Swedes smell success as West of Ireland gets underway

WITH the Swedish Federation sending 10 of their leading players ranging in handicap from plus 3.3 to 0.5, there is every chance that the Standard Life West of Ireland Championship starting at Rosses Point, Sligo, this morning could well be for export for the second time in six years.

When the event was held at Enniscrone in 1999 while remedial work was taking place at the ‘Point’, the championship’s spiritual home, Mikko Ilonen of Finland came out on top.

The favourites this time round, based on handicap, are Swede Rikard Karlberg and Darren Crowe of Dunmurry, both plus 3.3, while there are a number of other Scandinavians in the field capable of making an impression over the next five days.