Pitch & Putt news

Holder Bill Buckley Jnr of Erry, Co. Offaly, faces 80 rivals when he bids to retain the All Ireland Men's Pitch and Putt Strokeplay Championship at St. Stephen’s, Glanmire, Co. Cork tomorrow.

In the strongest field ever are former winners Chris Scannell (Collins) 1995, former Irish number one player Ray Murphy (Templebredy), champion in 2000, Frank O’Donoghue (Templebredy) winner at Parteen in 1992 and Lucan 1998.

Leinster Strokeplay champion, Sean Downes (Stackallen) won the title in successive years 1993/1994, Anthony Malone (Lucan) was champion in 1989 and 1993 and Liam O’Brien (Douglas) was a spectacular winner at Rocklodge eight years ago. Another star player Liam O’Donovan (Bruff) who has won already at St. Stephen’s, won the national strokeplay championship two years ago.