West Waterford’s Gary Hurley stormed into the lead in the European Amateur Championship on the Dukes Course at St Andrews yesterday following a stunning opening round.

Greystones’ Paul Dunne survived the shock of nearly missing his tee time and went on to become the first Irish amateur to come through Final Qualifying for the British Open for 27 years.

A record-equalling seven under par 66 moved West Waterford’s Gary Hurley into joint fifth in the English Open stroke-play championship for the Brabazon Trophy at Seaton Carew, Hartlepool on Saturday.

Paul Dunne is keeping his fingers crossed the billiard table Baltray greens can inspire a resurrection in his putting when he begins his defence of the East of Ireland Amateur Open title at County Louth today.

Dermot McElroy hopes to celebrate his call-up to the St Andrews Trophy squad by challenging for his first amateur major when the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open gets under way at Rosses Point today.

The violent storms that battered the west coast throughout the past 48 hours prevented Donald Trump junior and his brother Eric from making their way to West Clare to visit their magnificent new acquisition at Doonbeg.

Christmas had to come a little early for Gary Hurley this week as the National University of Ireland, Maynooth golfer got his yuletide celebrations done in good time for a dash across the Atlantic and a prestigious date with some of the amateur game’s leading lights.

The Leaving Certificate exams seem a long way off right now but the business of choosing which colleges and universities to apply for is a necessarily important process and not least for golfers with ambitions of becoming a touring professional.

Danielle McVeigh saw her challenge at the NCAA Women's Championship halted by high winds yesterday in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell has won the Royal Trophy, Seve Trophy, Walker Cup and Palmer Cup and is confident his recent run of consistent form can thrust him into Nick Faldo’s mind for the ultimate team showdown at Valhalla in September.

Gareth Shaw continued his collegiate golfing duties a little further into the summer last week when the Irish golfer represented Europe against the United States in the Palmer Cup, the student version of the Ryder Cup.