Irish Amateur Open: How the tide has turned. There was a time when the AIB Irish Amateur Open strokeplay championship couldn't be exported for love or money.

Yesterday, though, Scotland's Richard Ramsay became the fourth foreign winner of the title in five years when, displaying the sort of nerves of steel that have established him as a proven winner on the amateur circuit, he overcame long-time leader Darren Crowe coming down the stretch of the O'Meara Course.

Although the victory carried with it an invite into next week's Nissan Irish Open - to be played at the Montgomerie Course on the other side of the River Rye - the 21-year-old student is unsure if he'll be able to avail of it as the tournament clashes with the St Andrews Links.

"My sights are set on playing in the Walker Cup, and nothing's going to change that. That's the only thing I have on my mind," said Ramsay.

In that regard, this victory won't do him any harm.

A student of Marketing and Sports Studies at Stirling University, although currently on a semester to concentrate fully on golf in his bid to make the Britain and Ireland team for the match with the United States in Chicago in August, Ramsay carded a bogey-free round of 68 for five-under-par 283 and a two-stroke winning margin over Crowe, who double-bogeyed the 16th, where his tee-shot found the water, on his way to a closing 73.

Indeed, it was an interesting day's viewing for the four Walker Cup selectors - team captain Garth McGimpsey, chairman Peter Benka, Frankie McCarroll and Peter Benka - who were present.

While Ramsay, the winner of the Scottish strokeplay last year, and with top-10 finishes in the Lytham Trophy and the Sherry Cup this season, finally rediscovered his winning touch, it was noticeable that the selectors also cast their eyes over Rory McIlroy.

If selected, the Holywood player (at 16 years and three months) would become the youngest player in Walker Cup history.

The magnetic appeal of McIlroy is already apparent.

Although only on the fringe of contention going into the final round, he attracted the day's biggest gallery. He didn't disappoint.

In a round of 67 that featured an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys, the Ulster teenager leapfrogged through the field - moving from tied-24th place at the start of the day - to secure sixth place.

"That's just the type of form I'd like to take into the next two weeks, a big confidence boost," admitted McIlroy, who has invites to play (as an amateur) in this week's British Masters at the Forest of Arden and next week's Nissan Irish Open, before a summer ahead that includes playing in the British Amateur as he seeks to further press his claims for a Walker Cup place.

Michael McGeady has been on and off the Walker Cup squad for the best part of a year.

"I don't think I'm on it any longer, I've stopped receiving letters," said McGeady, last year's beaten Irish Close finalist, who nevertheless sent out a reminder of his potential with a final day's work that comprised rounds of 68 and 69 and moved him from a midway position of tied-16th up to third.

"I'm hungry to get a win. I think it's just a case of go play your best golf and let the clubs do the talking," said the North-West clubman, who plays for Ireland in this week's Governor Carey Cup match with New York's MGA before playing in next week's St Andrews Links.

McGeady and Crowe have both been selected by the GUI to play in the St Andrews Links, which means the two invites on offer to play in next week's Irish Open are likely to go to Banbridge's Conor Doran - who finished with a 70 for 288, to be fourth - and West Waterford's Séamus Power, who must, however, wait to see if Ramsay chooses to play in St Andrews rather than return to Carton House.

Ramsay's win was impressive, especially given that he was in the role of pursuer much of the time.

The Royal Aberdeen player didn't assume the lead until the 15th hole, where he hit a sand-wedge approach over the Rye to eight feet and rolled in the birdie putt to move to five under.

The decisive play occurred on the 16th, though. With Ramsay safely finding the green, Crowe's tee shot was hit a mite thin and found the water. He made double-bogey, slipping three shots behind. A birdie on the 16th wasn't sufficient to negate those dropped shots, although it did enable him to move back into the runner-up position.

"My win in the Scottish strokeplay was probably sweeter, simply because it was the first," said Ramsay, "but this is a very important win for me, particularly coming in a Walker Cup year.

"You've got to force your way into that team and I intend to keep my head down, to keep on working, until the team gets picked."