Leslie Walker made the trip home from the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island a profitable one when he won the Mastercard Southern Professional championship at Arklow last week.

After an opening round of 69, Walker fired a three-under-par 66 to beat the holder Eamonn Darcy by one shot in a thrilling finish.

Darcy began the second day three shots adrift of Walker but scorched around the new Arklow layout in record 64 that included seven birdies. His only concessions to par were at the 10th and 17th. Walker however fired four birdies in his 66 and had just one dropped shot at the 10th, where he three putted.

Philip Walton, who was tied for second with Walker overnight, took the lead at three-under par at the 12th but a disastrous finish saw him double-bogey the 16th and bogey the 17th to slip back to a share of fourth place.