IT WENT right down to the wire - to the last hole after three days of excellent pressure filled golf and defending Munster were left celebrating another fine victory when the Men's Senior Interprovincial championship finished at Mount Juliet yesterday.
In the final analysis, Munster's hopes rested on the shoulders of Karl Bornemann. And the strong willed Douglas man did not disappoint his victory over Adrian Dalton on the 8th in the last singles game earning Munster their fourth win in five years.
Bornemann's win secured a 7 51/2 win for Munster, and out right victory in the championship.
The pair were level playing the 17th. Dalton found water with his tee shot, while his opponent was perfectly placed in the middle of the fairway. Munster won that hole to get one hand on the championship and Leinster were left chasing a share of the match on the 18th.
This time both players missed she fairway with their drives. Bornemann was just off the fairway on the right but the unlucky Dalton saw his ball end up in the cater again.
The championship was all but decided there and then, although the nervous Bornemann had to pull off a good recovery third shot from a bunker to the left of the green to keep the pressure on his opponent before sinking his putt.
Munster won the foursomes 4 1/2-1 1/2 in the morning to take a one point lead into the singles. Subsequently they claimed four singles victories and halved two matches to see off Leinster.
While Bornemann was the hero in the end, his Douglas club mate John Morris also finished the championship on a high. He beat Walker Cup player Jodi Fanagan 6 and 5 in the top singles.
Two players, Bornemann and Peter Lawrie (Newlands), showed tremendous consistency throughout the championship and they were the only players who claimed full points over the three days.