A brilliant five under par 64 by Gus Carolan contributed largely to Beech Park's one-shot win in the Leinster Alliance Irish Times Shield at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club yesterday.

Beech Park's total of 208 was one better than Dun Laoghaire's, while Elm Park were three shots further back in third place.

The Dun Laoghaire Club, closed on Saturday because of the incessant rain which caused the postponement of the captain's (Eddie Ahearne) prize, was in excellent condition yesterday and nine handicapper, Carolan, took full advantage of the conditions. A 68 from John Teeling and a 76 from Colm Browne - Pat McCormack was the non-scoring card with 85 - saw off the challenge of Dun Laoghaire's Noel Mannion (69), Alec Whelan (70) and Terry Reynolds (70).

Carolan, who was captain of Beech Park last year, had only nine putts on the outward journey. He bogeyed the first two holes but a birdie three at the fourth had him out in one over par 34.

He was back to level par when he holed from 10 feet for a birdie four on the 12th, but he dropped four shots in the final five holes for an inward half of 39. "I pitched and putted very well on the first nine, but became a little tentative over the finishing holes. I missed from three feet on both the 14th and 15th greens for pars," said the former three times All-Ireland pitch and putt champion.

Carolan is no stranger to success in the Leinster Alliance. A member for a long number of years he was the winner of the president's (Don AcAuley) prize at St Margaret's in 1992.

Elm Park's Pat O'Hara shot the best gross of the day, a 71, to pip Royal Dublin's Nial Lavin on the back nine. However, O'Hara's nett 67 could have been much better. He reached the turn in three over 39 and three birdies on the back nine left him needing a four on the par five last hole to tie with Carolan. However, in his efforts to get his third shot close to the pin, he went out of bounds over the back of the green and took a seven for 67.

Elm Park's other scores came from five handicap Richard O'Donnell who shot 72 and four handicap Paul Roddy with a 73. Eoin O'Connor (5) was the noncounting card with 75.

This was Beech Park's first success in the competiton which was first played 71 years ago when Hermitage were the winners.