Lahinch line-up will be strongest ever field

IF handicaps are a reliable criteria then the entry for the Shell South of Ireland Championship starting at Lahinch today is assuredly the strongest ever.

Athlone’s Colm Moriarty, who shot a 63 in the first of the qualifying rounds for the Open Championship last week, boasts a figure of plus 3.6 while holder Justin Kehoe is playing off plus 2.3.

In all, there are 56 plus handicappers in the field including nine Frenchmen and 14 of the 16-strong Irish national panel.