Chaudouey flying the French flag with aplomb as he makes it through to last 16

THERE was a time when the South of Ireland was known as one of Ireland's premier sporting exports.

Names like Ballingall, Castle, Lord Glenawly, Girdlestone and others were engraved with monotonous regularity on the beautiful old trophy. That was around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries before legendary figures like John Burke, Mick O'Loughlin, Joe Carr and the rest came along to put matters right. Indeed, you must go back to Geoff Roberts in 1959 for the last non-Irish champion at Lahinch.

However, that situation could be about to change with the presence of the reigning French champion Eric Chaudouey in the last 16 of the 101st Championship. Chadouey boasts a handicap of plus 3.2, and is the last of an elite squad of eight sent here this week by the French Federation to extend their knowledge of links golf.