Welsh golfer Nick Grimmitt captured the Irish Seniors Amateur Open at Co Tipperary, thanks to a late birdie bliltz which sent him surging through the field.

He had a final round 71 which was one of only two sub-par rounds all week and helped the Wenvoe Castle player overcome a four shot deficit, including three birdies in his last five holes.

Having turned in 37, two over, four birdies and one bogey on the back nine took Grimmitt to a three-round total of 223, plus seven, which won by one shot from Tramore’s John Mitchell.

Mitchell, who was at the head of affairs from day one, could have forced a playoff with a closing par but his six-footer caught the lip and stayed out.

Grimmitt made four birdies on the back nine, beginning with a four at the 11th. He then made three in four holes from the 14th, which put him in the clear. Like Mitchell, he bogeyed 18, but his was not as costly.

When the home challenger failed to get up and down at his 72nd hole, the title was Grimmitt’s. Mitchell had to settle for second. England’s Douglas Cameron finished a shot further back in third.