BARRIE TRAINOR’S good form has closed the gap on Irish PGA Order of Merit leader David Higgins as the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet, in association with Ping, continues.

KILLARNEY’s Danny Sugrue has given himself the opportunity of a massive confidence boost heading into the Irish Open on his home course with a strong finish today in the EuroPro Tour’s Audi Cork Irish Masters at Fota Island.

GRAEME McDOWELL has pointed out another potential problem for Rory McIlroy when he returns to action at the British Open next week.

FORMER Walker Cup player Noel Fox, fellow Dubliner Eamonn Brady and David Mortimer, the Galway-born Newlands club professional, battled back into contention for places in the European Tour School at San Roque next week with excellent rounds in yesterday’s second day of pre-qualifying at the Costa Ballena course near Cadiz in the south of Spain.

THE DONALD Steel-designed Lackabane course at Killarney hosts the first European Challenge Tour event in the Republic of Ireland over the next four days with the arrival of the Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge.

Thomas Levet is today clinging on to a slender lead in the second round of the British Open championship at Royal Troon.