The third staging of the Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale saw Ireland internationalist, Brian McElhinney, follow in the footsteps of fellow Irishman, James Bruen in 1946, and Welshman, Stephen Dodd, in 1989 in claiming the prestigious trophy which was first contended in 1885.

The semi-final line up provided the opportunity for the sumptuously gifted Essex prodigy, Oliver Fisher, to become, at age 16, the youngest finalist in the Championship’s history and for Scotland internationalist, Lloyd Saltman, to add to the impressive list of titles he had claimed earlier in the season. However expectations were confounded with the dogged McElhinney, despite being significantly out hit by Fisher, producing an admirably steady round of 70 in beating the English youngster on the last green. Even more of an upset occurred in the other semi-final with the relatively unknown Swanston green keeper, John Gallagher, profiting from a wild Saltman drive at the 18th to also triumph by one hole.

The stormy conditions which greeted the golfers for the final must have seemed like home from home to McElhinney who had learned his game at the North West Club on Donegal’s wild and windy coast. His steadiness and low- flighted shots proved too much for Gallagher with his highly unorthodox cross-handed grip, the eventual margin being 5 and 4.

Semi-finals:
Brian McElhinney (North West) beat Oliver Fisher (West Essex) 1 hole John Gallagher (Swanston) beach Lloyd Saltman (Craigelaw) 1 hole

Final:
McElhinney beat Gallagher 5 and 4