Ireland bounced back from their European Amateur Team Championship quarter-final defeat to Italy with an impressive 3½-1½ win against Spain over France’s challenging Chantilly course.

Sexton still shining in Lahinch.

The Irish Ladies Close Championship began yesterday around the Old Course at Lahinch, Co Clare, where competitors played 36 holes strokeplay. The championship course, measuring 5,968 yards, was in immaculate condition and good scores were there for the taking.

Olivia Mehaffey surrendered the Helen Holm Trophy with England’s Olivia Winning snatching Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship victory from her grasp at Troon.

Northern Ireland teenage star Olivia Mehaffey made a sensational start to the defence of her Scottish women’s open stroke-play championship over Troon’s Portland course yesterday.

Cheshire’s David Horsey shot a course record 63 to claim the first-round lead at the Made in Denmark tournament in Farso at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort.

Open Championship hero Paul Dunne will attract much of the attention at Royal Portrush in two weeks as Ireland bid to defend their Home Internationals title on home soil.

Whatever about her Olympic hopes, Leona Maguire is certain to be an inspiration for Ireland in the European Ladies Team Championships at Helsingor Golf Club in Denmark today.

Irish International Gary Hurley suffered heartache in the final of the Spanish Amateur Championship at Jerez yesterday, falling short in the final by the narrowest of margins.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy let his honesty shine through again, bluntly admitting he was ‘pissed off’ after the disappointment of missing the halfway cut in the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens. 

It’s Friday - the day our lovely readers share their Good News with us to be in with winning a prize.

The two-year wait to earn a ticket to Gleneagles will finally come to an end today for some of the world’s best golfers, just as an Irish club pro and his six-handicapper team-mate tee off at the Scottish resort in search of silverware.

A brilliant two under par 70 by former British champion Stephanie Meadow gave Ireland a chance of qualifying for the top flight — the last eight — in the European Ladies Team Championship at Fulford, York today.

Two Irish internationals made history for the wrong reasons in the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Machynys Peninsula in South Wales yesterday.

England’s Meghan MacLaren survived a final round charge by Lisburn’s Paula Grant to win the Irish Women’s Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship at Castle.

Ireland slipped to a second consecutive defeat in the Women’s Home Internationals at Cork Golf Club yesterday, going down 6-3 to Wales.

Ireland’s hopes of a first Women’s Home International victory since 2004 were dealt a hammer blow on the opening day as the hosts were trounced 9-0 by England at Cork Golf Club.

Ireland will go into today’s Women’s Home Internationals at Cork Golf Club with team captain Claire Coughlan-Ryan determined her side can make a mockery of the world rankings.

Most of the top lady golfers from Ireland and Britain, including Curtis Cup stars, will compete in the prestigious Ladies Home International Championships at Cork Golf Club next week.

With the disappointing late withdrawal of the Slieve Russell twins Leona and Lisa Maguire, the focus of attention turned to the other Irish competitors in the smaller-than-usual field in the British Ladies Open stroke-play championship at Shandon Park, Belfast yesterday.

Adrian Morrow flew home from Austria yesterday on cloud nine after conquering a top class field to clinch the European Seniors Amateur Championship.

LEINSTER are the toast of Irish golf after winning the Women’s Interprovincials following their thrilling 5½ to 3½ win over Ulster on the final day of play at Cork Golf Club yesterday.

It is all to play for after day one of the Women’s Interprovincials at Cork GC yesterday.

Ulster’s ambition to win a third consecutive Women’s Interprovincial golf title this week at Cork Golf Club has been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of two of their more experienced players.

PETER LAWRIE secured his first top 10 finish of the new season, as he finished ninth behind Sweden’s Robert Karlsson who captured his first victory in 14 months with success in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Irish Champion Karen Delaney (Carlow) leads an experienced Irish team in their challenge on the 2007 European Team Championships at Castleconturbia, Italy.

The ILGU has selected three International teams to represent Ireland at various upcoming International events in June and July.

Child star Lisa Maguire has blasted her way into the semi-finals of

Child star Lisa Maguire has blasted her way into the semi-finals of the Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at Lahinch today.

Leading qualifier Tara Delaney cruised into the last 16 of the Lancôme Irish Ladies Close Championship with a 3 and 1 win over Charlotte Crowe at Lahinch today.

Carlow's Tara Delaney led the qualifiers in the Lancôme Irish Ladies’

Galway's Sinead O’Sullivan hit a brilliant level-par 74 today to lead the Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship after the first qualifying round at windswept Lahinch.

The Irish women's golf team travels to England this weekend to play in the Ladies Home Internationals at Frilford Heath on September 13-15.

LEINSTER battled to a 6½-2½ victory on day two of the 2006 Ladies Interprovincials against Ulster at Headfort Golf Club yesterday, while Connacht and Munster got a half point each, tying at 4½-4½.

Leinster look to defend their Ladies Interprovincial title when the three-day tournament starts at Headfort Golf Club, Kells, Co Meath, on August 2-4.