Runaway leading qualifier Ronan Mullarney from Galway is a stronger favourite than ever to capture the AIG Irish Close Championship at Ballybunion this week having needed only 28 holes to come through yesterday’s opening two match-play rounds.

He will only be released to play in the Eisenhower Trophy or the Olympic Games - that’s the understanding between John Murphy’s college in Louisville, Kentucky and Kinsale Golf Club where the availability of this year’s St Andrews Links champion is concerned.

RATHMORE’S Alan Dunbar believes his hopes of making this year’s Walker Cup team have been damaged by what he described as a “stupid” decision by the Golfing Union of Ireland not to take up its option of four exemptions for this weekend’s prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy.