ALAN DUNBAR stepped up his bid for a place in the Walker Cup team to face the Americans at Aberdeen next month when he fired a splendid opening 68 — four under par — in the European Amateur Individual Championship in Sweden yesterday.

EMMA O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion) defeated Paula Grant (Lisburn) to capture the Lancome Girls’ Irish Close Championship title in sensational style at Castletroy GC yesterday.