Morrow gets amateur medal

Irishman Adrian Morrow, a member at Portmarnock Golf Club, won the silver medal which goes to the leading amateur who completes four rounds of the Senior British Open Championship.

Morrow, who was joint leading qualifier with a three-under-par 68 at Murcar last Tuesday, was one of only two amateurs who survived the halfway cut over the Balgownie links at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.

The other was American John Baldwin, a member of the Sunningdale club in metropolitan New York.

Morrow had scores of 79, 78, 71 and 73 for 17-over-par 301 and Baldwin had 80, 75, 75 and 80 for 310.

“I’ve enjoyed it tremendously. To win the silver medal is a big, big bonus for me,” said Morrow.

“All the guys I played with over the four rounds at Balgownie were great company. In the last round I played with Sam Torrance. That was good fun. Earlier in the tournament, the American John Jacobs was very supportive. He did his best to give me encouragement when he thought I needed it.”

Morrow is going to go to the European Seniors’ Tour Qualifying School in Portugal in November.

He has been a career amateur and has been capped for Ireland in the home internationals in four different decades – 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and finally in 2000.

“When I made my debut for Ireland in 1975, Mark James and Sandy Lyle were playing for England,” he said.

“Have I missed out by not becoming a pro like them? Maybe, maybe not. I’ve enjoyed myself as an amateur.

“Not many people can say they’ve play international golf over four decades,” added Morrow.