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.

Three-under par rounds of 68 over the challenging Chantilly course by Walker Cup star Jack Hume and Stuart Grehan helped Ireland cruise into the quarter-finals of the European Amateur Team Championship.

PAUL DUNNE

Ireland had to play second fiddle to Spain in the final of the European Amateur Team Championship in Finland at the weekend — a 5-2 trouncing meant they returned home yesterday with the silver medal.

Fota Island Resort chief executive Jonathan Woods has called for more international sporting and music events to be staged in Munster following the overwhelming success of the Irish Open in Cork at the weekend.

Ireland retained the European Amateur Team Championship for the first time in 41 years on Saturday.

Portstewart's Paul Cutler will face Johann López Lázaro of France in the quarter-finals of the Spanish Amateur Championship in Girona tomorrow.

Reigning Irish champion, Shane Lowry scored a sparkling six under par 67 in the second round of the Portugal Nations Cup at Vale de Lobo in the Algarve, and supported by team mates Niall Kearney and Simon Ward, Ireland holds a four shot lead over Sweden going into the final round on Monday.

Former Scottish champion Colin Dalgleish will captain Britain and Ireland when they try to win back the Walker Cup from the US at Royal County Down in September 2007.