In-form Irish set sights on Home title

Ireland swing into action in the Men’s Amateur Home Internationals at Ganton in Yorkshire today in buoyant mood after several of their players staged fine performances in recent events.

Gavin Moynihan, Paul Dunne and Dermot McElroy came close to the medals in last week’s European Individual Championships in Barcelona, while Kevin Phelan has enjoyed a splendid summer, capped by playing all four rounds in the US Open.

Scotland carried off the Raymond Trophy last year ahead of Ireland, and are seeking their first title in five years.

Captain Pádraig Hogan is cautiously optimistic that Ireland can deliver, but is well aware they face a tough task today against England. Scotland meet perennial wooden-spoonists Wales in the other opening day fixture.

Hogan said: “None of the countries can be taken for granted and every international series is tough to win.”

Meanwhile, Belfast teenager Gareth Lappin produced an inspirational performance in Cheshire yesterday to be one shot off the lead at the halfway stage of qualifying in the British Boys’ Open Amateur Championship.

The 17-year-old 2012 Irish Boys’ champion from Belvoir Park fired a stunning four-under-par 68 at Wallasey to put himself in pole position to secure one of the top spots in the match-play phase after today’s second qualifying round.

“I really enjoyed it today, I was hitting the ball well and made very few mistakes around the greens. I can’t wait to play Royal Liverpool tomorrow,” said Lappin.

Whitehead’s Matthew Kane was the next best of the Irish returning a 74, bouncing back after a terrible start which saw him drop shots on each of his opening three holes also at Wallasey, but he had to hold his nerve after a miserable start during which he dropped strokes on each of the first three holes. He got back on track with birdies at five and six and another birdie at 12 before bogeying 13 and 16.

Faithlegg’s Robin Dawson had a mixed round, eventually finishing with a 77 at Royal Liverpool.

He bogeyed three of the first five holes and had a double-bogey six on the 17th.

Jake Whelan of Newlands bogeyed three of the last four holes at Wallasey but still kept himself in with a chance of qualification with a 75.

Dubliner Paul McBride, who plays out of The Island, bogeyed three of the first four holes on his way out in 39 but coming home he dropped strokes on 11,12 and 15 but birdied 14 and 16.

County Sligo’s Sean Flanagan was disappointed with his 77 but recorded a rare eagle-three on the 485-yard 14th at Wallasey, while Jordan Hood has a mountain to climb after an opening 79, the same score as William Russell.

In the British Girls’ Open Championship at Fairhaven on the Lancashire coast yesterday, Mary Doyle and Ariana Coyle Diez both comfortably qualified for the match-play stages — the last 64.

Doyle, of The Heath, produced one of the rounds of the day — a stunning 72 — to cruise into the knock-out phase after looking decidedly shaky with a disappointing 83 on Monday.

Diez, of Elm Park, had fired a 77 on Monday but when she dropped three strokes on the outward journey yesterday things were a little dicey — but she held her nerve and managed an 80 for a 177 aggregate and a place in the top 50.

But Royal County Down’s Olivia Mehaffey, the Irish stroke-play champion was frustrated after crashing out of the championship following a second round 84 which resulted in an aggregate of 165.

IRISH MEN’S SENIOR TEAM: B Casey (Headfort), P Dunne (Greystones), J Hume (Naas), G Hurley (West Waterford), D McElroy (Ballymena), R McNamara (Headfort), G Moynihan (The Island), K Phelan (Waterford Castle), C Selfridge (Moyola Park), C Sharvin (Ardglass), R Whitson (Mourne).