.

In disappointing contrast to the glorious sunshine of the previous afternoon, yesterday’s closing stages were contested in the kind of thick sea mist that had disrupted the qualifying rounds last weekend. However, the championship finished on schedule with a worthy young winner who now hopes to see his name included in the Irish team for next month’s Home International Championship at Rosses Point when it is announced over the next day or two.