The cream of Irish ladies’ golfing talent from across the Northern and Eastern districts will this week battle it out in the last regional finals of the inaugural AA Insurance Ladies Championships.

Dunmurry's Darren Crowe is on course for his second amateur major in the space of a fortnight after cruising into the last four of the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch.

Warrenpoint’s Jim Carvill got his title defence off to a winning start in the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch today.

It's now down to the last four in the Magners' North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush with the line-up being Rory Leonard (Banbridge) v Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) and Connor Doran (Banbridge) v Andrew Pitcher (The Island) with the possibiloity of tomorrow afternoon's final being an all-Banbridge affair.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy cruised into the last 16 of the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close at The European Club.

Rory McIlroy (Holywood), ranked fifth in the world amateur golf rankings, will defend the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at The European Club from June 10 to 14.

Charlie Mulqueen

Irish close champion, Rory McIlroy (Holywood) is one of four new caps included in the Ireland team for the Home Internationals which will be played at Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich,England on September 7-9.

OLIN BROWNE fired a spectacular 59 to grab one of the final spots in the US Open - after almost withdrawing from the qualifying tournament in Maryland.

Reigning Irish champion Brian McElhinney (North West) will lead the three-man team to

HOLDER Mervyn Owens (Mallow) was first off the tee at Lahinch yesterday morning when he successfully began the defence of his title against Eddie Power (Kilkenny) in a 7am start to the South of Ireland Irish Shell-sponsored championship.

Scotland beat England 4-3 to win the European Amateur Youths’ Team Championship at the Island.

Swedish raider Rikard Karlberg carded a sensational course record 65 to grab the first round lead in the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.

Swedish teenager Rikard Karlberg carded a course record 65 to take the clubhouse lead in the West of Ireland championship at Rosses Point today.

MICHAEL MCGEADY remains hopeful of a first ever Irish success, despite dropping one stroke from the lead on day three of the prestigious Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship in Australia.

WE would like to highlight the stigma that individuals with mental ill health continue to experience in Ireland.

DUNMURRY is the AIB All-Ireland Golf Club of the Year.

BOTH the Irish mens and ladies senior golf teams show changes from the original selections for the Home International series at Ballybunion and Cruden Bay respectively.

Dunmurry member Darren Crowe, who was given his first Irish senior cap this week, is included in the Ulster Youths' team for the interprovincial championship at Athenry on September 25 to 27.

THE build-up to the selection of the first ever Irish side to compete in the World Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy in Malaysia next October continues.

Eilish McCartan from Greenore pulled off a major shock at Belvoir Park yesterday in the Irish Girls' Intermediate Championship.