With handicaps ranging from plus 4 to 1.1, the high quality of the entry for the West Coast Hotels sponsored South of Ireland Championship beginning at Lahinch this morning is a source of considerable satisfaction for the organising committee.

Jack Hume defied end of the world conditions to card what he described as the round of his life to take a two-stroke after two rounds of the Irish Amateur Open at a weather-lashed Royal Dublin.

Gavin Moynihan might be considered a shoo-in for a second Walker Cup cap but the Dubliner knows he needs to start showing some form to make sure of his place at Royal Lytham and St Annes in September.

Munster champions Tramore needed all their fighting spirit after six years of campaigning together to reach today’s AIG Senior Cup final at Carton House.

Tramore Golf Club go into today’s AIG Senior Cup semi-finals at Carton House hoping third time will be the charm for their team after national finals disappointments in 2011 and 2012.

Weekend wins for Rosslare in Irish Senior Cup Leinster section and Warrenpoint in the Barton Shield in Ulster have confirmed the field for the national finals of the AIG Cups and Shields at Carton House, Kildare next month.

Ulster players have been the dominant force in Irish golf in recent years and the trend looks set to continue judging by developments over the opening two days of the Senior and Boys Interprovincials at the Island links in North Dublin.

Munster pulled off a considerable surprise when they hammered host province Leinster 7½ to 3½ on the opening day of the Senior Interprovincial Championship at The Island yesterday.

Limerick’s Pat Murray overcame a sore shoulder and a stiff neck before coming back from the dead twice in one day to reach today’s semi-finals of the AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship at Seapoint.

Dermot McElroy is determined to break his championship duck when the Irish Amateur Open gets under way at The Royal Dublin today.

Dungarvan’s Kevin Stack and West Waterford’s Gary Hurley kept Munster interest alive in the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Championship at a sun-kissed County Sligo.

County Sligo remain on target for the first part of a potential title double at the AIG All-Ireland Cups & Shields National Finals after booking a place in today’s Barton Shield decider at Royal Tara Golf Club.

There are dreams of a notable double in Cork and Co. Sligo at this week’s AIG All-Ireland Cups & Shields National finals but both clubs are determined to focus solely on the task at hand as the Barton Shield semi-finals get under way at Royal Tara Golf Club in Meath today.

CORK CITY manager Paul Doolin hailed his team’s professionalism in earning a valuable three points at Turner’s Cross last night — after all, as he pointed out, they didn’t know if they would be taking the pitch until 5pm yesterday.

BIG time boxing comes to Youghal tomorrow night when the St. Colman’s Club from Shanagarry move from their spiritual home Garryvoe to stage their annual showpiece at 7.30 pm.

TOP class boxing returns to Fermoy tonight with a star-studded show at the Rowing Club where the McDonagh brothers will top the bill.

Police working in the nerve centre of the hunt for missing schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman today told of their determination to do anything possible to find them.