Shell-shocked skipper Nigel Edwards believes Great Britain and Ireland’s budding professionals need to improve their short games after late collapses allowed the Continent of Europe to claim the St Andrews Trophy in enemy territory for the first time.

Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan produced sensational short game magic to grab a crucial singles win and help Great Britain and Ireland take a 7-5 lead over the Continent of Europe into the final day of the St Andrews Trophy at Portmarnock.

A decision by Shane Lowry not to let the Alpine course overshadow him paid dividends, with the Esker Hills star producing his equal-best round in four appearances in the Omega European Masters.

BRITAIN and Ireland Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards is far from pleased with a decision by the Golfing Union of Ireland not to nominate four players for the Links Trophy, which begins at St Andrews today.

Padraig Harrington has given advice to the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad as they prepare for next September’s match against the United States at Royal Aberdeen.

Nigel Edwards has been appointed captain of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to face the United States at Royal Aberdeen in 2011.

Shane Lowry can still win the Lytham Trophy despite a nightmare finish to his third round.

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.

One of the leading lights of the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup side failed to shine on the opening day at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.

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.

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 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.

Players at the World Amateur Team Championships starting in Stellenbosch on Thursday have been reminded that drug testing is to be carried out by the South African Institute for Drug-free Sport.

Ireland finished with the wooden spoon as Scotland stormed to victory in the Men's Home Internationals at Pyle and Kenfig.

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.

Teenage dynamo Rory McIlroy is targeting a rare double in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Portmarnock.

Sixteen-year old Rory McIlroy, who successfully defended the West of Ireland Championship last weekend, heads the entries for the AIB Irish Amateur Open Championship.

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.

BRIAN McELHINNEY is the only Irish player on the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to defend the trophy in Chicago.

Brian McElhinney is the sole Irish representative in the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to defend the trophy in Chicago on August 13 and 14.

Phil Casey

GARY WOLSTENHOLME, the only Britain and Ireland amateur to feature on four winning Walker Cup teams, has been named in a provisional 29-strong squad for next August’s defence of the trophy in Chicago.

R&A selection chairman Peter McEvoy has named an initial squad of 29 players for next August's 40th Walker Cup, to be held at the Chicago Golf Club, Illinois.

CRAIG SMITH, a 6 foot 7 inch tall, 23 year-old from Cardiff, became the third overseas winner of the AIB Irish Amateur Open Championship since the event was revived in 1995 by mounting a highly impressive rearguard action over the Montgomerie course at Carton House, Co Kildare.

THE venue promises to be at least as interesting as the golf itself when the AIB Irish Amateur Open Championship gets under way over the brand new Montgomerie course at Carton House near Maynooth, Co Kildare this morning.

THE eagerly awaited AIB Irish Amateur Open will take place in Carton House, Maynooth this weekend.

Britain and Ireland's amateurs snatched an historic third successive Walker Cup victory over the United States at Ganton.

BRITAIN and Ireland’s amateurs snatched a brilliant third successive Walker Cup victory over the United States at Ganton yesterday.

Britain and Ireland’s amateurs snatched a brilliant – and historic – third successive Walker Cup victory over the United States at Ganton today.

Britain and Ireland have retained the Walker Cup at Ganton.

GARY WOLSTENHOLME and Michael Skelton, the oldest and youngest members of the Britain and Ireland team, have been paired together for the opening game of the Walker Cup against America at Ganton in Yorkshire today.