Gavin Moynihan and Ruaidhri McGee will need to put on their putting boots if they are to secure European Tour cards in the final round of the grueling European Tour Qualifying School marathon in Spain.

Olivia Mehaffey had a mixed start on day one of the European Ladies´ Amateur Championship in Switzerland, going into this morning’s second round five strokes off the lead.

Stuart Grehan fired in a flawless three-under-par opening round of 69 in tough conditions to lead the Irish assault on the European Amateur Championship in Estonia.

Leona Maguire added to her large collection of silverware yesterday when she was the top amateur at the Ricoh Womens British Championship at Woburn in Bedfordshire.

Olivia Mehaffey continued her rich vein of form when she produced a display of the highest quality to secure the bronze medal in the European Ladies Amateur Championship in Sweden at the weekend.

Olivia Mehaffey made a fine start in her bid for European Ladies’ Amateur Championship glory by carding an opening day total of 70 in Sweden.

Ireland bounced back from their European Amateur Team Championship quarter-final defeat to Italy with an impressive 3½-1½ win against Spain over France’s challenging Chantilly course.

Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies) confirmed her status as one of the finest amateur lady golfers in the world at gloriously sunny Lahinch yesterday when she withstood an outstanding challenge from fellow Ulster golfer Louise Coffey (Malone) to carry off the Irish Ladies Close Championship.

Sexton still shining in Lahinch.

When you have achieved as much as Mary McKenna has in the game and in the name of Irish golf, you could get used to plaudits.

Stephanie Meadow’s amazing third place in the US Women’s Open on her professional debut at Pinehurst No.2 was a dream start to her career in the paid ranks but the Irishwoman saw it as a reward for her endeavour rather a shock success.

Congratulations to Tricia Mangan on her appointment as the next high performance director of the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU).

The Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, made their exit from the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship in South Wales yesterday.

One of Ireland’s Masters contingent this week will be Alan Dunbar, using his exemption as British Amateur champion.

Most of the top lady golfers from Ireland and Britain, including Curtis Cup stars, will compete in the prestigious Ladies Home International Championships at Cork Golf Club next week.

Stephanie Meadow kept the Royal Portrush bandwagon rolling at the weekend as she claimed the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship title, the first Northern Ireland player to do so since Maureen Madill lifted the trophy at Nairn 33 years ago.

Teenage star Leona Maguire is in position at Carnoustie to grab a prominent place in the matchplay stages of the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship after yesterday’s second qualifying round.

Adrian Morrow flew home from Austria yesterday on cloud nine after conquering a top class field to clinch the European Seniors Amateur Championship.

Rory McIlroy will have Michael Bannon as his full time coach after the Bangor professional announced he would leave his club job to hit the road with the reigning US Open champion.

Stephanie Meadow was the heroine as Great Britain and Ireland regained the Curtis Cup — 16 years after last winning it at Killarney.

Rory McIlroy finished with three birdies in his last four holes and held a one-shot lead as the second round of the FedEx St Jude Classic drew to a close last night.

Shane Lowry continued to display his fondness for the Blackstone course on day two of the Ballantine’s Championship in Seoul.

Claire Coughlan (Cork), Niamh Kitching (Limerick) and Terry Sexton (Dun Laoghaire) are the respective captains of the Irish Ladies’, girls’ and senior international teams this season.

US OPEN champion Graeme McDowell, his Rathmore clubmate Alan Dunbar; Danielle McVeigh from Royal Co Down and Bill Gibson from the Curragh have been chosen for their annual awards by the Irish Golf Writers Association.

ADMISSION is free, the quality of the field could hardly be better, the location is both new and spectacular.

IRELAND’S hopes of winning a third European Men’s Amateur team title in four years were dashed in Sweden yesterday when they failed to make the top flight for the matchplay phase.

THE remarkable 15-year-old Cavan twins Lisa and Leona Maguire have been all the rage in Irish ladies golf for several years and will represent Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup against the United States next month.

THE remarkable Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, from Co Cavan, will create a significant piece of Curtis Cup history when they make their debuts in the bi-annual clash with the US at the Essex Country Club, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachussetts on June 11-13.

THE Team Ireland Golf Trust yesterday announced grants worth €217,000 to 17 aspiring men and women pursuing careers on professional tours around the world.

Fourteen-year-old Irish twins Leona and Lisa Maguire have been included in the squad for Britain and Ireland’s Curtis Cup match against the United States in Massachusetts next June.

THE outrageously talented 13-year-old Maguire twins from Ballyconnell in Cavan have been named in a Great Britain & Ireland preliminary squad for the 2009 Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe in Germany next July.

Rebecca Hudson is hoping to make full use of home advantage as she goes in search of a second title in the space of three weeks at the Ladies English Open, which starts tomorrow.

TRAMORE Golf Club, one of the finest parkland lay-outs in the country, open their new nine hole extension on Thursday with a “skins” match involving four of the club’s most illustrious members.

The United States won the Curtis Cup for the 26th time today, beating Great Britain & Ireland by 13 points to seven over the Old Course at St Andrews.

The United States lead by three points going into the historic third-day eight singles finale to the 35th Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews.

Irish women Tara Delaney and Danielle McVeigh enjoyed mixed fortunes in Texas this week as they battled the Lone Star State’s infamous winds at the Texas A&M ‘Mo’morial’ tournament.

Sweden’s Louise Stahle soared into the lead with a brilliant course-record 64, and it was also a good opening day for England’s Laura Davies and Lisa Hall at the Dubai Ladies’ Masters at the Emirates Golf Club.