In a remarkable gesture of generosity, Johnny Foster saw his local, 12-year-old caddie as "the real story" behind a splendid triumph in the South of Ireland Amateur Championship at Lahinch yesterday. So, Patrick Glynn was accorded due credit for sending the trophy northwards for the first time since Darren Clarke's win in 1990.

Despite wild winds and sporadic rain-showers, more than a thousand brave hearts watched an all-Northern final in which Foster beat his friend, Andrew McCormick, by two holes. It was McCormick's second successive year as runner-up, matching an unwanted distinction most recently gained by Padraig Harrington in 1994 and 1995.

"This is like living out a dream," said a delighted Foster (21), who recently graduated in politics from Queen's University, Belfast, and was competing in the South for only a second time. "It's been an extraordinary experience - a win, win situation. I've certainly never seen as many happy losers as in Kenny's (a famous local hostelry) over the last few days."

In the moment of victory, his father, John, was beside the 18th green to give him an emotional hug, having made the six-hour journey from Ballyclare with a few friends. "It was the greatest thing, having him here," said the champion. "Basically, I was down here on my own."

Foster advanced to the decider after a tight, morning victory over the 34-year-old Douglas player, Karl Bornemann. Having been two up after 10, the Ulsterman lost the next two, but then established a winning lead at the 13th where he holed a treacherous, 15-foot birdie putt down the severely sloping green.

Meanwhile, McCormick was having a somewhat easier battle against Royal Dublin's Eamonn Brady. Three up after 10, the Scrabo player increased his advantage in improbable circumstances at the short 11th, which he won with a bogey after they had both missed the green.

The weather turned particularly nasty at lunchtime and the wind had risen to gale force when the competitors faced the exposed, opening holes of the afternoon's final. Their struggle was reflected in the fact that Foster was two up after covering the first four holes in bogey, birdie, bogey, bogey.

At that stage, Foster and McCormick were experimenting with a variety of shots around the greens in an effort at cheating the elements. And indicative of the wind strength was that Foster needed only a seven-iron second shot at the 485-yard, par-five fifth.

By that stage, Master Glynn, caddie supreme, was beginning to overcome the stage-fright of being confronted by such a large crowd in his first experience of the "South". Seeing Foster's ball at rest about seven yards from the fifth green, he observed critically: "He didn't catch it properly."

Afterwards, Foster said: "I could see him gaining in confidence as the round went on, but all the while, he was a wonderful companion. And he had X-ray vision on the greens. It was great to be able to trust his lines. I couldn't have done it without him."

Foster went on: "There were times when he would become a little cocky, saying things that he'd heard, no doubt, from his elders. Like `Only eejits miss the green left here' and other comments like that. He's really a great character."

They actually came together last Sunday morning when Foster was pulling his own trolley in a second-round match against Philip Brennan of Old Conna. "I was walking down the fifth when I happened upon him and, after a brief chat, he ended up caddying for me."

So began a great adventure for both of them. And Glynn's company was to become vital to his master when the match began to turn McCormick's way. That happened through a delightful pitch and putt birdie for a win at the fifth and a win in par at the difficult seventh, where Foster took four to reach the green, into the teeth of the wind.

They remained level at the turn, which Foster reached in 41 strokes - five over par - against 40 from his opponent. By that stage, it had become a battle between the smooth, rhythmic swing of the Ballyclare player and the power game of the burly McCormick. As it happened, Foster began to dominate the homeward journey.

He won the 10th with a par, and the short 11th, where McCormick hit a particularly wild tee-shot beyond and left of the green. So, Foster had regained a two-hole lead in a match in which he would never be behind. It became a priceless cushion when McCormick played a stunning run-up second shot to within two feet of the 13th hole for a winning birdie.

Then came a critical break from Foster's standpoint. Down the long 14th, where McCormick's power should have giving him a clear edge, the Scrabo player overshot the fairway. And he was in deeper rough in two. Eventually, with the invaluable advice of his caddie, Foster made a chip and putt birdie from off the back right of the green to regain his two-hole lead.

But he lost the next to a par. And he missed from eight feet for a birdie at the short 16th, which they halved in par. Then came an even more serious miss on the 17th where, after McCormick had been in trouble all the way, Foster had a four-foot putt for the match. An over-zealous stroke caused it to horseshoe out of the cup.

Nerves were now tightening with every stride as he went down the long 18th with a one-hole lead. And after they had both driven into rough on the left, McCormick was 30 yards short of the green in two, whereas Foster's three-wood second shot found the bunker on the left, closer to the green.

From there, he faced an unenviable, 25-yard recovery. But he played it superbly, leaving the ball eight feet behind the pin. McCormick, meanwhile, was nine feet away in three. He missed, and with two for the match, Foster gently rolled the ball home. It had taken him 77 strokes to complete the 18 holes, but it was creditable golf in the circumstances.

And what of the peerless caddie? Happy to share the limelight at the finish, Master Glynn admitted: "I was a little anxious about him on the 17th but he came through it great."

Indeed he did. But why wouldn't he, with the Glynn family in support? Only 12 months ago, the youngster's father, schoolteacher Kevin, caddied for Patrick Collier. And he, too, confounded the odds by winning the South. Maybe Foster was right; maybe this was the real story of the week.

Semi-finals: J Foster (Ballyclare) bt K Bornemann (Douglas) 1 hole; A McCormick (Scrabo) bt E Brady (Royal Dublin) 3 and 2.

Final: Foster bt McCormick 2 holes.