EDDIE POWER was the only player to break par in either round in the Smithwicks Scratch Cup at Kilkenny last Sunday, but he still required a monster 50 footer for birdie on the last hole to thwart Leinster interprovincial player Stephen Browne.

Power, playing alongside Browne, claimed his third Kilkenny Scratch Cup in four years with an unlikely birdie three at the final hole. The former Irish Close champion drove into rough but fired an eight iron approach over trees to the front of the green and sank the 50 footer for birdie, giving him a second round 69 for a three over par 36 holes aggregate of 145.

And a potential play off was averted when Hermitage's Browne - who'd watched Power's miracle birdie - missed a six footer himself for birdie.