Charlie Mulqueen Mallow’s James Sugrue and Ronan Mullarney from Galway produced outstanding performances at Portmarnock yesterday to keep Irish interest very much alive into this morning’s third round of the British Amateur Championship.

Gareth Shaw and Johnny Caldwell, Ireland’s collegiate golfing stars of the 2007-08 US season, enjoyed contrasting fortunes as the NCAA East Regional Championship got under way in Chattanooga, Tennessee.