Crowe finds his form to win at Portrush

After a duel in the sun at Royal Portrush, Dunmurry plus-three handicapper Darren Crowe was crowned Magners' North of Ireland Amateur Open champion.

In the final he defeated fellow international Connor Doran from Banbridge by two holes, having pushed out Doran's club colleague Rory Leonard by one hole in the morning semi-finals.

Doran overcame Andrew Pitcher from The Island by 5&3.

The final was deadlocked at the turn but Crowe was handed the initiative at the long 10th hole where Doran lost a ball and conceded a birdie to his opponent.

That was the signal for an onward march by the new champion as he birdied the par four 12th to be two up and went dormie with a winning par at 15.

However, Doran, the leading qualifier, wasn't giving up and he won the 16th hole in par four and the 17th in birdie four to leave just one hole in the argument.

Luck was not on Doran's side at the last as his four iron approach landed on a hill at the left of the green in deep 'hay'.

It was an almost impossible shot and Doran's pitch flew over the flag to the back of the green, 40 feet away. He made a brave effort with his putt but it shaved the hole.

Crowe was on in two blows and left his first putt stone dead for a two holes victory.

"I almost missed the cut as I finished just one stroke inside the mark," recalled Crowe. "I wasn't playing well coming into the tournament but as the week progressed my game got better with each match, especially my putting. That was the secret in the final as I had to be good to beat Connor."

Crowe will next bid for the South of Ireland Championship title at Lahinch, after losing last year's final to Jim Carville.