Dunbar aiming to atone for 2011 loss in West of Ireland

The traditional first big event on the domestic annual calendar, the Radisson sponsored West of Ireland Championship, gets underway today with the first of two stroke-play qualifying rounds leading up to the final on Tuesday next.

Last year’s winner, Walker Cup star Paul Cutler, won’t be defending as he is now a professional but seeking to go one better will be Alan Dunbar, whom he defeated in the decider, and the losing semi-finalists Gary McDermott of the host club and Muskerry’s Niall Gorey.

Dunbar, a member of the successful British & Irish Walker Cup side along with Cutler, will start as strong favourite but the chances for an upset are always strong with the majority of the country’s top amateurs all in the field.