Darren Crowe's golf was as hot as the sun at Royal Portrush yesterday as the Dunmurry international won the Magners' North of Ireland Championship with a two holes win over plucky Connor Doran.

Doran was the second Banbridge player beaten yesterday by Crowe, who also clinched a one-hole semi-final win over Rory Leonard in the morning as Doran dashed the hopes of teenager Andrew Picher from The Island by 5 and 3.

"I came into the tournament playing badly. I was just one shot inside the limit but as the week progressed my game got better and better.

"My putting improved remarkably and I believe that's why I beat Connor who played very well. He's a great player," said the new champion.

The players fired birdies at each other over the opening nine holes after which the final was deadlocked but then things turned Crowe's way.

Doran was in all sorts of trouble at the long 10th, where he lost a ball, and conceded a birdie and the hole to his opponent.

Crowe, the reigning World Universities' Champion, went two up at the 12th with another birdie and after winning the 15th in regulation four he was dormie heading for home.

However, leading qualifier Doran (24) wasn't giving up. He won the 16th with par and the 17th in birdie four to take the battle to the home green, but there the trail ended for the Banbridge plus-two player

His four-iron approach landed in deep rough on the left of the green from where he had an almost impossible shot and his pitch flew over the flag to the back of the green.

He made a great attempt with his putt from 40 feet but it slid past the cup. Crowe was on in two, 20 feet from the hole and he left his first putt stone dead for victory.

After a brief holiday in Nice, Crowe will play in the South of Ireland Championship, hoping for better success this year than last when he lost in the final to Ulster colleague, Jim Carvill from Warrenpoint.