A POTENTIAL cure for a rare, life-threatening form of leukaemia could be one step closer after Irish researchers unveiled a breakthrough in treating the condition.

Irish Close champion Shane Lowry beat the Castle's Ryan Boal at the 20th to clinch his place in Wednesday's West of Ireland Championship semi-finals at Rosses Point.

Rory McIlroy shrugged off some putting problems to cruise into the last 16 of the Radisson-SAS West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.

Rory McIlroy was in form again today as Ulster secured the Interprovincial Championship crown at Ballyliffin.

Ulster and Leinster today enjoyed convincing Interprovicial victories at the Ballyliffin Golf Club.

Ulster and Leinster both hold comfortable leads at the Interprovincial Championship at Ballyliffin after today's action.

It's now down to the last four in the Magners' North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush with the line-up being Rory Leonard (Banbridge) v Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) and Connor Doran (Banbridge) v Andrew Pitcher (The Island) with the possibiloity of tomorrow afternoon's final being an all-Banbridge affair.

Warrenpoint senior international and former professional Jim Carvill was put out of the North of Ireland Championship in the second round by Ballymena scratch handicapper Alex McCoy at Royal Portrush today.

AS Paul McGinley and co play for the £1 million first prize in the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, other matters are taxing the minds of hundreds of hopefuls all over Europe.

Irish Amateur Close Championship at Westport Golf Club