Major champions Darren Clarke, Pádraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy were fine-tuning their British Open preparations yesterday and so missed out on a special day at Mullingar Golf Club.

IRELAND will be well fancied to retain their title when the third European Amateur Seniors Team Championship takes place at Shannon Golf Club this week.

All six members of the victorious European seniors team have been selected in the Irish side for the Seniors Home Internationals which will be played at Caldy Golf Club, Merseyside from October 2 to 4, 2007.

Ireland won the European Seniors’ Team Championship at Bled Golf Club in Slovenia today.

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