Irish golfer Michael Hoey is celebrating today after claiming his second European Tour title with a two-stroke victory at the Madeira Islands Open.

MICHAEL HOEY claimed his second European Tour title yesterday with a two-stroke victory at the Madeira Islands Open.

Frenchman Francois Delamontagne and Lloyd Saltman of Scotland set the clubhouse target for the rest of the field at the Madeira Islands Open today.

IRELAND’S Peter Lawrie holds a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Trophee Hassan II in Agadir, Morocco after a superb eight-under-par 64 at the Golf Du Palais Royal.

Ireland’s Peter Lawrie holds a three-stroke lead at the end of the first round of the Trophee Hassan II in Agadir after a superb eight-under-par 64 at the Golf Du Palais Royal.

NIALL KEARNEY and Simon Thornton both broke 70 but still slipped further down the leaderboard on a day of red-hot scoring in the third round of the European Tour Qualifying School final stage at PGA de Catalunya.

SUCH are the twists and turns of life that unheralded Skerries teenager Jeff Hopkins could easily be playing at centre half for the likes of Liverpool or Blackburn Rovers. Instead, a series of chronic injuries ended his dreams of a professional soccer career when he was just 14 years old.

A SPECTACULAR eagle two at the ninth proved crucial as Waterville’s David Higgins yesterday made it through to next week’s Open Championship at Turnberry with a splendid performance over the Glasgow Gailes links in the final local qualifying round.

Double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal was none too confident today about winning a place in the Open Championship.

The AIB-sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship, which will be played at The Royal Dublin Golf Club on May 9-11, has attracted a record 91 overseas players from 17 countries.

English amateur Gary Boyd upstaged a host of professionals as he surged into second place after the third round of stage two of the European Tour’s qualifying school.

Sweden's Martin Erlandsson equalled the lowest round ever seen at The Belfry today - long after most of the crowd had gone home.

Former amateur stars Lloyd Saltman and Rory McIlroy made exactly the start to their professional European Tour careers they were hoping for today.

Irish teenager Rory McIlroy will make his professional debut in the company of 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie at The Belfry on Thursday.

Walker Cup players Lloyd Saltman and Rory McIlory safely came through the first stage of the European Tour’s qualifying school at The Oxfordshire.

Britain and Ireland’s amateurs needed a near miracle to win back the Walker Cup at Royal County Down today after being whitewashed in the second series of foursomes.

Ever since Tiger Woods was beaten by Gary Wolstenholme at Royal Porthcawl in 1995 Britain and Ireland’s amateurs have gone into the Walker Cup with high hopes and believing anything is possible.

Seven weeks after being a star of the Open Championship 18-year-old Rory McIlroy brings down the curtain on his glittering amateur career this weekend.

WHILE they celebrated at Clandeboye Golf Club last night after the inclusion of Jonathan Caldwell in the British & Irish team to play the US in the Walker Cup at Royal Co Down on September 9 and 10, there was disappointment at Banbridge when Richard Kilpatrick was omitted.

Teenager Rory McIlroy was today named in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to face the United States next month.

Swedish golfer Pelle Edberg had almost as much to celebrate as Colin Montgomerie at the K Club.

Irish interest in the British Amateur championship ended at Royal Lytham and St Annes today.

Daniel Willett caused a stir in the opening matchplay round of the British Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes today as he claimed the notable scalp of rising Irish star Rory McIlroy.

Baltray's Simon Ward scorched to a six under par 66 to lead the Irish

Rory McIlroy tied for ninth place as Welshman Llewellyn Matthews romped to a record victory in the St Andrews Links Trophy on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy revived his feint hopes of victory in the St Andrews Links Trophy when he carded a three-under par 69 over the Old Course in Saturday's second round.

Rory McIlroy's indifferent run of form continued in the St Andrews Links Trophy at the Home of Golf.

Walker Cup hopefuls Simon Ward and Jonathan Caldwell will lead the chase for the East of Ireland Amateur Open at Co Louth on Saturday.

Rory McIlroy struggled to a six-over par 78 in the first round of the Brabazon Trophy at the Forest of Arden.

Scotland's Lloyd Saltman grabbed his fourth strokeplay win on the trot with a two-shot victory in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Rory McIlroy lost his way on the back nine as Czech champion Marek Novy grabbed the first round lead in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Walker Cup skipper Colin Dalgleish has hailed Holywood star Rory McIlroy as a similar talent to Spanish wonderkid Sergio Garcia.

Demand is certain to exceed supply after the decision to put a crowd limit of 10,000 on Britain and Ireland’s attempt to regain the Walker Cup – the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup – at Royal County Down in the North on September 8-9.

Rory McIlroy had a nightmare finish as Scotland's Lloyd Saltman captured the prestigious Lytham Trophy by three shots.

Ireland's Rory McIlroy is just two strokes adrift of Lloyd Saltman entering this afternoon's final round of the Lytham Trophy.

Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Scotland's Lloyd Saltman look set for a head-to-head battle for the Lytham Trophy over the final 36-holes on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy celebrated his 18th birthday in style today by firing a four under par 67 to trail leader Lloyd Saltman by two shots after the first round of the Lytham Trophy.

Unbeaten Rory McIlroy could not save Ireland from defeat in the Men's Home Internationals in Wales.

Seventeen-year-olds Rory McIlroy and Oliver Fisher are both in the Britain and Ireland team for the St Andrews Trophy match against Continental Europe in the Czech Republic on September 1-2.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM has beaten stiff competition from Michael Campbell and Colin Montgomerie to create more golfing history.

Annika Sorenstam has beaten stiff competition from Michael Campbell and Colin Montgomerie to create more golfing history.

Gary Wolstenholme has tipped Walker Cup team-mates Oliver Fisher and Lloyd Saltman for bright futures in the professional game – and he believes they might leave the amateur ranks before long.

Great Britain & Ireland found themselves just behind their American counterparts after the opening foursomes session of the 40th Walker Cup at the Chicago Golf Club.