In the semi-final at Sutton Coldfield yesterday, Rory Kirwan, of Kenilworth, upset all the odds and beat the red hot favourite, Andrew Sullivan. In the final, he saw off the defending champion, Ben Stafford.
There have been few more worthy winners of the Warwickshire Youths Matchplay Championship. Kirwan's victory over Sullivan, the county strokeplay champion, was by 2&1.
In a match of eight birdies and an eagle, he was then three holes clear of Stafford with two to play. It was brilliant golf but with heavily ironic overtones.
Seventeen-year-old Kirwan is not in Warwickshire's team for the England Boys County finals which start at Little Aston on Monday.
He had announced himself too late. The four teams in the finals - Essex, Gloucestershire and Yorkshire are the other three - are obliged to name their sides a month in advance of the showdown. Warwickshire simply did not know that Kirwan would be in the form that he is.
Sullivan hit him with a birdie at the first hole in their semi. But Kirwan was level after two and never again was there more than a hole between them. But Sullivan lost a ball at the 16th and Kirwan's par at the 17th closed him out.
Stafford, who had won the title for the past two years, was similarly arduously engaged against Dale Marson and he had to go to the 18th before winning one up.
He scarcely got a look in after lunch. After five holes Kirwan was five under par, he was four up at the turn and refused to let go despite Stafford's brave attempt at a rally.
At the long par-three 15th, Stafford hit his tee shot to 1ft - and still couldn't win the hole. Kirwan drove to 5ft, sank the putt. Stafford won't be playing next week, either; he's too old.
Warwickshire: A Sullivan (capt), R Browning, N Taylor, D Marson, J Sant, C Dougill, A Evans.
